How Appraisals Are Done for Coin Hoards
In earlier blogs, I warned about today’s overheated U.S. coin market and the traps that unsuspecting buyers and sellers fall into every day.
👉 If you’ve inherited or discovered coins, don’t rush to sell. First, get a professional appraisal.
A “coin hoard” could be:
• A jar of coins from your grandparents’ attic 🏠
• Bullion coins bought for investment 🥇
• Or a carefully built collection 📦
My own journey began when one grandfather collected commemoratives a century ago and another “socked away” gold coins during the Depression.
A real appraisal establishes three things: value, authenticity, and marketability.
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🔎 The Initial Assessment
The process starts with asking: Where did these coins come from? Estate, inheritance, or a lucky find? Then, we sort: bullion vs. numismatic. Patterns emerge quickly.
⚠️ Buyer Beware! If someone looks for two minutes and offers you cash or a check on the spot—run, don’t walk. They’re trying to profit off your ignorance. This is common at coin shows and sketchy coin shops.
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🥇 Bullion Appraisals
Bullion is commodity money. It’s priced by purity, weight, and the spot market.
Example: American Silver Eagles (ASEs). They come in “monster boxes” of 500 coins = 500 ounces of silver.
👉 Pro Tip: Don’t break the seals on mint monster boxes. Sealed boxes bring a premium.
Even with today’s high prices, remember: dealers pay under spot. That’s their margin. A pawn shop? Forget it.
Collectors generally aren’t interested in bullion—it’s an investor’s game.
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🪙 Coin Jars & Piles
Scouts love sorting change jars for merit badges. They often find: wheat cents, war nickels, pre-1964 silver dimes/quarters/halves, even the occasional silver dollar.
But here’s the truth:
❌ These are not rare.
❌ They usually sell by the pound at bullion rates.
❌ Ads promising “million-dollar coins in your pocket change” = scams.
Once in a while, a treasure pops up. But don’t bet your mortgage on it.
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💎 Collections & Gems
Now it gets serious.
True collections—like my grandfather’s mint commemoratives—are where value hides. These coins might be:
• High-grade or rare
• Graded/slabbed by PCGS or CACG
• Or raw but well-preserved
Here’s what matters most:
• Condition – One grade point can double value.
• Rarity – Scarcer mintages = higher prices.
• Demand – Collector hype can move markets overnight.
🔥 Standouts include: “perfect” PR70/MS70 coins, CAC-stickered coins, key dates, and ultra-low mintages.
👉 Warning: If your appraiser doesn’t show you a transparent marketing plan for selling, you’re not getting full value.
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📊 Valuation Methodsp
Coins move in two markets:
• Wholesale (dealer-to-dealer, 30% below retail)
•’ Retail (collector prices, often inflated)
eBay is a jungle—some sales near wholesale, others listed at dream prices that never sell.
Appraisers use:
• Greysheet (dealer pricing bible)
• PCGS CoinFacts
• Auction records & eBay solds
• Dealer networks (where “hot coins” are whispered before they spike)
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📑 The Appraisal Report
A quick look might be free. A real “go-to-market” appraisal is a paid service. It separates junk from gems and shows you how to sell for maximum return.
This is my business. At Trophy Point Coins, I don’t wave cash at you. Instead, we negotiate a commission that aligns our incentives. When you win, I win.
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🏁 Conclusion
The biggest takeaway:
Every coin hoard deserves serious attention.
Most won’t have million-dollar treasures. But with the right advisor, you’ll never be taken advantage of—and you’ll always maximize value.
👉 Don’t gamble with family treasures. Work with a trusted, transparent advisor.
📧 John@TrophyPointCoins.com