What is the Difference Between a Coin’s Price and its Value?
Price and Value are Not the Same Thing
There is a big difference between the price of a coin, and the value of a coin. Although you often see these words used interchangeably, it is important that you understand the different concepts represented by each.
The “Price” of a Coin is How Much it Would Cost You to Buy it From a Dealer
This is pretty straightforward. The “price” of a coin is merely the amount that it would sell for on the open market, otherwise known as its “retail price.” Coin prices are set by many different factors, including the type and grade of the coin, its rarity and desirability, and to some extent its availability in the marketplace. The most frequently used price guide to U.S. coins is the Red Book.
The “Value” of a Coin is How Much You Can Sell it for Today Here’s where it gets a little complicated.
When you want to establish what your coin collection is worth today if you wanted to sell it, you are establishing its value. The amount you can sell your coins for (its “value”) is...