First steps help
Jeffrey89
Posts: 3 ✭
I apologize first for stumbling around and asking a question that may have been posted before. I recently inherited 7 US gold coins, have done some online sniffing around, they do appear to be mostly uncirculated coins, 1852, 1895, 1899, 1927 $2.5 and $1 and $5 pieces of fine grade. Here in NYC, what is best to get a quick, accurate, honest (and all of these characteristics may not be at once achievable!) appraisal of what I own. Thanks for your time.
I have taken some pictures here, no doubt not to the specs you might require but I hope there's enough to guide me. Thanks kindly for your time and expertise.
3
Comments
The dollar and half eagles are more common dates. @jwitten can help with the Indian quarter eagles, but better pictures will be necessary for accurate opinions. Any gold is good though.
$1 coins seem to have a bit of damage (scratches/solder removal on reverse possibly), which hurts the value. I would say they would bring $100-$150 each on ebay still. $5 coins are circulated, and the 1899 MAY have a solder or damage spot on the top rim.. hard to tell. I would say they would sell for $325-375 each on ebay. I collect $2 1/2, so would be interested in those. They appear to be AU, but I would need to see pics of both sides to be sure. I would say $200-$250 each is fair on those.
Make sure to not clean them!
If you live near midtown you can stop by Stacks Bowers (57th between 6th and 7th) or Heritage (57th and Park). Both are major dealers that will give you an honest opinion. Their buy prices for raw material will be decent and they certainly won’t rip you off but be patient and do your own research before you sell.
Dealers usually buy gold coins close to spot value if the coins are low Ms, Au, xf, or lower unless the coin has lots of numismatic value, (vary rare gold). If you you only consider the spot value, all your coins combined (30.93g of gold in the coins you listed), you have $1153.76 of gold spot value today. 👍 I hope this helps 👍👍
Very nice, love those gold !!!
Nice gold coins... Difficult to assess value from pictures... even better pictures. The suggestion by @david3142 above is the best way to get value/information on your coins. You can research them online as well, or even get a Redbook to start. Good luck.. Cheers, RickO
Thank you all...there should be no reason to take the coins from my sight, to the back, to look at these, right? This all happens in front of me and what they might offer, someone mentioned spot price, sounds like it's gold value and not its gold and numismatic value?
Stacks and Bowers is not going to pull a switch in the back room even if they took them back there. They do million dollar coins, they aren't going to steal a $100 coin.
If there is numismatic value, they will pay you gold+numismatic value. Most of those coins appear to have no real numismatic value. A couple look ex-jewelry. All look circulated. I don't see any obvious key dates. The $1 coins are usually better than simple spot but common date circ liberty coins from $2.5 to $20 are bullion only.
They are for sure worth more than spot. I will pay more than that if that is your best offer. I am for sure interested in the $2 1/2 coins
Unless obviously damaged, I suggest you get your coins professionally graded and encapsulated by PCGS or NGC. It will cost roughly $65 per coin to get them graded, but it will be the most accurate way for you, and potential buyers (especially online), to know the condition of each. Knowing the graded condition will also allow you to compare auction sold prices to learn the real value of each coin (be sure to factor in the auction fees). To get the most for your coins will require a little time and cost. If you don't really have the time or interest in that, take the coins to a few dealers and sell to whoever offers you the most or entertain offers from this site.