Lots of people assume that dingy, old coins will be worth more if they are cleaned up a bit. After all, it’s usually good advice to clean a car before trying to sell it. Any experienced coin collector or coin professional will advise novice coin owners to resist the temptation to clean coins.
When coins get graded for condition, professional graders don’t assign points for shinier coins. In fact, graders can tell if coins have been cleaned and will usually dramatically reduce the grade because of it. Cleaning affects most metals, and it will give coins an unnatural and streaked look that makes them far less valuable than they would have been if they were left alone.
If the coin collection mostly consists of lots of loose coins, it’s fine to organize them by type of coin. It may even be a good idea to buy holders, envelopes or sleeves for coins to keep them from getting damaged further by knocking against one another. Most hobby and craft shops sell appropriate folders and other types of holders to help keep coins organized.
After the collection has been sorted and inventoried, it will be much easier for the collector to understand what he or she has and to explain it to an appraiser. It may be a good idea to take pictures of particularly notable coins. Some coin dealers may want to see a digital photo before they can offer an opinion on the coins.
There are plenty of books and websites that can help new collection owners understand the significance and potential value of the coins they now own. Mostly, a coin’s value depends upon a combination of the metal it contains, its condition, the coin’s relative scarcity and the demand from coin buyers.
For example, some old coins may not be worth a lot because they are fairly common or not in great condition. At the same time, some newer or rougher coins may be valuable because they contain precious metals or are very scarce.
Lots of people lack the time or inclination to educate themselves about their inherited coin collection. It takes professionals years to learn how to properly grade and value coins, so nobody should be expected to become an expert overnight. Selling an inherited coin collection without professional help may be a costly mistake.
For an honest and accurate coin collection appraisal, contact the rare coin experts at Dubin Rarities. As nationally recognized coin and collectable dealers, we have operated a thriving business for almost four decades because of our reputation for knowledge and fair dealings with customers. Dubin Rarities can tell you how much your coins are worth and make it easy to sell a coin collection for a great price.