Ten Reasons Coin Prices are Going Up
May 14, 2026
As Senior Editor of the Guide Book of United States Coins (The Red Book), and owner of Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries, I find that rare coin prices are a central focus of my numismatic interest. Pricing rare coins is a complicated endeavor, as coins sell at auction for widely different prices even when encapsulated and with the same grade. The Red Book tries to give the retail price for theoretically average coins for the grade. The annual guide is also just a snapshot of pricing that we all know changes constantly.
When buying and selling rare coins for my company, it is my job to accurately determine the value of said coins. Working on close margins requires considerable skill, especially when selling large volumes. I have often told people that really skillful coin dealers are those who know enough to buy a coin to make 5%. Anyone can figure out when a coin is grossly underpriced or overpriced. It s knowing with certainty that a coin can be bought and sold on close margins that s tricky.
From NGC