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New to coins and dorum
smh
Posts: 38 ✭
Greetings! I inherited a coin collection from my late Mother and just started going through a collection of old silver coins and a lot more. I’m hooked already! Question - if I use books and the internet and take my time, do you think I can grade coins? I’m checking them for their value. My goal is to sell them - from what I can see I might have some valuable coins. (Silver coins back to the 1890’s.). Thanks for helping a newcomer!
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First, welcome to the forum! And it’s awesome to see that you’re interested in the coins you inherited. My first bit of advice is: don’t clean anything! It’s tempting sometimes but don’t do it. Second thing is to buy a red book (Guidebook to US Coins 2021). You’ll not only learn a lot but you’ll get a good idea of what’s valuable and what isn’t in general.
As for grading, circulated items are easier to grade and you can find references from books/online such as the ANA Grading Standards, Photograde, and PCGS has CoinFacts where they show you pictures of each grade. Grading takes time to learn, though, and while pictures help there’s no substitute for seeing lots of coins. If you have some time, I really recommend you start by watching this 2 hour video from the American Numismatic Association. Also asking questions here is a great start and when you ask questions please add pictures!
Welcome to the forum and the hobby. I'm sorry to hear about your mother.
PCGS photograde is a good guide to help you start grading US coins. Other than that, it takes a while and a lot of practice before you can really become proficient in grading coins.
PCGS also has a good webinar on YouTube to help you start out as Turtlecat posted. Be advised there's a lot of misinformation on YT and the internet in general. Especially about error coins or value of coins.
My eBay page: https://www.ebay.com/usr/alvareznumismatics
Welcome to the forum!
If you still have questions after you do a little research just post some photos here for responses.
Thank you so much for your reply. I ordered a copy of the Red Book and a loupe so I can see the tiny (at least to me) lettering on the coins. I will definitely watch the video. I’m really amazed that my mother collected such a wide array of different coins - lots of
Commemorative sets so I’m borrowing a library book about them. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a real hobby. I promise not to clutter up this forum with nonsense but do want to send my thanks to all who will help me on my way.
Something you don't understand. ... ask.
If you are hooked, why make it your goal to sell them? Learn about them and enjoy the hobby. Sounds like you are already off to a good start and asking the right questions.
UGH. Beware the commemorative sets. Are you talking U.S. Mint coin sets or "Coins of the Old West" type sets?
A few pictures and we can probably help you out.
Welcome aboard!
Post some photos here, and we can grade some of the coins for you....or at least give some reasonable ranges. Coins are a lot of fun...The more you learn, the more you will want to collect!
Don't clean any of the coins!
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*Fresh Meat icon courtesy of the late great Russ Stringham.
Welcome aboard, smh!
Welcome @smh lots of info here to get you up and running. My 2 cents are, wash your hands, wear white cotton gloves and get in the good habit of holding coins by the edges only. Buy yourself a stapler that does flat staples cause you're gonna start putting better coins in 2x2 flips to protect them. This is a journey not a destination. Oh, and have fun. Peace Roy
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Well, welcome! This is a great place!
Welcome to the club! No one was born with a grading talent. It takes time and exposure to lots of in-hand, preferable, examples to hone your skills.
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You guys are great! I was looking at plastic cases for coins that I think might be valuable - maybe I'm jumping the gun. OK, I'm going to keep my hands off the coins as much as possible, get gloves, and order those flip cards, right? Some of the commemorative are those five to a set sterling silver proof commemorative "privately struck by the National Commemorative Society" on subjects like the Civil War and the Lincoln Memorial. There are also a lot of singles, all in plastic cases and never opened. I've been doing some preliminary research and need to find out more. I spend some time today learning about coin lingo - obverse, reverse. troy ounces vs. regular ounces - things like that. I'm a librarian by profession so I'm like a dog with a bone and love researching.
One more question for today ... and thanks everyone. Where do I even begin? Silver dollars? The halves? Quarters? They are in those blue books and in bags and tubes. STEEL pennies in a big can - am I supposed to go through every one of them, looking for ones that are special? Mom even had commemorative sets of Malta coins. And a few very old banknotes - pretty crummy condition but really old. Sure appreciate your help!
Really hard to say without more information.
Key date coins would be your first pass.
Steel pennies in a big can, not worth your time. They are 5 to 10 cents apiece in bulk. Even if they are uncirculated, you are likely in the $1 range.
Old banknotes could be worth a couple dollars or a couple thousand.
The commemoratives you mention are not coins and not U.S. Mint issues. They are likely worth nothing over bullion value. Those are private issue sets that were usually direct marketed. You are not likely to find all those private issue coins in a book, use eBay for research.
@smh.... Welcome aboard. You have a large variety of material there and some of it may be valuable. I commend you on your efforts at research. You will have to post pictures here to get specific help - and it looks as if you will need a fair amount of help. There is also a forum here for non-U.S. coins and also currency. Good luck, Cheers, RickO
@smh ... Welcome to the fray! Take your time and you'll learn a few things along the way!!
For most coins you don't need to have special holders and the like, just handle by the edges, store or stack carefully, and don't clean them, at all. A loupe and a Redbook will help, and PCGS Photograde and the ANA tutorial should help with grading. Once you think you know a grade, post some pictures here and you'll surely get some feedback. Coins you find that may be worth more than a few dollars or are of a higher grade ... getting some non-PVC flips (like Saf-Flips) and a box to store them in is worthwhile.
Currency is a little different, but most of the same rules apply. Don't bend or touch the faces and don't clean. Also don't use an eraser, try to tape rips, or try to "fix" anything on a note. Whenever possible handling by the edges is the best way. Store in non-PVC sleeves if possible if these are not current circulating bills. Other than the nuances of paper quality and the not so subtle situations such as stains, pinholes, rips and tears ... currency is generally graded by the number of folds and hard crinkles. This would take you from the point of crisp, un-folded and new, to one or two perceptible folds or creases, to something that looked like it got wadded up in a ball nineteen different times and thrown around the room.
There is a US Currency Forum here, or I can help direct you to another one if you are so inclined.
I certainly hope the journey is worthwhile.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
@smh - Welcome to the forums! Once you begin to research the coins, I guarantee you will get hooked on collecting. There are a huge variety of coins out there to collect. Many of the previous posters have given you very sound advice. Listen to them all as they have usually been collecting for a long time. The only thing I will repeat here is this: DON'T CLEAN ANYTHING! Improper cleaning will ruin the value of a collectible coin or currency. Other than that, have fun!
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Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.