My son sold some silver at a local jeweler a couple of months ago. He was happy with what they gave him for it. From what I've been hearing from consumer advocates, it's not a good idea to sell to these companies that advertise on TV.

two.25acres, I would do a little research online and then take them to a coin dealer to check the value. If you go to a local jeweler they will gladly buy them for the metal but they probably will not know if they have any value beyond that. Look in your yellow pages to see if you have a coin dealer in your area.

You can also get a book from the store or go to the library and find out the value. Contact the either Linn's Stamp/coin magazine or Amos Stamp company. They have books on value of coins. Be very very careful who you go to. Some dollars are worth more than others depends on the year and condition. There is also a magazine out about coins and you can get that Barnes and Noble or any place selling magazines. It might be worth it if you at least pick up an issue. How big is your box? My son knows alot about coins as he use to buy and sell them. Just any coin dealer will not work. More information to come.
Marie

Me again. if you go to a coin dealer, make sure he/she is a member of either The American Numismatic Association or the Professional Numismatic Guild. They have certain standards they must meet. You can go on line to find a dealer in your area. If you are able to do a bit or research yourself, you will be better prepared to deal or sell. I wish you the best.
Marie who collect stamps

Thank you for the information, keep it coming. I will check into the magazines and books today. Had my husband check the dates and he found 8-10 of them from the 1800's. That suprised me. Considering the input so far, I won't just go anywhere with these. Also found some buffalo head nickels and lots of canadian coins.
We'll do our homework.
Thank you again.

I've dealt with Littleton (only purchasing, though) and always been satisfied.

Remember, though, you're only going to get the wholesale value for them--probably about half the price you'll see listed in those coin value books (that's the price you'd pay if you were buying.)

Are you sure they're silver? The oldest ones are, but there was a transition period where they were a percentage of silver, but mostly alloys of other metals--those aren't going to be worth that much.

You will have to be very careful to deal with someone who is both honest and knowledgeable.

Personally? I would find some other way to fund the trips, or I'd find a way to do 'free' things. Once you sell those coins they're gone. Precious metals are a good investment, and are a hedge against inflation (which I fear we're going to see hitting us hard in the next years). If you said you needed the money to pay the rent or buy groceries, that's one thing, but it seems a poor trade-off to give them up for a few day trips. Not saying you shouldn't--just suggesting that you take a lot of time thinking this over and brainstorming alternative options before you sell them

I agree with Azzalea. I wouldn't sell them, but if I did I would check with several sources to ascertain their value. Some of them sound pretty rare.

Coins, especially old ones, are worth a lot more than bullion.

I think that the percentage of silver in coins was reduced in the '60s, but not sure - no doubt someone will offer more accurate info.

The price of silver has traditionally moved in a certain proportion to the price of gold, and recently silver's ratio dropped quite a lot from the traditional proportion. There's been some recovery in that ratio lately, but don't know whether it's returned to the former ratio ... and, sorry, but I can't remember what that has been.

No doubt someone will provide that info, as well.

I think that your prices for silver will be higher, later.

I, also, think it wise not to liquidate capital in order to use for consumer spending in these days, especially of the less than serious need kind.

It seems to me that the days of no increases in wage/salary levels have not run their course, and I believe that the increases in prices hasn't seen an end, either ...

... which means that our incomes will go less far in future than they have in the past.

ole joyful

I have several Morgan dollars, and I can tell you that the selling prices are close to the value of silver(for good quality coins, fine quality is worth a little more and poor is worth less). But, in order for them to re-sell at the quoted prices, dealers will pay less to buy them from you.

Check your coins for a mint mark (where the coins were minted), this is true in all coins. Coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint have no mint mark. Phila. was the original mint, and has always been the largest producer - so they are the cheapest in value.
Coins produced in Denver, San Francisco or any other mint have mint marks (the first letter of the mint eg. D or S) on them, they produce way far coins and therefore sell for much, much more than the same quality and year coin minted from Phila.

Joyful, the amount of silver in a US dollar coin went way down when the Eisenhower dollar coin was first minted, in the early 70's. I believe the Susie B dollar coin has little or none.

I have held onto these for 35 years and if there is a good value to them I agree, they should be saved. I just figured they might get us a little fun money. If it's more than that, I will continue to save them. Can't figure out where the mint marks are but then I can hardly read them. I think I have to get a magnifying glass for more clarity. Thank you again for the information and ideas.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume that most coins in less than mint condition (new, or like new) are worth more for their silver content than as collectibles.

DH's late father saved silver dollars. Most are too worn to be valuable beyond their silver content. I was just thinking we should probably sell them while prices are still up -- along with the silver place settings sitting unused in their chests.

Monica, that is very interesting! My sister and I weeded for an elderly neighbor when we were young and she paid us in silver dollars. I don't suppose they have much silver in them but we both continue to hang on to them. They represent some hard work!

I think silver is up to 40.00 per ounce,and i found out the other day that 2 silver quarters minted before 1964 = 1 oz,so you can do the math there.They stopped making all silver quarters in 1964 i believe.Don't know about other denominations though.
kathi

I don't know much about coins and their value. The only thing I can tell you is don't clean them. My DH just decided to get rid of some coins but before he did, he decided to clean them. One was very valuable but in cleaning it, he scratched it and lost about $200.00 on one coin in the process.

Good Morning,
My son just sold two gold coins he found while digging on a job site. One was a 1851 Liberty Head & the other a 1913 $2 1/2 Indian Head. He got $210 & $250 for them! He hated to sell them but it was short work week with the rainy weather. I know gold & silver rates change daily.

I personally would probably sell some & keep some for a rainy day. Sometimes memory making trips with your hubby are worth more than silver. 10 years down the road, you'll both still be talking about the fun times you had together :)

Best Wishes
Ginger

My husband has collected stamps and coins since he was a kid. He still buys supplies like stamp and coin book holders. When we neded some extra cash after a series of emergencies, , he sold to a coin dealer he has known for years. We feel that we got a good deal. Again, some dollars are more valuable/rare than others. And silver coins are 100% silver. Not like the "sandwich" coins we have now.

A little added info for you pulled from the Internet:

For dollar coins minted in 1935 and earlier, the mint mark is on the reverse, or "tails" side, of the coin, usually below the eagle. Many times the mint mark gets lost in the rest of the design. A poor strike or a well-circulated, well-worn coin may obliterate the mint mark, or make it otherwise unrecognizable.

Specific positions for the major designs:
Seated Liberty dollar - on the reverse side under the eagle
Morgan dollar - between the wreath and the letters DO in DOLLAR
Peace dollar - between the word ONE and the eagle's tail.

For dollar coins minted in 1971 and later, including both the nickel and brass dollar coins minted for circulation, the mint mark is on the obverse, or "heads" side, of the coin, usually near the date. These coins are made of copper-nickel or brass so they're not "silver" dollars, although many people mistakenly call them that.

Eisenhower dollars have the mint mark above the date.
Susan B. Anthony dollars have the mint mark on near her collar on the left side of the coin.
Sacagawea dollars 2000 to 2008 have the mint mark below the date.
The new Presidential dollars and Sacagawea dollars starting in 2009 have the mint mark on the coin's edge

Bullion American Eagle silver "dollars" also have their mint marks on the obverse, although these coins carry an artificial denomination and are meant for investment, not use in commerce.

Mint mark letters for non-gold dollars (including the "golden" Sacagawea dollar) are as follows:

No mint mark (up to 1978) or P (1979 and later) = Philadelphia
D = Denver (1921 and later)
S = San Francisco
CC = Carson City (only on dollars struck between 1870 and 1893)
O = New Orleans (only on dollars struck up to 1904)

I have done business in person twice with this company (see link below) and once by mail. They are rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau and have been in business for many years (not a "fly by night"), and they publish on their website what they pay.

My mom collected coins for years. They didn't have any numismatic value...it was really just a bunch of old coins in various baggies. My dad wanted to sell them, so sis took him and a bunch of the coins to Tulsa Gold & Gems. He got over $800 for the ones he sold that day.

I mention them because they also do business by mail. You can request a "mail kit" on their website. They will send you everything you need to send your items to them, and they insure it. When they get your package, they will value the items and give you a price online. If you like it, they FedEx you a check. If you don't, they pay to send your things back to you. And you can pick and choose...accept their offer on some and decline on others. You only have 48 hours to respond because the price of metals fluctuate so widely.

Having sold gold to a local jeweler who has been here for years, I can tell you this place is much more generous and there is no "creepy" factor like with a pawn shop on the corner somewhere.

Read their reviews. I also see that now they've added a 100% guarantee where you have 72 hours after you receive your check to change your mind.

PS: I don't work for them and get nothing for this recommendation. Just putting it out there for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tulsa Gold & Gems