OLD COINS VALU

Protecting Old Coin Values

We all know that a good wine gets better with age, and a good coin is likely to get more valuable with age, too…if it is cared for correctly. Proper care of you collection will protect your old coin values.

What Gives an Old Coin Value?

There are four characteristics that give an old coin value: condition, rarity, demand, and historical value. You can find out what your old coin’s value is by looking it up in the Blue Book, which is a book of wholesale values of US coins. If it’s not a US coin, there is a Black Book that gives current values of world coins.

Rarity and demand are fixed characteristics. If only a few coins were minted, or if a lot of people want it, an old coin has more value.

Historical value is more individual, and your old coin may have value only to people interested in that particular historical era. For instance, Civil War buffs may place a higher value on old coins from the Confederacy than others will.

The most variable factor in determining an old coin’s value is its condition. The Sheldon Scale is a 70-point scale that coin dealers use to evaluate the condition of a coin. It’s still a subjective evaluation, but at least it is a guideline for determining the condition—and value—of an old coin. Coins in mint condition are in the best condition, and coins that are so worn you can’t see the date or images are in the worst condition.

Protecting Coin Values

You can’t always control what condition an old coin is in when you get it, but you can protect it so that its condition doesn’t deteriorate while it’s in your possession.

To maintain an old coin’s value, always handle it by its edges. Never touch the surface of the coin with your fingers. The oils and acids on human skin will corrode the coin and decrease a coin’s value.

Don’t clean your coins. Cleaning exposes them to chemicals and environmental substances that can corrode them. Of course, if you dug the coin up out of the ground, it is all right to wash the dirt off gently with soap and water. But don’t polish your coin to make it nice and shiny. That damages it.

Store your coins correctly. Coins should never be stored in plastic or acidic paper envelopes or flips. The acid in paper is corrosive, so if you put coins in an envelope, make sure the envelope is made of acid-free paper. The PVC in those little plastic flips will also corrode coins and give them a greenish coating. Coins need to be protected as much as possible from light, air, and temperature extremes.

Proper care is essential to retaining an old coin’s value. Proper handling, no cleaning, and proper storage will keep your old coin’s condition as good as possible.










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Collecting American Coins
Starting in American Coin Collecting
Ancient Coins: An Amazing History Lesson
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Pirate’s Treasure and Antique Coins
British Coin Collecting – A Feel of Nostalgia
Seven Canadian Coins Every Collector Should Own
Three Unique Differences in Canadian Coin Collecting
Where to Get a Coin Appraisal
Three Advantages to Coin Collecting For Kids
Coin and Currency Collecting – An Overview
Bidding in an Online Coin Auction
Three Levels of Coin Collecting
What Coin Collecting Accessories Are There?
Coin Collecting Album: Show Off Your Collection
Protecting Your Investment with Coin Collecting Cases
Coins from Coin Collecting Dealer
Coin Collecting Folder: Preserve Your Valuable Collection
Little Collections: Coin Collecting for Children
Coin Collecting Hobby – A Commemorating Passion
Coin Collecting Information Unfolds the Hidden History
Resources in Determining Coin Collecting Prices
How to Start a Coin Collection
What Kind of Coin Collector are You?
Coin Prices Are Not Coin Values
Determining Coin Value
Origin of Coins and Numismatists
What Makes a Collectible Coin?
Commemorative Coins to Add to Your Collection
Foreign Coin Collecting: A Hobby Spanning The Entire World
Gold Coin Collecting as a Financial Investment
Gold Coins Through Time
Old Coin Prices: How Much Should You Pay?
Protecting Old Coin Values
Old Coins of Ancient Greece
Buying a Rare Coin
Rare Coin Collecting: Is It For Everyone?
Don’t be Fooled by Counterfeit Roman Coins
Cleaning Your Silver Coins
Check Your Pocket Change for Valuable Coins

Protecting Old Coin Values


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