Hi my name is Cindy, my husband collected wheat pennies from 1900 to 1950s and up ,some boxes are uncirculated. He just passed away after a long battle with lung cancer . I have so many boxes of pennies can anyone help me on how I sell them. If he was here he hang on to them forever!! They are all wrap, dated and put in Pennie boxes . I don't collect coins, I can't even pick them up to move them I would appreciate any help. Are they people who are honest that I can sell them to? I live in CT. I am reading his books and trying to understand, but they make me sad to look at them. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you,Cindy
I'm sorry for your loss. Do not clean anything and do not sell anything right away, unless of course you need the money. In general, I tell people to read books and to read boards such as these, but if any of this makes you sad then that might not be the best course of action. If you have specific questions or access to images then this is a great place to ask the questions or post the images. By the way, I also live in CT and if you need help you may easily check out my reputation by starting a thread about it. Good luck.
They all all wrap and dated he was a perfectionist, I am moving to California and it cost to much to move them I already ask the moving company..I just like to sell them.. I been reading and the book shows .15 to .20 a few .50 to .75 but you have no idea how many boxes there are!!
ma'am I try to be a honest person.. I hope you can surround yourself with your positive loving family members and people who care.. I wish I could help you..
I'm very sorry for your loss, Cindy. I'd ask around locally to find a near, reliable dealer. 2 cents is probably not terrible but if you could get someone to cherrypick (look through them for valuable ones) you'd likely make more money.
If they are circulated and late-date (primarily mid-1930s through late 1950s) then two or three cents each is fair. If they are early date (primarily 1909 through the early 1930s) or are mint state (uncirculated) then two or three cents each is not fair. Images might go a long way toward helping you, but again if these are common circulated coins then the price quoted might not be bad.
What I think he did was buy bags of pennies and sorted them,they are all sorted and rolled and he has the date on each roll and if it's a D or S also words I don't understand UNC -OMB Than he has all the 1900 in Pennie boxes 1920, 1930 and up.. Very confusing. He was going to keep them but we where moving to Cali and the price to send them was crazy..
If you could take some pictures I'm sure Tom and others could answer any question you have, I find the people on this forum very helpful and honest in their answers. I have purchased coins from several and have always been treated fairly. I know it must be hard for you having suffered this loss, but information is going to be your best help when trying to sell them. Take pictures of the wrappers with the information on them also the end coins in the rolls or just open a few random rolls and photograph them. You will get help help here.
Cindy, the pre 1931 cents will most likely have the greatest value and those should be gone through carefully for the better dates. If you could post a list of the dates on those rolls then the Lincoln cent specialists here can be of more assistance.
Two cents each is kind of a low ball. I can sell them all day long at flea markets for 5 cents each in rolls. I buy them at 3 cents each. Heck the copper in them alone is worth 2.15 cents each. I don't mean any disrespect by saying this, but some places like to take advantage of women. They were probably hoping you would sell the whole batch of them for 2 cents each and they could pass off to you that they were all worthless common wheat cents. The best thing you can arm yourself with is an education, and I'm glad to see that you have been reading the books. BTW, UNC stands for Uncirculated, which means coins that have not been used in change. I'm going to give you some links. The 1st one is an online price guide and can allow you to get a estimate of what they are worth. http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/prices/lnccnt/pricesgd.shtml The next one is a website that will allow you to grade the coins you have. http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/Lincoln/Grades It appears your husband (of which I'm sorry to hear that you lost) did the satisfaction of keeping the dates separate which is going to make it alot easier. BTW, if you find these dates- 1909-S, 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, 1922 No mint mark, and 1931-S, I highly suggest you keep those out. Depending on what those grade (if you find any), they might be worth sending into a company that grades them professionally, as just a tiny bit in grade difference can mean hundreds of dollars.
Thank you all for your response, he was very exact on how he wrap the pennies. I opened a 1900s and that all there was 1900s! They are not mix up each wrapper is dated. I have around 145 boxes that say 25.00 worth of pennies. Those dates I don't see, but I can't lift the boxes they are heavy!! I think there is a coin show in Naugatuck Ct this week end,I may stop by to see who is interested.. I have coins that are new and boxes that where never opened also. I would take them to Cali with me if it didn't cost so much to ship them and take the time to look at them, but it's not my passion and I am confused. If I can ask a question., if this coin book says the penny is worth .10 to .20 that is what dealer would sell them for? There are a few rolls in the 30s and 40s that should .75 to .80 each. I just really need to sell them, you all been very sweet and helpful, but if want an offer on all of them and sell them.
Hi Cindy, I am very sorry for your loss. This place is usually at the Naugatuck, CT show: http://www.headsandtailscoinsct.com It looks like from their website that they do appraisals. You may want to get several opinions. You would probably do better selling lots on eBay. Maybe there is someone close to you that you can trust that can help you with selling them. Don't give them away for 2 cents apiece. TC
RD= Red (as in color) FMZ=Fair Market Value BN=Brown (as in color) VDB=Victor David Brenner (designer initials on some 1909 cents)
