My wife inherited her father's coin collection. it has everything from mint sets U.S & Canadian to all his loose coins over his lifetime. We don't have a clue as what to do with it. It is in cans, suitcases, boxes etc. How do find out its value. thanks for any help.
With that much, I'd say join the local Coin Club. There are usually peeps in a Coin Club that would die to get to go through a large stash like that and they'd do it for free. Ribbit
Welcome to CoinTalk. I recommend that you: DO NOT CLEAN YOUR COINS!!!! Sort the coins by denomination and type. (Obviously, sets - like Proof sets and Uncirculated sets - should remain intact.) If you don't already own one, buy a Red Book and learn which dates and mintmarks are more valuable so you can sort those more-valuable coins out from the common coins. Take the sorted coins to a reputable coin dealer for an approximate value.
Pick up a current version of the "red book" Do not touch the coins with your fingers - buy cotton gloves and handle the coins on the rims until you have a better feel of value and condition. Do not clean any regardless of what good you think you might do!!! Sort the coins by type Once organized a little start asking specific questions Do not touch the coins with your fingers - buy cotton gloves and handle the coins on the rims until you have a better feel of value and condition. Do not clean any regardless of what good you think you might do!!! Have a digital camera ready so that you can include photos with your questions Take your time - it's not a race - your wife's father probably spent his life saving these coins - don't try to go through them all at once. Do not touch the coins with your fingers - buy cotton gloves and handle the coins on the rims until you have a better feel of value and condition. Do not clean any regardless of what good you think you might do!!! Don't just go sell them to a dealer without having an idea about what you are doing and have. Ask as many questions as you need to and there is no such thing as a stupid question!!! Do not touch the coins with your fingers - buy cotton gloves and handle the coins on the rims until you have a better feel of value and condition. Do not clean any regardless of what good you think you might do!!! You get the idea - Sorry for your wife's loss pass on our sympathy and best wishes! Darryl
Dont get a dealers value. He will try to give you a low value so he can buy them from you at that price and sell it for a double profit. Take pictures dont touch thim with bare hands, buy cotton gloves, and hold them by the rim. Don't clean them you will DESTROY the value. And I would not recommend offing them for money as they where your wifes father lifetime collection. And if you have children you could pass them down to them. (It is a hobby you will never outgrow) I am very sorry for your wifes loss.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Ditto to all Hobo stated. As in all other aspects of life, there are unethical parties involved in the coin business. You may get lucky and walk into the right dealer's shop. There are people from all over the country in this chat room. If you mention the general geographic locale you reside in, you will likely get steered to an ethical dealer. There is always the do it yourself route and you may find that your father-in-laws hobby is one you will enjoy.
The others pretty much covered it , welcome to CT , sorry for your loss . What FGarrett said made a lot of sence , they're part of your families legacy now , if you can try to keep it in the fammily you won't regret it . rzage
If you can, pile the hoard up on the kitchen table or in the middle of the floor and take a couple of pictures so that we can at least SEE what you have to deal with. While cans, suitcases and boxes sound like alot, a picture would help everyone grasp the enormity of the task at hand.
