6 Quick Tips to Assess the Value of an Inherited Coin Collection

So you’ve inherited an old coin collection, but you know nothing about coins or what their worth? 

Whether you have a garage or basement filled with coins, a safe deposit box in the bank, or an old cigar box containing your late-great uncle’s eclectic collection, there is likely some value there.

Here are several quick tips to get you started…

• Any U.S. quarters, dimes or half dollars - 1964 or older - are 90 percent silver and have inherent metal value. Unfortunately, Susan B. Anthony, Sacajawea and Eisenhower dollars are only worth face value. 
  
  
• Lincoln wheat cents are only valuable in certain dates and mint marks, including 1909s-vdb, 1914d, etc. Otherwise, they’re worth about 2 cents each in circulated condition.
  
  
• Just because it’s gold doesn’t mean it’s gold. Just because it’s silver doesn’t mean it’s silver.  Look for “fineness” marks, which indicate the coin’s metal content. 
  
  
• Don’t believe Etsy, Mercari, YouTube or most of eBay: People post all sorts of things online and list them for outrageously high prices. That doesn’t mean a coin is worth that or will sell for that amount. The best way to determine the value of a coin is through completed eBay auction sales with multiple bidders. Anyone can list a worthless coin for $10K; that doesn’t mean it’ll sell. 
  
  
• World coins have value, too. However, the older the better. Anything post-WWII will need silver content to have much value.|
  
  
• Do not attempt to clean or polish your coins in any way, regardless of how grimy or tarnished they may look. Coins are worth more in their original state, and cleaning them will diminish or destroy their value. 

Now, how do you go about selling? Stay tuned for part two…
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