Which grading / pricing book for U.S. coins?

[Coin_Freek-migration]

OK, so we all know there are different book choices out there for grading and pricing U.S. coins, but which one is considered the 'accepted standard' for accurate pricing (if there even is one)? Any help out there? Thanks!

 

-Coin_Freek.

 

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"The weather is here, wish you were beautiful."

[TomB]

I don't know that there is a "book" for accepted pricing, however, many folks use The Greysheet as their basic pricing guide. Also used heavily is Coin World's Trends Prices. Of course, the individual characteristics of each coin will heavily dictate the price, regardless of what any guide might say.

 

As for a grading book, many folks, including me, use the Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins and a copy of this can be found in most coin shops or on the web.

[jom]

The Greysheet, as Tom has mentioned, is a good start but I find that using Heritage's auction archive is MUCH better. Why? Simply because at least you can get some idea what the coin looked like that sold. OK, their pictures aren't the greatest BUT at least it is something. I think it is BY FAR the best tool on the internet for coin pricing. Now that many of the other auction houses are letting you access to auction archives it is even better. Heritage is the best still since they have a SEARCHABLE engine. Hopefully the others will follow suit. Cool!

 

jom

[Coin_Freek-migration]

Thanks for the valuable input and advice, guys, but the reason why I am looking for a book (or books) for this is because I am heading to a rather remote Asian country in order to 'plunder' a rather impressive stock of old U.S. coins for sale from a variety of people, and there is virtually NO internet connection available for over a thousand miles in any direction.

 

I wish I had a better memory when it comes to what coins are not only valuable but are also in demand, but... well, that is why I desperately need a good book for pricing so I can take it along with me and still be in "ballpark" ranges in terms of value and rarity.

 

 

Thanks for anymore help!

 

-Coin_Freek.

[Hoot]

Still, you can purchase the Greysheets for your use. If you buy a recent Monthly, the three Quarterly issues, and a recent Weekly, then you will have nearly all the info you need for pricing.

 

The bottom line for books is that there are NONE that have accurate reflections of prices.

 

As for rarity, that's more a matter of demand plus grade. Few coins have absolute rarities that drive their prices, e.g., the 1804 dollars. And even those coins have incredible demand driving their prices. Price will be your guide in as much as anything else.

 

If you'd like to purchase recent issues of the Greysheets, you can PM me or place a "Greysheets Wanted" post in the Marketplace forum, and you'll have success.

 

Hoot

[Coin_Freek-migration]

Thanks Hoot, Jom and TomB for the info -- I'll be obtaining some copies of greysheets ASAP before my trip! Peace!

 

-Coin_Freek.

[jom]

You can go to:

 

CDN

 

and get copies of all of the CDN sheets ONLINE...before you leave of course.

 

If you want to keep a "software" copy of the file after you print it let me know...I can show you how to save it do your hard drive.

 

jom

[TomB]

Thanks for the valuable input and advice, guys, but the reason why I am looking for a book (or books) for this is because I am heading to a rather remote Asian country in order to 'plunder' a rather impressive stock of old U.S. coins for sale from a variety of people, and there is virtually NO internet connection available for over a thousand miles in any direction.

 

I wish I had a better memory when it comes to what coins are not only valuable but are also in demand, but... well, that is why I desperately need a good book for pricing so I can take it along with me and still be in "ballpark" ranges in terms of value and rarity.

 

 

 

Thanks for anymore help!

 

-Coin_Freek.

 

I can virutally guarantee to you at this moment that you will lose nearly 100% of your investment on this deal. The chances of original, older US coinage being in a remote Asian country are essentially a million-to-one. Please note that you don't have the "one" in that million-to-one. US coinage is heavily counterfeited in Asia and has been for a number of years. Some of the forgeries are laughable while others are executed quite well. If you insist on going on this trip then I will pre-emptively tell you how sorry I am that you spent your money on counterfeits.

 

You should step back a moment and think about these details of what you have written-

 

1) A remote Asian country

2) No internet connections for a thousand miles

3) A stock of older US coins

4) From not just one, but a variety of people

 

So, do you really believe that there are a number of people, hidden somewhere in a remote area of Asia, who are so cut off from the world that they have no internet access, who have saved a stock of older US coins and who are waiting for you to buy the coins from them?

[Coin_Freek-migration]

I can virutally guarantee to you at this moment that you will lose nearly 100% of your investment on this deal. The chances of original, older US coinage being in a remote Asian country are essentially a million-to-one. Please note that you don't have the "one" in that million-to-one. US coinage is heavily counterfeited in Asia and has been for a number of years. Some of the forgeries are laughable while others are executed quite well. If you insist on going on this trip then I will pre-emptively tell you how sorry I am that you spent your money on counterfeits.

 

You should step back a moment and think about these details of what you have written-

 

1) A remote Asian country

2) No internet connections for a thousand miles

3) A stock of older US coins

4) From not just one, but a variety of people

 

So, do you really believe that there are a number of people, hidden somewhere in a remote area of Asia, who are so cut off from the world that they have no internet access, who have saved a stock of older US coins and who are waiting for you to buy the coins from them?

 

My FAMILY happens to be from said remote Asian country, and yes -- they've used U.S. gold coins as standard currency in the province for nearly two hundred years now. This is not based on rumor, it is based on personal, verified fact. Given that these coins are not sold or traded by anyone except for the locals in order to purchase land and property, there is no incentive for them to fashion gold into the likeness of a rare gold U.S. coin. Are you following?

 

For instance, if someone TRIED to sell you a rare U.S. gold coin as a collectible item in a remote Asian country, you'd have plenty of reason to mistrust them. On the other hand, when it is obvious that these people are using Gold U.S. coins to purchase land among themselves as they've done for almost 200 years, and are NOT offering to sell them to you, a foreigner, then where would be the incentive to conterfeit a Gold U.S. coin? Indeed, when gold is being used like this and is sold strictly BY WEIGHT as it is, then fashioning said gold into the likeness of a Gold U.S. coin makes as much sense as painting your house during a rainstorm. There is no incentive.

 

Given these details, you may want to rethink your last post.

 

-Coin_Freek.

[jom]

and are NOT offering to sell them to you, a foreigner, then where would be the incentive to conterfeit a Gold U.S. coin?

 

But yet there are KNOW counterfeits coming out of the Asian area. So what do YOU think the incentive is?

 

BTW, by your post you seem to be "upset" at Tom's suggestion. You apparently have taken his post the wrong way. Since you came into the forum asking about price guides you "seemed" to be somewhat new at this. Therefore, I think TomB was simply trying to help you out about this foreign gold thing. There is no need to "rant".

 

jom

[Coin_Freek-migration]

Oh, there is no doubt that in some Asian countries, counterfeiting "rare" coins is a H-U-G-E problem. The last time I was there, I 'smuggled' an 1801 Liberty Head out and had it graded here in Houston. It is legit.

 

Granted, I didn't initially disclose all the details which I posted this last time, so no harm no foul. I'm not "upset" at Tom's suggestion at all -- posting forums and emails and the like usually do a poor job of conveying inflection and intonation whereas in a typical verbal discussion, this would be no problem. If my post seemed "upset", then it is not the case at all. I simply think it would be prudent to see for oneself what a particular place has to offer before issuing 100% guarantees that a nice ripping-off is in store.

 

Thailand and India? Huge counterfeiting potential. China? Watch out. Laos and Cambodia? Nuh-uh.

 

The Hills-Tribemen of Kalimantan? Not likely, especially since many of my family members live right in the middle of the village. At any rate, the advice is noted and appreciated although I've already taken steps to ensure that I'm not buying gold fashioned into counterfeit U.S. coins.

 

Important Note: The Spice Islands were HEAVILY visited by European and American merchants, and they used gold to purchase silks, spices and other such marketable merchant goods long, long ago. You'd be surprised, trust me.

 

Anyhoo, peace!

[TomB]

My FAMILY happens to be from said remote Asian country, and yes -- they've used U.S. gold coins as standard currency in the province for nearly two hundred years now. This is not based on rumor, it is based on personal, verified fact. Given that these coins are not sold or traded by anyone except for the locals in order to purchase land and property, there is no incentive for them to fashion gold into the likeness of a rare gold U.S. coin. Are you following?

 

For instance, if someone TRIED to sell you a rare U.S. gold coin as a collectible item in a remote Asian country, you'd have plenty of reason to mistrust them. On the other hand, when it is obvious that these people are using Gold U.S. coins to purchase land among themselves as they've done for almost 200 years, and are NOT offering to sell them to you, a foreigner, then where would be the incentive to conterfeit a Gold U.S. coin? Indeed, when gold is being used like this and is sold strictly BY WEIGHT as it is, then fashioning said gold into the likeness of a Gold U.S. coin makes as much sense as painting your house during a rainstorm. There is no incentive.

 

Given these details, you may want to rethink your last post.

 

Regardless of whether or not you say you were upset in your latest post, the tone of your response to me is pretty clear, so don't try to backpeddle. Having said that, I really don't care if your family is from said region, after all, the questions you have listed here are incredibly basic and are typically asked by someone with little, if any, coin knowledge. Therefore, you are at an immense disadvantage in the coin game. Do you believe anyone in your ancestral village might have counterfeited a gold piece so as to buy more land? It's possible. Could they have gotten the piece to be the correct weight through the use of other metals that were then either gold-plated or surrounded by a thin gold layer? You bet.

 

Next time someone tries to give you a little heads-up on a possible problem, you may want to think about what you have given folks as information and what other possible scenarios there are, otherwise you won't receive the help that you are asking for.

[Coin_Freek-migration]

Regardless of whether or not you say you were upset in your latest post, the tone of your response to me is pretty clear, so don't try to backpeddle.

 

Backpeddle? Are you really under the false impression fueled by a (no doubt) swollen ego that I care enough about what people may or may not think about me here at this nameless and faceless forum? I can assure you I do not, hence no need to backpeddle -- No, no, that was me APOLOGIZING if my post sounded unduly rude or aggressive which I did not mean. Of course you've answered said apology with a petulant post of your own. Now, *THIS* post is rude and aggressive, which is in fact done out of pure purpose. I find it curious that you reference my "tone" in my last message to you, while not making any mention of the initial "tone" in your patronizing, sarcastic message. Funny, that.

 

Having said that, I really don't care if your family is from said region, after all, the questions you have listed here are incredibly basic and are typically asked by someone with little, if any, coin knowledge. Therefore, you are at an immense disadvantage in the coin game.

 

Ah yes, more of that "tone" you so assertively referred to in your last post. Whether I am at an immense disadvantage or not in the coin game is neither here nor there given the fact I have purchased a legitimate U.S. Gold coin there and have had it graded and sold here for a nice profit. Oh, and what makes you think I care one way or the other WHAT you believe, TomB? Am I somehow supposed to be compelled to take this sort of "tone" from you and attempt to win you over as a friend? Not likely, chap. You are nothing more than ASCII on a computer screen, so do not flatter yourself, please.

 

Do you believe anyone in your ancestral village might have counterfeited a gold piece so as to buy more land? It's possible. Could they have gotten the piece to be the correct weight through the use of other metals that were then either gold-plated or surrounded by a thin gold layer? You bet.

 

Without electricity, running water OR the money to buy the tools and gain the expertise to do this, no. Oh, I can see it now, TomB. Somewhere in Kalimantan, there is an underground smelting factory, melting junk gold down over heaps of burning coconut wood into a large cauldron while tribal jewelers wearing little more than palm fronds pour melted gold into professionally-made molds and cackle in delight at all of the foreigners they'll be ripping-off. Of course, you'd need more than 10 foreign visitors a year to your village to even come up with such a scheme. Interpol must be chomping at the bit as we speak with sights set on the tribes of Kalimantan.

 

Next time someone tries to give you a little heads-up on a possible problem, you may want to think about what you have given folks as information and what other possible scenarios there are, otherwise you won't receive the help that you are asking for.

 

Granted, this is a valid point Re: more information on which to base advice. This is why I said as much in my last post to you which you, of course, replied to with the above scathing post of yours. I asked about pricing guides. I did not ask you to give me an unfounded and generalized edict based on absolutely no personal experience of your own on a subject that is COMPLETELY unrelated to pricing books or sources. Did I?

 

-Coin_Freek.

[TomB]

Good luck.

[Coin_Freek-migration]

Thank You.

 

-Coin_Freek.