Need some help please

I'm sorry if I am not using this site right. I am new to this. Recently a death in the family left me with so many coins I am overwhelmed..I can't figure out their values and the shops I have gone to seem to give me lower prices than what I find on my own. I promise it's not just cause they are mine that I think they are worth more ...I tried grading them and think some I have close to the correct grading ...does anyone know what a 1857 3 cent silver coin in fine condition maybe better is worth? Or an 1831 bust head liberty 25 cent coin that looks like it should be a 65? I was offered 12 dollars for the first and 25 for the other and it seems wrong to me so I have stopped dealing with this shop here in Cincinnati.

 

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Also I can't figure out how to start my own thread that's why I am on this one. I wasn't trying to be rude.

 

First, welcome.

Second, retail shops are not in the business of paying top dollar for their inventory. If you go into one with "a bunch of stuff" and you don't know much about it, 9 times out of 10 you'll get a pretty low offer. Sometimes this is because they're trying to rip you off, but often it's because it's not material they can move quickly, and may have to wholesale to someone else.

As for the grades, your 1831 quarter that you think should grade 65 throws up a red flag for me. While $25 is a very low offer for anything but a very low grade piece, an MS65 bust quarter is roughly a $20,000 coin. Clearly there's some disconnect here between your perception, the dealer's, and reality. Post pictures here of what you have and you'll get some sound guidance as to how to proceed.

 

Do your self a favor!Don't take any of your coins to a coin dealer.They will only rip you off.Put your coins away,and buy some books,do research,and learn about what you have.
knowledge is power.Have a great day.
billy b

 

Whatever you do, do not be in a rush to dispose of your collection. I was in a position, several years ago, to help my girlfriends mother. Her husband had passed away and had salted away a nice collection of silver and gold plus many other coins. I offered to help, with books in hand to guide her but not to offer to purchase. She refused my help, took the bulk to a coin dealer and got totally ripped off as I later found. She came home with the rest that the dealer was not interested in, which I went through with her slowly and painstakingly. She asked if I would make an offer, which I did and she was amazed.
If you can, take nice close up photos, cropping them as best you can and present them here for everyone's evaluation. You will be in a much better position to dispose of your coins without the remorse that so many end up having by rushing or jumping the gun. At this point, consider them as money in the bank that you did not have a short while ago and proceed carefully.

 

Welcome. You are in a difficult situation. If you have little or no interest in coins, it might seem like a task you want to get rid of very quickly. Doing this can hurt you financially. Not that you want to profit from a death, but you want to have the departed person's hobby respected. Take your time, inventory the coins, take pictures and post here. People here have nothing to gain by lying to you. We may get snarky and sarcastic, but please put up with that...you may even want to sell some of the coins here.

 

Post some pictures & someone will help you with grades & values.

Also, if you are serious, and not sure, how can you so easily flip in a grade of 65?

Are you serious?

 

Hopefully she will return with some photos.

 

I'm not holding my breath

 

I take issue with calling all dealers dishonest.

 

I have to agree there.

Yes, there are a lot of shady ones, but..

There are the good guys.

 

i think thst is some of the best advice a person can give to anybody who tries to sell to a dealer they will give you very low and sell to you very high

 

if you go to ebay i know alot of people dont like them but it will give you the best idea of what coins you have on the condition and price that they will sell on ebay and i bet the price you get will be better than most dealers as they want to make the biggest profit they can with little of there money spent

 

Welcome to CT!

I'm in Cincinnati too. What shop did you go to?

If you must dispose of the collection, I recommend separating the coins. The ones you believe to be the most valuable should NOT be sold in bulk. They should be sold separately and individually to get the most money.

It's really OK to sell to a dealer you can trust. You won't realize full retail price but they do offer the convenience of an instant sale. Many say a dealer will "rip you off" but they do have a business to run. They are not there to pay full retail price and not make money! They take all the risk and you get relieved of the pain of trying to sell on places like ebay. Generally, they'll offer about 50% of what they think they can sell it for....which I feel is fair.

The problem with large collections is they usually contain many common coins of little value individually. Yes, you can setup an ebay account and spend years selling $2 coins one at a time....but, if you must dispose of the coins, it's makes more sense to sell to a dealer.....if he is even interested.

 

Thank you ..I have taken the time to look over it now and believe I know how to begin a thread now!! I appreciate that tho!

 

I went to Coins+ on Beechmont Ave. I love the guys there ...they are friendly and explain things to me. Then again... I saw that one of my coins they paid me 12 for was then sold for almost 6 times that. I deal in antiques quite often and I understand everyone has to make theirs , but that kinda stung because I told them I really needed the money right now and that I was trusting them. My research only added to my confusion and ignorance of coin collecting. I have a coin from 1816 and in mint condition worth less than a coin from 1951 and in bad shape in my opinion. Do you use this shop?

 

While all dealers are not dishonest, there have always been a high percentage of greedy sharks in the coin dealer business and in the gold/silver buying and selling business. People tend to be greedy scum. Sorry that's just how it is. Besides my opinion this is from many decades of practical experience.
As for the OP. Do not be in a rush. When you know what you have and what it is worth, then you will be able to judge if an offer is fair.
For example, you have a coin that is worth $100. Well a dealer is not going to give you $100 because they have to make money. An honest dealer will offer you $50-$60 and a dishonest one will offer you $20-$30.
You could sell the coins 1 by 1 on EBAY and perhaps make more money, but with EBAY and Pay Pal fees, shipping costs and all the work involved it's not for everyone.
Prices are down right now for coins. They will probably be worth more in the future if they are quality coins.

 

Oops ...somehow I posted too many times ..I'm sorry ..I mm better at putting 9th to paper..my generation loves technology. I slept in that class and sorta regret it now!