Mokiechan

I had a  year set of Japanese Coins from their mint that were in a PVC holder, this was before it became well known how damaging they were.  The coins all got coated with ugly green slime.   Don't ever buy a Japanese Mint Set in packaging like this:

I have had a few things graded that "were'nt worth grading".  In fact, just this month, I submitted the Apollo 11 Half Dollar and related reverse proof Kennedy Half for grading.  I think it is probably not worth it, but I just keep fingers crossed the coins grade as 70's.  Most of the time its just less expensive to find the coin you want slabbed, already slabbed for you. 

I think of the Redbook as akin to an encyclopedia of U.S. coins.  The prices I see in the Red Book are just a general guide to the relative value of the coins in any particular series.  I have never relied on the Red Book to set prices when selling or paying for a coin.  I doubt if many dealers use it that way either.  Instead, I would educate myself thoroughly about the current market and if I am looking for a specific coin, I will actually use the SOLD prices on Ebay to get a feel for the market at any given moment.  
If I am looking for a 1909S VDB Lincoln in VF condition, I see today that the SOLD prices can vary wildly from as low as $579 for a VF20 ANACS slabbed, to as high as $775 for a VF35 in a PCGS OGC holder.  Now you have a range to look at and decide what you are willing to pay for a slabbed (non-details) 09S VDB.  If someone wants $750 for a VF20, you can decide, based on your research, if you are willing to pay that.  It's your choice, but you have done your due diligence and know the general range. 
Buying a raw coin, especially a relative rarity like the 09S VDB requires even more research and a very good understanding of both grading and the flaws, like obvious cleaning or rim dings, that would cause a coin to lose value, even at a higher grade.  So, best policy is join a local coin club, if possible, befriend those experienced collectors in the club, and study, study, study.
 

I agree this guy is beyond help. Where do these people come from? The funniest part about it is that it would literally be no trouble at all to build one of these sets in the exact same holder with the 1885 O Morgan dollar. We literally had dozens of these exact same holders (some with 1885 O Morgans) laying around when silver last skyrocketed. I should see if we still have the empty holders. Maybe he would like to add some more to his “unique” collection. 

I heard two million of each of the ATB quarters.   That is going to create a need for the Whitman and Dansco people to provide a supplemental page for their ATB albums?
(:

A Washington Bicentennial Medal by the Excellent Laura Gardin Fraser.  this is the 76MM version with a mintage of 3500. 

A Washington Bicentennial Medal by the Excellent Laura Gardin Fraser.  this is the 76MM version with a mintage of 3500.