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November 28, 2025
5 Costly Coin Pricing Mistakes I Wish Every Collector Would Avoid
After 30 years in coin collecting and working on pricing guides, I’ve watched too many friends lose serious money repeating the same errors. That 1827 Capped Bust Dime debacle? PCGS values it at $32,500 while CACG says $19,500. This isn’t just confusing – it’s wallet-draining. Let’s break down these five costly errors before they empty your pockets.
Mistake 1: Treating Price Guides Like Holy Texts
Red Flags You’re Over-Relying
- You walk away from any price 10% above the guide
- You’ve never compared PCGS, NGC, and CAC values side-by-side
- Your idea of research stops at the first number you see
Take that infamous 1827 dime. Only three exist in MS66 condition, and none have sold publicly in a decade. Those guide prices? Educated guesses at best. I know collectors who’ve turned down life-changing offers because “the book said…” Don’t be that person.
Fix It Fast: The Triple-Check Method
- Pull values from all three major services (PCGS/NGC/CACG)
- Dig through auction records from the last 2-3 years
- Ask dealers directly: “What would YOU pay for this today?”
Mistake 2: Forgetting Some Coins Move Slower Than Others
The Risky Assumption: “All Markets Work The Same”
Morgan Dollars trade like hotcakes. Proof Barber Dimes? Not so much. Check these real-world gaps:
Proof Barber Dime Wake-Up Call:
- 1901 PR67CAM: Guides said $2,750-$8,250 • Reality: $6,325
- 1914 PR66CAM: Guides said $1,700-$7,000 • Reality: $4,750
A client building this exact set confessed: “I nearly quit when I saw 300% differences between guides – until I learned to find the middle ground.”
Smart Solution: The Liquidity Scorecard
Rate your coin 1-5 (5=most liquid) using:
- Recent sales frequency (1pt per 5 auctions)
- How many exist (1pt per 10 graded coins)
- Specialist interest (1pt per 5 serious dealers)
Pro tip: Scores under 8? Adjust guide prices by 40%+.
Mistake 3: Blindly Following “Official” Price Changes
When Guides Move Without Explanation
PCGS dropped that 1827 dime’s value by $5,000 despite zero recent sales. Sound fishy? It is. Three red flags I see weekly:
- Mystery adjustments with no sales backing them
- Random changes (Grade 66 drops, 66+ stays?)
- Zero notes explaining why values shifted
Protect Yourself: Become a Change Detective
Track adjustments in a simple spreadsheet:
Date | Source | Value | Change | Trigger
-----------------------------------------------
01/2023 | PCGS | $37,500 | - | Last known sale
06/2024 | PCGS | $32,500 | -13.3% | ???
Mistake 4: Ignoring the Eye Appeal Factor
A collector friend put it perfectly: “Two ‘identical’ coins sold last month – one brought triple because it made people gasp.” Guides can’t capture that magic.
Your 5-Second Beauty Checklist
- Does it shine like new or look dull?
- Are colors natural or suspiciously bright?
- Can you see crisp details or just blobs?
- Any glaring scratches or clean marks?
- Does it make you say “wow”?
Each “yes” adds 15-25% to book value. CAC stickers? That’s your 20%+ bonus right there.
Mistake 5: Pretending Economics Don’t Matter
How Real Life Wrecks Guide Prices
I watched a collector skip a $32k coin because guides said $28k. Six months later? He paid $36k because:
- Gold prices spiked 18%
- A famous collection hit the market
- New collectors flooded the market
Your Market Weather Report
- Gold/silver price trends
- Upcoming estate sales
- Registry set competitions heating up
My Battle-Tested Pricing Formula
After seeing six-figure mistakes, here’s my no-fail system:
- Start: Average PCGS/NGC/CACG values
- Adjust: +40% for rare/low-liquidity coins
- Boost: +25% for eye appeal/CAC quality
- Finalize: Factor in economic conditions
For our 1827 dime example: ($32,500 + $19,500)/2 = $26,000 base. Low volume adds 40% ($36,400). CAC sticker? +25% = $45,500 actual value. Guides missed that by miles.
Price Guide Truths Every Collector Needs
Use guides wisely by remembering:
- They’re estimates, not commandments
- Unexplained changes deserve skepticism
- Your eyes matter more than their numbers
- Personal research beats blind trust
When guides disagree by 60% on a $30k coin? That’s not confusion – that’s your $15,000 opportunity. Next time you spot a pricing gap, grab your calculator, not your complaint book.
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