What are Factors That Affect the Value of Coins?

When one is just starting in coin collecting, oftenand classify your coin, and know the to place
the first question is: "What is the value of thevalue on that coin. You can do this successfully by
coin?: and the answer is that the coin will cost asexamining your coin in a catalogue or online with
much as you are willing to pay for it and thethe "coin price guide"; this will give you an idea of
amount can vary considerably. For instance, a cointhe going rate and price of your particular coin
dealer's offer can be much less than a coinand you can determine the approximate value of
collector that certainly wants your coin badly toyour coin.
add in his collection.Everyday coin values are changing; so you need
The following are factors that can influence theto use a "coin price guide" that is updated on a
true value of a coin.daily basis to obtain the current coin value. Look
1. Grade or condition of the coin. Your coin will beat online sites that offer step by step guidance on
worth or valued more when it is in good condition.how to recognize your coin the proper way.
When in a perfect or unblemished mint condition,2. Grade your coin based on your thorough
an "uncirculated" coin will be worth many timesobservation and examination of its current
more than a similar coin that has been incondition.
circulation.3. Consult coin catalogues for a list of retail prices
2. The rarity of a coin is the principal basis for ain or estimates of your coins retail value. "A Guide
coins value. Generally, the rarer that a coin isBook of United States Coins", popularly known as
found to be, the higher it is priced. Do keep in"The Red Book" to coin dealers and collectors,
mind that rarity has very little influence on theprovides information on retail coin prices for US
coins age. Chinese coins are a thousand years oldcoins and is available in libraries, coin shops and
normally sell for about ten dollars since there arebookstores. "The Standard Catalog of World
so many of them; while a "1913 Liberty HeadCoins" (in volumes) is a guide commonly used by
Nickel" can sell for up to or over a million dollarscoin dealers and collectors as well, to provide
because only five specimens are known to be ininformation on world coins and is available in many
existence.public libraries.
3. Bullion value. A coin's precious metal content canYou can also check current coin prices by basing
determine its value. A platinum, silver or gold coinit on the actual dealer coin price found in
will not, in general sell for less than the coins valuemagazines and newspapers or online auctions such
when melted.as Yahoo, Coin World, eBay or Teletrade.
4. Demand. There are coins that are greatly inAlways keep in mind that you are not collecting
demand; sought after by many collectors, and ifcoins primarily for money; you collect for
that a particular coin is in great demand the priceenjoyment and self gratification, and profit is to
will be even higher. Even comparatively plentifulbe last consideration. The plain fact that a certain
coins can mandate higher value when they arecoin does not have a large monetary value, does
popular with coin collectors.not necessarily suggest that it is no longer
For instance, "1916 D dimes" are much moreinteresting or fascinating or that it must not be
abundant than the "1798 dimes" yet in spite ofincluded in your collection.
this, "1916 D dimes" sell for so much moreEach coin will have a certain interest in itself,
because there are many more individuals collectingregardless of the condition that it is in and
20th century dimes than 1700 dimes.regardless of its monetary value. There will
Here's how you can determine the approximatealways be a certain characteristic that will draw
value of your coin:you to that particular coin; so when it does, then
1. Properly, accurately, and correctly recognizeyou should have it in your collection. Have fun!