Clueless

Inez · 08-25-2008, 02:58 PM

Hey Everyone!

I have some old coins, and as I mentioned, I'm clueless. In the 70's my father, a country doctor, started buying anything of silver coinage from his paitents just using a posted sign on the wall. Paitents would come in with mason jars that had been buried in their barn, etc. He bot by weight for silver content, amassed 20 "bags" by weighted silver. When he passed away, my mother simply wanted to "get rid" of all the stuff. A guy I knew told me he thought that dimes and maybe quarters had additional value to the silver. I broke the seals on some of the bags and took out some quarters and dimes. This was all in 1986. Have around 250 dimes and 150 quarters all dating from 1890 on forward. Now I'm just staring at this stuff and saying "what the heck do I do now". The grading and the markings and the amount of coins makes my head spin. It's just a little much for not even being a novice. I'm probably more interested in selling, if possible, than collecting. I also have around 100 Iranian rials (shah era) from when we lived there. Any thoughts?

eddiespin · 08-25-2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inez

Hey Everyone!

I have some old coins, and as I mentioned, I'm clueless. In the 70's my father, a country doctor, started buying anything of silver coinage from his paitents just using a posted sign on the wall. Paitents would come in with mason jars that had been buried in their barn, etc. He bot by weight for silver content, amassed 20 "bags" by weighted silver. When he passed away, my mother simply wanted to "get rid" of all the stuff. A guy I knew told me he thought that dimes and maybe quarters had additional value to the silver. I broke the seals on some of the bags and took out some quarters and dimes. This was all in 1986. Have around 250 dimes and 150 quarters all dating from 1890 on forward. Now I'm just staring at this stuff and saying "what the heck do I do now". The grading and the markings and the amount of coins makes my head spin. It's just a little much for not even being a novice. I'm probably more interested in selling, if possible, than collecting. I also have around 100 Iranian rials (shah era) from when we lived there. Any thoughts?

Inez, I know this must sound like a daunting task, but, unless you just want to sell the whole lot as a herd of cattle to a highest bidder, you're going to have to spend the time and identify, individually, what you have. Take an afternoon or two off, and start trying to do that, first. Then, get a price guide (it'll provide you with "benchmark" values), and look at what you're talking about on some of these. Then, just post any pics you want, and we'll help you grade and more specifically value these. But...you're right...some of these may conceivably exceed their silver-content value. Your challenge is just to figure out which ones. BTW...welcome to the hobby/industry!

**green18** · 08-25-2008, 05:51 PM

Inez, Good advice from Eddie. Most of us here would love to be in your predicament. Welcome to the forums.

rzage · 08-25-2008, 06:15 PM

Welcome to CT , Eddie gives you some excellent advice , good luck .
rzage

**Catbert** · 08-25-2008, 09:54 PM

You might also consider a coin auctioneer. He would catalog what you have and be motivated to sell to the highest bidder. This person might also suggest which coins to slab (professional grading/certification) so that you be sure to get the most money from the gems that may exist in your possession.

P.S. Welcome to CoinTalk

covert coins · 08-25-2008, 10:06 PM

Inez, everyone here has given you good prudent advice. Buying a 2009 Redbook would also be a great idea. It would give you a quick reference and may help you quickly sort out your coins. Remember that anyone that you have evaluate your coins will charge a fee. Keep asking on CT there are some really smart people here.

**Peter T Davis** · 08-25-2008, 11:10 PM

Welcome!

**De Orc** · 08-26-2008, 07:29 PM

Hi Inez and welcome to CoinTalk, thing to do is split them into years and work on one year at a time, remember also dont clean them as you will loose value if you do.
If there are any you are unsure of then post a pic or scan of the coin (both sides) getting it as clear as you can.
Good luck with it

kidromeo · 08-27-2008, 05:07 PM

Greetings and Welcome to Coin Talk.

Inez · 08-28-2008, 04:45 PM

Thank you everyone for the welcome! And thank you so much Eddie and De Orc for the advice. I spent the next three days after my post reading entry after entry on this site and almost feel ashamed I didn't do that before I posted. Now I have just enough knowledge to be dangerously clueless

and probably addicted to coins. The "hunt" is the draw. I'll get organized and get some pictures and be back! I have found some pretty interesting things, but then I don't really know if they are what I think they are. No doubt you'll let me know. Thank you all again.

**green18** · 08-28-2008, 05:35 PM

We all look foward to your posts Inez.....

**Daggarjon** · 08-28-2008, 05:43 PM

Welcome

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