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Article #189: Understanding Coin Price Guides

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There are many coin price guides guide; which is that the Grade that YOU
published; weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and decide upon, is True or Accurate, and
annually. They come in the form of that such Grade is based on the ANA
magazines, newsprint, "hot sheets", and Standards.
books. All of us have referred to one of The first difficulty that arises is that
these from time to time to ascertain what most people never know if the Grade that
a particular coin might be worth. Yet, they have decided upon is Accurate. Of
few of us stop to think about what we are course, this difficulty never comes into
getting from any one of these Price question, if the coin is Professionally
Guides, beyond the price or value of a Graded by an appropriate company. There
coin. After all, don't price guides, just are only four (4) reputable Professional
give you the price? What else is there? Grading companies that strictly follow
Basic to an understanding of price guides the Guidelines set by the ANA, and they
are two things: 1) the Grade of the Coin; are: PCGS, NCG, ICG, and ANACS.
and 2) the Foundation of the price guide. The second difficulty arises because of
Knowing the Grade of the Coin is required this "silent assumption" or Foundation of
before one can begin. Saying so seems to all price guides is whether or not the
be obvious, but what more does it mean? Grade has been decided upon using the
Unless the coin is Graded by an Guidelines or Standards established by
appropriate Professional Grading Company, the ANA. If you don't have the skills and
which has designated what Grade and training of a professional coin grader,
Identity has been assigned to the coin, the decision is probably questionable.
most of us are making an assumption about Even if you do have the skills and
the actual Grade. This assumption we make training of a professional coin grader,
can be very dangerous because of: a) the the decision is still probably
difficulty in grading a coin; and, b) the questionable. Why? Because even
different possible outcomes or results professional coin graders have differing
that occur. One Grade "point" or level opinions. This is why the reputable
can make the difference in hundreds or professional coin grading companies
thousands of dollars in the Value of a require the opinions of three (3)
Coin. professional coin graders to arrive at
Price Guides assume that YOU already Know the "Grade" designation to be placed on
the Grade of the Coin. This is why we every coin.
have the First Rule of Coin Collecting: The obvious conclusion is that a Serious
Know the Grade of Your Coin. Coin Collector is going to invest in rare
Secondly, ALL Price Guides are founded on and modern coins that are graded by one
the same Principle, which is that the of the Top Four reputable Grading
Coin, whose price you are looking up, has companies. It is the only certain way to
been Graded using one Grading Standard. eliminate the disagreements and arguments
That Grading Standard is set by the ANA - about the Grade of Any coin being Bought
American Numismatic Association - and is or Sold! It is the only certain way one
entitled the Official Grading Standards can Value their coin collection. It also
For US Coins. eliminates "getting taken" or cheated
Therefore, ALL Price Guides have a buying raw coins.
"silent assumption" built in to their Have fun collecting your Perfect Coins!






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