Coin Collection in Attic for Decades
JW77
Posts: 567 ✭✭✭✭✭
Looking for some advice from the forum members how to realize best value from this box of goodies that has been untouched for decades. I'll start by posting the pics
So we have proof sets from the 50s, wheat pennies in envelops, looks like dozens of rolls of wheat pennies, some opened, but others have original seals, again all appear to be wheat pennies from teens through 50s and maybe many uncirculated. So this collection resides in Oregon and my friend is looking for advice. This is not my expertise, I do not collect pennies and also do not possess the technical skills to grade raw coins. We have no idea whether we have a few hundred dollars or thousands in value. We would appreciate any suggestions on the best way to evaluate the contents of this box. Maybe a dealer from Oregon would have an interest.
Thank you in advance for your comments.
Comments
Take a few of the cents out of the envolopes and take some pics so we can see some of them
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
An eBay search of completed items will get you an idea of values for the proof sets. The pennies in envelopes and rolls will depend on the date/mint and grade. There is no such thing as an original seal on a roll.
will do, the collection is with my friend, but i will ask him to take some pics.
thank you
In my experience, hoards such as this have most of their value in the precious metals coins. In this case, it would mean that the silver proof sets are going to drive the overall value of the group. Most likely, those rolls of Wheat cents will be circulated coinage and, as such, won't be worth much unless they are better dates. Again, in my experience, you are looking at the low end of your estimate, not the high end.
Do yourself and your friend a favor and get a Red Book. Read through it and understand it and then check out ebay listings for sold items. It could be that if you value your time at all that the best way to go is to offload it all to an honest local dealer. Good luck.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Just some coins you could look for
1909-s
1914-d
1922
1955 Double Die
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
My comment highlights my ignorance on this subject. I'm not even sure where coins are rolled for the first time, is this done at the bank after receiving mint bags or earlier in the process? Going back to my comment, my friend said some of the rolls look like they were opened and gone through, but other rolls look tight and untouched. Regarding aluara22's comment to take some pics, he will take a few from the envelopes and a few out of the rolls. I'll have those tomorrow to post.
Again, thanks for the advice.
These type of accumulations seldom hide a home run. Respectfully this is beginner stuff. Probably got the cents from circulation then got the itch to buy some proof sets. If he went all in you might see some early 50’s proof sets but I don’t see any. Coin shop will not get excited and eBay might send you a 1099-k (20% goes to da man if total sales for the year is over $600) but is probably your best shot.
But Sometimes.................
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
For these proof sets in Capitol Plastics holders,
when selling to a dealer, you should be able to get about 80% of retail:
$66 1956 proof set (80% of $83)
$35 1957 proof set (80% of $44)
$35 1957 proof set
The original 1964 mint set (if both the P and D packages are there):
$40 (80% of $49)
I looked up the retail values here:
http://www.numismedia.com/rarecoinprices/cgi/usrarecoinvalues.cgi?script=sets&searchtype=any&searchtext=fmv&search3b=any&proof=b&plus=no
Our local coin shop buys circulated wheat cents based on decade:
10c 1909-1919
5c 1920-29
4c 1930-39
1.5c 1940-58
If there are some AUs or BUs in there, they are worth more, but most are likely well circulated,
so the above prices would likely apply.
The simplest way to grade the wheat cents is to see if the parallel lines in the wheat ears are separated.
If they are separated, the grade is VF-20 or higher.
In the G-4 or lower grade, no lines will be visible. Most cents from 1909-1929 are likely in these low grades.
The simplest way to sell is to a local dealer.
Try a couple of dealers if the first one offers prices well below the above.
very helpful. I'll see whether my buddy wants to take the time to go through the coins to look for that special one as a couple of the members have recommended, or take the easy way out. But at least your comments provide a reasonable floor of value.
thank you
Some coins in the proof sets from the 1950s and early 1960s can have significant value (if they are coins that are very high grade, or are a well known variety or if they would receive a Cameo or a Deep Cameo designation from a coin grading company [like PCGS]).
"Coin Facts" is available on the PCGS website to research for information about US Coins and photographs of examples of same. I would suggest that you and your friend take Coin Facts for a spin while you are going through the coins in the collection.
Have your friend take photos of the proof sets (both sides) and post them to this thread along with photos of some of the coins from the rolls.
Based on the photo, the proof sets in the lucite holders look like they have suffered somewhat from long storage in a poor environment (the attic). Don't expect an offer as high as 80% of retail. Silver value will be important when it come to the later proof sets that are still in their original packaging.
Buy a Red Book, learn to grade and do an estimate of what the Lincoln cents will bring. If they are low grade circulated coins you will be disappointed unless they are key or semi-key dates. Don't waste your time or gas trying to get every possible dime out of the hoard. Consider selling costs when making decisions on how to sell.
Get the Redbook and go through the coins. Any that you determine may/should have value, post pictures here and members will assess them for you. Good luck, Cheers, RickO
Makes sense. There are obviously a few ways to approach this based on appetite to put in the effort. If my friend has the time, I would advice him to take this approach and i will post the pics for him. Thanks for the input from everyone who has responded.
Welcome to the forum! These posts are interesting to many of us here I believe, and any updates and pictures will be appreciated. We love to see pics, and they don't need to be professionally done, just put the coin near a window with natural light (not necessarily direct sunlight) and we can get an idea of what you're dealing with. Keep us posted, ok? As mentioned earlier in the thread the simplest and easiest way to handle them is take them to a dealer. But you might have a little fun by getting into them a little bit and where's the harm in a little bit o' fun?
Wow! There a a lot of possible varieties mixed in there. Some proof sets came with notable Cherry picker varieties like doubled dies, re engraved design details not to mention possible cameos. Inwould Inspect 1951-54 for re engraved, 51,55 doubled dies, lots more too.
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=142753
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
I went through one of these "attic stored collections" recently. Surprising how many nice coins and how many Environmentally damaged proof and mint set coins. I got two very nice original Morgan dollars 93-O and 96-S both graded EF 45 PCGS. It's fun, but so much disappointment. ie the coins got relegated to the musty humid attic air
These are the first few pics from my friend. These coins were pulled out of the top of one of the untouched rolls. Possibly the entire roll is 1958D. If these pics are not good enough, my apologies, but probably about the best we will get
Sure beats the ones that have been in the basement that long.
Those pics are fine and likely show just what the entire roll looks like. The Denver mint produced a whopping 800 million cents in 1958. They're nice and pretty but still very common in that condition.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
Looks like my kinda fun. Coin roll hunting is enjoyable if you know what you're looking for. Good luck. Peace Roy
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the 58 Ds must grade MS 66 RD to get real money for them. I had a roll of 56 Ds that sat for 40 years. Got them bulk graded, 31 graded MS 66 RD, so after grading fees, I made some money on them. Those in MS 65 RD were maybe worth $1.50. This was done about 5 years ago.
Other better date Lincoln Cents: 1910-1915 S Mint only. 1931 S. 1924 D. Other dates in the teens and twenties, if they have some hint of original mint luster may be worth something.
My experience with found wheat back cents is the bulk are from 1940-58 and worth slightly more than 1 cent. I spent 5 hours going through something like this. Found a scratched 08 S Indian Head Cent and an 1865 3 Cent Silver in VF mixed in with some circulated Mercury Dimes.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Enjoy the experience. Finding an old collection in an attic is a rare, if not a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
And then sometimes your wife tells you that she has a few coins that her grandfather left her.
And then this happens:
Only about the last 1/4 of the counter is mine and that would be the back 1/4.
Even better when found in an old ammo box!
JW77: I'd sure love to see pix of the contents of that ammo box all laid out!
That would be DNADave's ammo box!
This is, likely, a misinterpretation of a 1099-K.
JW77: OOPS! My bad......
Hoping DNADave can post some more pics!
The medal with "CINAE ARTIQ" at the top is looks like a 3 inch wide Squibb Pharmaceutical Co. Centennial Medal.
Obverse:
SCIENTIAE MEDICINAE ARTIQVE SALVTARI
SQUIBB
Reverse:
Squibb Centennial 1858 1958
Photograph:
https://amphilsoc.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/F6FE6D5A-EA18-4E5E-8B71-970053578899
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Those are the only pics I have left on my phone from an estate sale I did in 2019
There were some nice commems in there though including a pilgrim and an Oregon trail.
Here’s some other stuff from one of the best estate sales I’ll likely ever do
