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How to Determine the Value of Old Coins

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Many collect coins as a hobby as well as for investment purposes. For those who are collecting as a means of investment, learning the value of old coins today is a routine part of the process. There are many ways to determine the value of a coin including going to an appraiser, looking the coins up in collector books, or visiting websites online.

Here are some steps you can follow to help you determine the value of old coins in your collection no matter if you're a hobbyist or collecting for future investments.

Use a Combination of Guides

Many guides are available to help you determine the value of old coins. It's possible to find combinations of coin books and online resources to use to help you arrive at an estimation. In doing so, you can figure out which coins are the most valuable in your collection as well as which are the most expensive to buy when you'd like to add more. You can use search terms including, "what is the value of this coin?"

About Determining the Old Coin's Value

There are four different types for value of old American coins. You'll be looking up the book (or catalog) value, buy price, retail value, or wholesale value. The book value is what a dealer's price is for the coin. The buy price is what the dealer is willing to pay you for the coin. The retail price is the amount the dealer is willing to sell the coin. The wholesale value is the price the dealer can sell the coin at to another dealer.

The Factors Affecting an Old Coin's Value

Three primary factors affect a coin's value including its rarity, demand, and condition. The rarity of the old coin or value of the two dollar bill means how many were minted or produced. The value of old coins and currency demand will vary according to its popularity. The condition depends on if it's circulated, mint, or in poor condition. If the value of proof coin sets or value of the buffalo nickel is poor, for example, but they're in high demand, this will affect their price. If the value of 50 cent coins or value of $1 silver certificate, for example, and they're not in demand, these factors will also affect the price.

How to Determine the Value of an Old Coin

Determining the value of old value of collector coins will depend on if they're a commemorative or general issue coin, like the value of a Susan B Anthony coin or value of American silver eagle coins, for example. You'll see in some guides that there are separate sections for special issue or value of commemorative coins, like value of US coin proof sets, for example. The issuing country also determines its value, like values of old British coins, for example, as well as its issuing date and condition. Once you have this criterion, you can look up the value.

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