This is Evelyb30 from the Antiquers sister board. A friend called me today looking for help selling his coin collection; I think he roll hunted years ago and has a bunch of silver ones. Today he called me; I know enough to make trouble and not much more, but was registered on this side of the site and knew who to ask. The only link I found on the site is so old it's collecting Social Security, so bright ideas would be appreciated. We're both in the central part of Connecticut if that helps.
Hi Evelyn….. Dealing with antiques, you probably know that most common items aren’t worth what many owners feel their prized possessions are truly valued at. Overwhelmingly, plucked silver will be worth the silver value and seldom more….. Thing is, without knowing what is in the collection, it is impossible to say. I don’t know the area. Hopefully some folks from up that way will jump in with some recommendations, but I think that by and large most dealers are reputable. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be dealers for very long. I would just tell him to get on the phone and call a few of them and see who feels like his kind of person.
Can your friend find a local coin show? He/she may find multiple dealers to talk to and find the best price for their treasures.
I would go to a few local coin shops and just look around. Maybe take a few important coins and see what they offer. It's best to walk into a shop and have some idea of the current value.
Where I live there's really only one coin shop of note, and the guy who runs it is gruff and dismissive. Not interested in buying anything (he informed me of this when I phoned, though I hadn't mentioned selling anything) and made it clear that he won't deal in anything less than $1500 or $2000 minimum. (I hadn't mentioned anything about price points either.) Good thing I didn't start out collecting that way. I would have quit the next day. And good thing we have the internet which makes it easier to maintain a broad perspective. Lately I've been buying 4-figure coins online with nary a hitch and I really don't see why I should overpay locally for the privilege of being condescended to..
