Maybe it's a coffee can of old change from a grandparent. Maybe it's a binder of proof sets, or a few slabbed coins you bought years ago. Either way, the first question is always the same: what is this actually worth, and who should I sell it to?
Here's the honest, step-by-step version from a Lantana-based dealer, including the parts that have nothing to do with us.
Step 1: Don't clean anything
This is the most expensive mistake people make. Cleaning, polishing, or "brightening" a coin removes its original surface, and collectors and grading services treat cleaned coins as damaged. A dull, toned coin is often worth far more than the same coin scrubbed shiny. Leave every coin exactly as you found it and handle coins by the edges.
Step 2: Do a quick first sort
You don't need to be an expert to separate the coins that matter from pocket change. Make four piles:
- Already graded ("slabbed") coins. Sealed plastic holders from PCGS, NGC, ANACS, or CAC-stickered slabs. Write down the grader and cert number from each label.
- Likely silver. U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. Kennedy halves from 1965–1970 are 40% silver. "War nickels" from 1942–1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello contain 35% silver. Morgan and Peace silver dollars (1878–1935) are 90% silver.
- Mint and proof sets. Keep them in their original packaging. Sets are worth more complete.
- Everything else. Foreign coins, modern clad change, tokens, medals.
Silver coins have a floor value tied to their metal content (often called "melt"). Better dates and nicer-condition coins can be worth well above melt. That's where a knowledgeable buyer earns their keep, and where an uninformed one can underpay you.
Step 3: Decide what kind of sale you want
There's no single right answer. It depends on how much time you want to spend and what you have.
| Option | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sell outright to a local dealer | Fast, simple, cash or check the same day | You get a wholesale price; the dealer takes the resale risk |
| Consign | Better coins where retail buyers will pay up | You wait until each piece sells; there's a commission |
| Coin shows and club meetings | Comparing several dealers in one morning | You'll need to bring the coins and do the legwork |
| Auction houses | Rare, high-value pieces | Fees, longer timelines, minimums |
| Sell it yourself online | People who enjoy the process | Photos, listings, fees, shipping, and returns are all on you |
Step 4: Know what a fair offer looks like
A fair buyer will:
- Explain the offer piece by piece (or by group for bulk silver), not just give one number for the whole box.
- Show you what it's based on, such as recent sold prices for comparable coins and the current silver price for bullion-type coins.
- Put it in writing and let you take time to think.
- Tell you when something should go to auction or be graded instead of being sold to them.
Red flags: pressure to decide "today only," refusal to itemize, or an offer that doesn't change no matter what's in the box.
Step 5: Local places to get eyes on your coins
Palm Beach County has an active coin community, and it's worth showing your coins to more than one person:
- Palm Beach Coin Club meetings and its monthly coin show (guests welcome): pbcc.anaclubs.org
- Fort Lauderdale Coin Club Show (monthly): ftlauderdalecoinclub.com
- FUN Convention in Orlando (January), one of the largest coin shows in the country, with free public admission: funtopics.com
(Always check the organizer's site for the current date before you go.)
Step 6: Stay safe
- Meet at a business or a public show, not your home, for anything valuable.
- Keep an inventory (even phone photos of each pile) before coins leave your hands.
- Don't mail coins to a buyer you haven't vetted.
- For an estate, check who has the legal authority to sell before you sell.
How we handle it at Choice Custom Collections
We're based in Lantana and work with collectors and families across Palm Beach County. When you bring us a collection, we sort it with you, explain what each group is and how we priced it (with the recent sold prices behind the number), and tell you whether consigning or a different venue would get you more. You can sell to us, consign with us, or just leave with a better idea of what you have.
Get a no-obligation review → Call (561) 246-8502 or email [email protected].
Not financial or tax advice. Coin values change with the market and condition; any offer is specific to the coins we actually see.
Have a coin you're curious about? Use our What's my coin worth? form to send a few photos and request an offer or a rough sense of value.