Letters to the Editor: Why are Greysheet prices online so much different than in print?

Question: I am a new subscriber to your publication, and I am confused by the price variations between the Greysheet magazine and the wholesale pricing that I access, online with my desktop, and or the Android phone application. I understand that the May publication is probably April pricing because of print/mailing delay however some coin price change seems dramatic (reference 2006-W Gold $50 Buffalo PR70 proof... May Greysheet price $2109.00...current online price $2374.44) quite a difference even if one takes in consideration the changes in gold spot price. Does the market change that quickly are am I not using your reference material correctly?

I plan to become a coin dealer in the near future and want to invest in good quality coins at wholesale pricing primarily as an investor, not a collector. Which wholesale price is the best one to use in determining a coin's value or do I need to blend the two prices together?

My current value formula includes Red Mega Retail, CPG Retail, Greysheet Wholesale, and average of least 6 to 12-months of realized prices on Great Collections, Heritage, and E-bay auctions. Any suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Prices are definitely prone to dramatic changes – especially bullion-related items. The printed publications are always out-dated the moment they come out because we need a 3-week lead time just for the printer and mailing. Online prices are updated hourly. Of course many of the prices don’t change month-to-month so people like the printed sheets for easy reference but it’s totally up to you.

Your strategy of researching multiple price sources is a great one! We highly encourage buyers and sellers to be as informed as possible when making decisions. 

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