How to Know an Old Coin Value

Collecting coins is one of the most fun, interestingvalues.
and rewarding hobbies there is. Aside from theCoins with higher grades fetch higher prices. Coin
thrill of searching for hard-to-find coins, anothergrade is determined by the condition of the coin.
interesting and rewarding aspect of coin collectingNote that coins are circulated in countries for
is determining old coin value.commerce. However, aside from coins for
For example, you have just stumbled upon an oldcirculation called "business strikes", some
coin dating back to the 1920s at your neighbor'sgovernments produce special pieces for collectors
garage sale. It looks valuable and you decide toand official presentations. These uncirculated coins
buy it and resell to coin collectors. The thing is,are referred to more popularly as "proofs",
you have no idea as to what it is worth."proof-likes" and "specimens". They retain their
The easiest way would have to be checking itflawless condition due to careful handling and
online. Currently, there are many sites online thatpackaging.
provide helpful information on determining the realAnother factor is the demand of such coin from
value of old coins. For beginners, some sitescollectors. This means that some coins, albeit
categorize values by the coin type, date ofmore in number, might have higher values
issuance and the estimated value. Most even havecompared to scarcer coins, largely due to the fact
pictures, which make for easier referencing.that the former are more popular among coin
Half-cents dating back to 1793 can fetchcollectors.
anywhere from US$500-5000 while silverLast but not the least, a coin's quality is significant
commemorative coins are valued at anywherein determining its value. Quality refers to a coin's
between US$5 and US200.characteristics such as survival condition,
The basic idea is that there are a number ofexecution, minting and overall aesthetic effect.
factors that determine old coin value. For one, theCoins of poor quality lack luster, are discolored
more scarce or rare the coin, the higher theand uneven.
value. So it does not follow that the older coinsThe above mentioned tips are just general guides.
are much more expensive than newer ones. TheIn the end, especially if you have potentially
1933 US$20 double eagle gold coin is the mostvaluable coins, it is best to consult an expert's
expensive there is because there is only one ofopinion to avoid being shortchanged should you
its kind, as compared to the thousands of Chineseconsider to sell them personally. If you happen to
coins dating back to the early centuries.opt to go to a coin dealer to sell your collection,
Another factor is what they call the bullion value,ask for an expert (which is part of their service
which is determined by the amount, or value ofpackage) to truly determine the real old coin
the precious metals it contains. Coins arevalue.
categorized as either gold coin values or silver coin