How do I know how much to declare when submitting to PCGS if I am brand new to coin collecting?
SillyRbt18
Posts: 10 ✭
I found a few coins among my dad's things after her passed. These coins look great to me and I think they could be graded very high but I am new at this and really not sure how to declare a value. Any advice? Thanks! Laurie
Best Answers
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coinbuf
Posts: 11,365 ✭✭✭✭✭
If you can find any documents that show what he paid that is the best value to use. If not then check recent closed auctions as a possible baseline valuation.
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PerryHall
Posts: 46,231 ✭✭✭✭✭
@SillyRbt18 said:
I found a few coins among my dad's things after her passed. These coins look great to me and I think they could be graded very high but I am new at this and really not sure how to declare a value. Any advice? Thanks! LaurieGetting coins slabbed is not cheap and in many cases it isn't worth the cost. Show us a few pics and we can let you know if it's worth it.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire3 -
TomB
Posts: 21,323 ✭✭✭✭✭
The coin you posted is a Seated Liberty half dollar of the Arrows and Rays variety.
Depending upon what Ms. Liberty's knee actually looks like in-hand and out of that flip, it is an AU (almost uncirculated) coin and might be worth $1,000 plus or minus a few hundred dollars. I have the range in there because I really don't know what the surfaces look like in terms of preservation and color and really also don't know if that is wear on the knee and how much. This is a case where the coin might very well merit getting certified in order to maximize liquidity and value.
If there is a local dealer near you then you may want to visit him/her and ask upfront for an approximate value in order to properly submit to PCGS. They may charge you some nominal fee for the service, but it would be good to have someone with experience see these coins first.
Good luck and feel free to post more images.
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Answers
I'd recommend posting a few coins, since you could be easily thinking of coins that are common date, or just modern, or fake.
Perry, Here is a pic of one coin..
Not my series but front side image looks cleaned and it could be the pic but what is the purple stuff near the 12 o’clock position
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It is in a Saflip and the purple is as reflection from my phone case.
Nice coin. It's worth the cost of getting it slabbed.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
If you get a mid level membership with our host here it will come with some vouchers you can use to send in your dads coins. Wish you all the best with your submission may the coin gods be in your favor!
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@Mgarmy @TomB @PerryHall @CalifornianKing @coinbuf Thank you so much! Can I run one more by you for advice? This one is a 1925-D but the D is hard to see in the pic.
The 1925-D is known as an Indian quarter eagle. This is a great series that I adore very much. The 1925-D is a fairly generic coin for the series and its value is heavily dependent upon the spot price of gold. The D mintmark appears weak because it is the only part of the coin that is raised, the rest of the design is incuse (lower than the surrounding field).
This coin is moderately circulated. It would not need to be certified if sold to most folks, but for proving authenticity it would definitely help. It does not appear to be cleaned and is worth around $300 at this time.
By the way, do not clean, wipe, rinse, wash or abuse your coins in any way as this will likely greatly diminish both their value and liquidity.
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Laurie, I find it interesting that you know what a Saflip is, which is indicative of some knowledge of numismatic supplies at least. Images can be deceptive, I would take them to a trusted local coin dealer or coin club and ask for their in-hand opinion.
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are any of the coins sentimental to you? if it turns out yes, then certifying them despite condition/value will be an option but not a lot of coins as the cost will go up a lot.
like TomB says,
By the way, do not clean, wipe, rinse, wash or abuse your coins in any way as this will likely greatly diminish both their value and liquidity.
The best thing to do for now is let them set while you gather information. take your time and do this right and it will work out much more enjoyably and probably financially.
sending coins out for certification takes a bit of practice/research for the first time.
your 1853 50c if XF grade or details, no. if AU grade/details, probably yes but not by itself.
1925 d $2.5 indian maybe XF, no. If AU, no.
pretty good pic for first time out. try setting them on a table under a lamp or strong overhead light if you post more coins. perhaps even multiple coins per pic.
welcome to the forum!
@LanceNewmanOCC These coins are sentimental to me. My dad's family held onto them a long time. My dad just passed last year. He and I were very close. I would like to know the value of the coins and protect them but I am scared to send them out through the mail. I'm hoping to get advice here on whether or not it's worth it. Thank you for helping me out! Laurie
@oih82w8 I have been reading up on coins. I learned about saflips while reading through directions on how to submit to PCGS. I also watched a YouTube video on how to submit. Thank for your help!
you're welcome. a lot of people here with decades of experience, way more than i.
don't know what else you have but if you have some real value there, they are probably better off at a bank SDB. $50-60 a year vs home invasion is no debate. If you do, make sure you get some advice for all the coins that they don't have pvc or other issues as they will sit and lose value due to damage. look for light green haze and/or green blobs.
i know you said saflips but doesn't mean they weren't improperly stored previously. if you have any coin shops around, you may want to pick up a coin box or some 2x2 flips (.10c each) so they don't just rattle around and sa plastic flips for long-term storage are probably not a good idea so the cheeks and/or other high areas don't continually get rubbed.
@TomB this coin was the one that interested me the most. I have never seen or even heard of one like it. It was in a clear protector with three staples around it. It appears to have never been opened. Looks like my dad just stashed it away as soon as he got it. Thanks for all of the information! Laurie
@LanceNewmanOCC There are a lot of coins that my dad held onto. I did take a few to a dealer, he said the above two coins were something to hold onto but if I wanted to sell the Indian Head Gold coin her would give me $150 for it that day. I chose to hold onto it. He also said the 1853 was something to hold onto. A few others as well and many I didn't even take over to him. I have a bunch of Peace Dollars, Ike Dollars, Large One Cents, Kennedy Half Dollars, Susan B Anthony Dollars, the list goes on and on. I'm just a little overwhelmed. Laurie
I'm just a little overwhelmed. Laurie
i believe it.
i know you said there is sentimental value but if you were to sell any gold, this is probably the time frame. it is on a high run right now.
Except that that dealer tried to lowball her on that quarter eagle, assuming it is genuine (Laurie the quarter eagle was often counterfeited) would be worth far more than $150!
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Laurie, you have done all the right things by seeking out a dealer for his assessment of the coins and asking for assistance here. From your list you have some valuable coins like the gold quarter eagle, the large cents, the half dollar, and other silver coins like the Peace dollars. And you have some less valuable items in the Ikes, Kennedy's, and Susan B Anthony dollars. Keep researching and I'm sure you will have a very good idea of the overall value in no time.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I noticed that. Unfortunately, not every coin dealer is honest. This dealer sized you up and determined that you weren't very knowledgeable concerning coins and thought he could make an easy score. Suggest that you avoid this dealer in the future.
What part of the country do you live? Someone here may be able to recommend a nearby honest professional coin dealer who can sit down with you to evaluate your coins. The dealer may charge an appraisal fee but it's well worth it.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@SillyRbt18.... Welcome aboard.... There is excellent advice above (i.e. @PerryHall , @TomB, @LanceNewmanOCC), and this is a good place for such questions. That being said, in hand evaluation by a trusted expert will always be the best option. I understand your reluctance about sending coins in the mail, however, unless you attend a live show where our hosts are set up, it will be a necessary course. Let us know how you proceed... Good luck, Cheers, RickO