Any coin collectors here?

[disneysteve]

I have a few questions about some stuff I have that I want to make sure isn't of any significant value before I start getting rid of it. Do any of you collect coins?

I know I can look up certain things online and see what items are going for on ebay, but I have a question or two about items not so easy to look up.

[bjl584]

A co-worker of mine is a huge coin collector. PM or email me your questions and I'll ask him Monday morning

[frugal saver]

I've collected coins since I was 8 or so.

I specialize in Lincoln cents and certain foreign currency, so if it's anything other than that, I'd suggest asking in a coin forum.

CoinTalk, probably the best coin forum, has an ongoing What is My Coin Worth thread and people are always ready to help. Having a good photo of the item is best because the value is based in a huge part on the condition.

https://www.cointalk.com/forums/

[disneysteve]

I've collected coins since I was 8 or so.

I specialize in Lincoln cents and certain foreign currency, so if it's anything other than that, I'd suggest asking in a coin forum.

CoinTalk, probably the best coin forum, has an ongoing What is My Coin Worth thread and people are always ready to help. Having a good photo of the item is best because the value is based in a huge part on the condition.

https://www.cointalk.com/forums/

Thanks. I have about 150 steel pennies, a few hundred wheat pennies, a few dozen Eisenhower dollars, a couple hundred Kennedy halves, and a bunch of Susan B. Anthony dollars. Nothing is silver. They're all later than that. I've looked on eBay and in lots they are all bringing above face value. Part of me is fine with that but a little part of me is worried that I'd be giving up that one coin that's actually worth something.

[MakeAStash]

Exceeding few base metal coins found in circulation and dated after 1940 have value beyond face. You can look up on ebay what they're selling for. I believe the steel cents and top condition Eisenhower dollars are likely your best chance for a small premium. Don't banks still have half dollars and the Anthony dollars for customers?

[disneysteve]

Don't banks still have half dollars and the Anthony dollars for customers?

They probably still have half dollars though all of mine are from the 70s and maybe early 80s. As for dollars, the presidential dollars are current and the Sacagawea dollars were before that so they probably don't have many if any SBA dollars left floating around. They were only made from 79-81 and then another run in 99. All of mine are from the initial run so 35+ years old. They are selling at a premium on ebay, as are the older half dollars.

I'm more concerned with getting rid of them than I am getting every penny I can for them. As long as I get face value or better after fees, I'll be happy. I'll just put up a few lots and sell them that way.

[97guns]

common wheat pennies can fetch .03 on ebay, your looking at $6 on 200 pieces, my local shop pays .02

[disneysteve]

common wheat pennies can fetch .03 on ebay, your looking at $6 on 200 pieces, my local shop pays .02

I might see if there's a shop nearby. After eBay and PayPal fees, I'd probably do just as well at a shop.

[msomnipotent]

I thought Eisenhower dollars were 40% silver, which would be about $5 each, depending on spot price.

I forgot to mention that my husband used to be big into collecting, until we sold off most of the coins. He still keeps up. That was the whole reason I was going to post here, and then got sidetracked by the Eisenhower dollars.

[~bs]

numismatic items are harder to value. ebay is a good starting point on valuation on what people will pay. the graysheets or the redbook are helpful guides as well. Let me know what you have and I'll see if I can help.

Presidential dollars are largely worth face, unless in uncirculated condition and in bulk. For most coins without precious metal content, and without errors the mintage is simply too high to really be worth a huge premium.

Off the top of my head, the quality control on some of the newer "gold" presidential dollars wasn't great, and there's numerous error variants going around.

[StormRichards]

This is a frustrating topic for me. My DH is sitting on a coin collection given to him by his father. One of those scenarios where a parent wants to pass something on to a son/daughter but doesn't want to wait until he/she passes. Nice gesture for sure.

However, the entire collection smells like an ashtray. My DH has done some research to see if he can get rid of the smell, but nothing has made a significant difference. The items were gifted with his blessing to sell any or all of the collection, but that blessing wasn't sincere. He would be extremely hurt if he knew any of the collection was sold. He definitely likes the idea of the collection being passed down from generation to generation, but we really don't want to keep something that smells like smoke.

Just as Steve has a few not so easy items to look up, how in the world do we know what is a fair price for a collection that is devalued by my FIL's lifelong cigarette addiction?

Until we are able to get rid of it without hurt feelings, it is just unwanted clutter to me.

[disneysteve]

This is a frustrating topic for me. My DH is sitting on a coin collection given to him by his father.

However, the entire collection smells like an ashtray.

There's a reason why so many posts on ebay specifically state, "Item comes from a smoke-free, pet-free home". I put that in all of my own listings, actually. There's nothing worse than opening a package from ebay and having the item reek of smoke or cat or dog.

[StormRichards]

There's a reason why so many posts on ebay specifically state, "Item comes from a smoke-free, pet-free home". I put that in all of my own listings, actually. There's nothing worse than opening a package from ebay and having the item reek of smoke or cat or dog.

Exactly! And even if you note the cigarette smoke, there are a lot of buyers on eBay that don't quite understand how bad the item will smell. They think "Cool, I have been searching for this item, I don't care about the smoke." Then they open the package, it hits them in the face, and then they immediately log on to eBay and post negative feedback.

I have had that happen with a couple of Estate Sale items I sold, and have seen this type of dispute show up in feedback of sellers I am buying from.

It is just a hassle that I don't want to deal with. Ultimately it won't be me dealing with it, but I am still stuck with this collection taking up space in my house.

[MakeAStash]

Leave light-tolerant smokey items near a window where they will get sun exposure and in a month or two the smell will go away. Might want to try this method with a few less valuable coins first to verify light, and the dust they'll collect over time, won't negatively impact them.

According to http://www.coinflation.com/ there exist both base metal and silver Eisenhower dollars.

[Goldy]

I have a coin collection from my grandfather but I haven't been great at keeping up with it.