Finding Rare Coins In Dad's Old Coin Collection
3 February 2010 - Numismatics or coin collecting has been around almost as long as coins themselves. Mint a new coin and someone is bound to put it in a cigar box and start a collection. As time passes, some of those coins that you dad saved since childhood may now be worth some serious money in the rare coin market, this is a field that has seen a $1,000 worth of rare coins in 1970 swell to over $22,500 in value today.
Rare coins can be difficult to spot; to be valuable, these pieces must be a combination of old, unique and in good condition to bring the best prices, but even coins that do not meet all three criteria can still have value, albeit less. In order to see the worth of what your dad left you, grab the cigar box and get ready to start checking.
The first thing to do is make a list of the coins involved; there will no doubt be buffalo nickels, wheat pennies, Kennedy half dollars, Morgan dollars and the like; a list will make the next step easier. The next step is to review your list of coins against a price guide from NGC or PCGS and looking at the date, mint mark and condition to locate high value coins.
If you find a 1913 Buffalo nickel, an 1804 Dollar or other coin with a potential high value, you may consider sending the coin to either PCGS or NGC to have it certified. This is an affordable way to not only confirm the coin is valuable, but a way to preserve it for the future.
If you don’t have the certified rare coin you seek, you can talk with a rare coin exchange and consider purchasing it there. American Eagles, Liberty Double Eagles, Indian Eagles and more can be purchased as the centerpiece of your collection. Coins such as these can make even your dad’s old coin collection more valuable.
Shawn Penny
Senior Staff Writer - Rare-Coin.org
