Understanding Bid, CPG, and the PCGS Price Guide in Coin Collecting

If you’ve ever looked up a coin’s value, you’ve probably seen multiple pricing sources—Bid, CPG, and the PCGS Price Guide being three of the most common.

For collectors using coin collection systems, coin collection software, or coin inventory management tools like MyCoinWorx, knowing how these price guides differ is crucial for accurate valuations and smart buying decisions.

What is Bid (Greysheet)?

In the Greysheet pricing system, Bid represents the wholesale price a dealer is willing to pay another dealer for a coin in a specific grade.

Think of Bid as:

• Dealer-to-dealer baseline – not what you’ll pay retail.
• Negotiation starting point when selling to a dealer.
• Realistic cash-out number if you need to liquidate quickly.

Example: If a coin’s Bid is $500, that’s about what you could expect a dealer to offer you—before considering demand, condition, and market trends.

What is CPG (Collector’s Price Guide)?

The CPG (also from Greysheet) is a retail-oriented guide intended for collectors. It reflects what a collector might expect to pay a dealer for the same coin in a given grade.

Think of CPG as:

• Retail market guide for buying from dealers.
• Benchmark for fair retail pricing.
• Often higher than Bid because it includes dealer margins.

Example: If Bid is $500, CPG might be $625—reflecting typical dealer retail pricing.

What is the PCGS Price Guide?

The PCGS Price Guide is published by Professional Coin Grading Service and is based on:

• Recent auction prices.
• Dealer asking prices.
• Market demand trends.

PCGS prices tend to be aspirational retail values—sometimes higher than real-world sales but useful for gauging market potential.

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Why It Matters in Coin Inventory Management

Coin Collectors need to be able to record purchase price when they go to sell. Not tracking proper purchase price of coins will lead to unintended losses. As coins fluctuate in price due to demand, it is important to know which coins might be ready to sell. For example Barber's have high demand, however different cycles demand higher premium for these coins. Using a Coin Collection Management System like MyCoinWorX will help you track these trends, maximing your value.

Final Thoughts

Understanding Bid, CPG, and the PCGS Price Guide is like knowing the dealer’s playbook. Each tells a different part of the story, and when combined in your coin collection system, they give you a powerful tool for protecting your investment and making smarter coin deals.

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