2016 Greg McDonald

[runway]

Welcome back Greg thanks for the update and enjoy your birthday

[robbiegal]

Wow
Great update and story telling there -thank-you
Just so happens to be my birthday tomorrow as well - gemini's are special!!

I have taken tremendous heed from your story within the story which further affirms our decision to make our somewhat risky seachange . Constant stress for too long can have such serious consequences

I for one want to see Maccas keep on keeping on ... and look forward to the 2017 edition

Xx and enjoy the birthday celebrations with your trusted friends

[Basil]

Just so happens to be my birthday tomorrow as well - gemini's are special!!

Happy Birthday & Best Wishes to you both.

Heart attack is the first warning to slow down,time to wind everything down and start to enjoy your retirement.

[Goldseeker]

Happy birthday Grweg and glad that your back on your feet.

Can't wait for the new catalogue as I really do need to update my valuation(s) for insurance purposes.

[Greg McDonald]

Thanks everyone for the kind words re my birthday.  Had a toast to each of you in turn so it was a late night. lol.  

Books coming along. It's the little things that take time.  Press releases are the worst.  Often have to wade through the usual 'adjectives' such as 'breathtaking beauty,'  'only a select number of collectors can own this,' etc. etc to find out if the coin is actually Australian or a ring in from Tuvalu, Cook Islands etc. Got caught out with several of the recent PNC's for 2016 and 2017. History ordained they were Australian Perth issues.  I scanned the images, wrote the description and added them to the format after giving them a reference number --- then found out the issue is no longer Australian. Then there are the issue description that don't actually state if an issue is proof, bullion or specimen. And finally, why is it so hard to add the actual date that a coin fair was held when describing a special issue.

Just little things that I find frustrating.  I know it makes me sound like a grumpy old man. But now, officially, I think I am one.

Cheers

Greg

[interest]

Hi Greg
It's probably too late now but on page 464 Annual Dated Folders.
for the, 1997 Five Folder Set..... you have
1995 Three Folder Set.
Sorry.

Looking forwards to your new book
Cheers.

[runway]

Thanks everyone for the kind words re my birthday.  Had a toast to each of you in turn so it was a late night. lol.  

Books coming along. It's the little things that take time.  Press releases are the worst.  Often have to wade through the usual 'adjectives' such as 'breathtaking beauty,'  'only a select number of collectors can own this,' etc. etc to find out if the coin is actually Australian or a ring in from Tuvalu, Cook Islands etc. Got caught out with several of the recent PNC's for 2016 and 2017. History ordained they were Australian Perth issues.  I scanned the images, wrote the description and added them to the format after giving them a reference number --- then found out the issue is no longer Australian. Then there are the issue description that don't actually state if an issue is proof, bullion or specimen. And finally, why is it so hard to add the actual date that a coin fair was held when describing a special issue.

Just little things that I find frustrating.  I know it makes me sound like a grumpy old man. But now, officially, I think I am one.

Cheers

Greg

I hear you Greg with the frustation

[frenc11]

any chance of seeing the sheldon scale in the guide one day , as there is enough sales data out there to get the prices close to being accurate , as we all know a decimal coin in PCGS MS 70 is worth a great deal more than a coin in GEM UNC , AND SINGLE HIGHEST GRADED pcgs PRE DECIMALS are worth a serious premium over even the second highest graded

[runway]

Any book regardless of Renniks or McDonald is not intended to become a valuation guide it's just a reference book

[Hercules]

I think Greg's aim is to keep the book under 500 pages, and I don't think using the Sheldon Scale would be compatible with that. More than likely, it would make the book twice or thrice as big.

[trout]

Any book regardless of Renniks or McDonald is not intended to become a valuation guide it's just a reference book

Then why is it widely used by dealers as a valuation guide when they sell coins?
The reason why Greg copped so much flack and attacks by various dealers over his last publication was because he put a more realistic list of pricings into that edition to be in line with what was actually happening in the market.
I would think that the recent volatility in the coin and note market is one of the reasons why Greg is having problems producing his latest edition.

any chance of seeing the sheldon scale in the guide one day , as there is enough sales data out there to get the prices close to being accurate , as we all know a decimal coin in PCGS MS 70 is worth a great deal more than a coin in GEM UNC , AND SINGLE HIGHEST GRADED pcgs PRE DECIMALS are worth a serious premium over even the second highest graded

Walter Eigner has this pretty much covered with his "Blue Sheet" website, This resource must be the most accurate list of coin pricings currently available for TPG graded Australian coins.
It is constantly updated and shows 99% of all the Australian coin values in "Real Time".
It can be accessed for free But for a far more detailed list of pricings a subscription is required.

[Basil]

any chance of seeing the sheldon scale in the guide one day , as there is enough sales data out there to get the prices close to being accurate , as we all know a decimal coin in PCGS MS 70 is worth a great deal more than a coin in GEM UNC , AND SINGLE HIGHEST GRADED pcgs PRE DECIMALS are worth a serious premium over even the second highest graded

Not sure about the rest of Oz. but when i was at School in the 1960's several of the main Dealers in Sydney were using it for International as well as Oz. Coins.
Dropped out of favour in the early 1970's but looks like it may be returning in Oz. with the saturation of Slabs.

[runway]

Any book regardless of Renniks or McDonald is not intended to become a valuation guide it's just a reference book

I stick by my opinion Trout :wavemulticolor:

[runway]

any chance of seeing the sheldon scale in the guide one day , as there is enough sales data out there to get the prices close to being accurate , as we all know a decimal coin in PCGS MS 70 is worth a great deal more than a coin in GEM UNC , AND SINGLE HIGHEST GRADED pcgs PRE DECIMALS are worth a serious premium over even the second highest graded

Renniks nor McDonald guides ever did or ever will list slabs they just catalogue coins in raw state as issued by RAM and Perth Mint

[runway]

23RD EDITION TO BE PUBLISHED FEBRUARY


Dear Forum Member,

Since learning about the upcoming Renniks release in the latest CAB magazine, I have decided to hold back on releasing my book [23rd edition] until after the Holiday break.

Usually, Renniks produces a new book every two years, so this is a new strategy.  I feel that two books coming out within days of each other will affect sales for both of us.  I also have to take into consideration that many dealers will not want to hold unsold stocks of two books that will lie dormant for weeks over the holiday period.

The exact date for the release of the 23rd edition will depend on the printer's schedule in the New Year, but I will advise as soon as it is confirmed.

While I run the risk of losing Christmas sales, there is an upside.  Renniks now prints its book overseas and there are obvious extra time delay factors involved in shipping by sea, customs clearance, etc.

I tried a similar experience with the production of the 21st edition in Singapore. However, I was frustrated by the time delay and the omission of a lot of new issues and general updates that appeared while the books were on the high seas. In some ways, I felt the book was out of date before it hit the stores.

That probably wouldn't matter much in previous years, or if you are a pre-decimal collector.  However, the past 12 months has been huge for modern issue collectors.  This respite will give me time to include a range of 2017 issues that are already being advertised.  

The extra time also allows me to farm out the manuscript to dealers and collectors for corrections and updates. Errors and omissions in a book of this complexity are inevitable and only made worse by the last minute rush to tie up all the loose ends before heading to the printer.  In particular, I am very grateful to fellow author and publisher [and all round good bloke] John O'Connor, of Noble Numismatics who is the last word on 'punctuation Correctness.'

I hope you agree that this is the best option.  I don't subscribe to the glass is half empty or half full. Regardless, it clearly needs topping up.

Thank you to the many who have inquired about the book.  Also a special thanks to the many forum members who have contacted me privately with updates and suggestions.  

The amount of time these people have been willing to give so freely is really humbling.

In closing, both Jenny and I and the three L's  [Luke, Lachlan and Lily], wish you all the best for the coming festive season.  Stay safe!

Kind Regards


Greg

All good Greg best wishes