<p>Looking to sell an inherited coin collection and know NOTHING about this. Which is the most reliable source for ascertaining their value? Thanks.</p>
<p>My son collects American coins. You would want to look through the most recent edition of the “Red Book” by RS Yeoman, if the collection is American coins. I don’t know which books you would need to refer to for foreign coins. It seems to me that all of the small coin shop owners that he has talked with over the years have been very friendly in sharing their knowledge with him. He also found quite a bit of information at coin club meetings. Probably the more time you want to put into this, the more accurate an estimate you will be able to make of the collection’s value. If you are in So. Cal, my son could help.</p>
<p>I will assume that you have little knowledge about coin collecting. My husband collects stamps, so I think that the process is similar. </p>
<p>First, go to a good bookstore and purchase a coin value guide. Get the latest one possible. However, the price of silver has gone through the roof, so the coins have probably increased in value since the latest book was printed. I would go through the book and get a general idea of what you have. This is just a first step. </p>
<p>Then, I would look up coin collecting groups on line. Numismatists have many organizations. There must be one like the American Philatelists Society that can help. They will probably have a list of dealers who would give you a valuation – for a fee, unless you want to sell it to them. I would contact two or 3 or more to get an idea of what it is worth. Don’t go with the first person who looks at it. This is another reason to at least have a general idea as to what you have by buying the book.</p>
<p>My husband knows one stamp dealer who was able to help a widow sell her husband’s collection. The first person she talked to offered her $1000 for the whole collection. This dealer said that the first page of the 4 binder collection was worth at least $800. Needless to say, the widow allowed the second dealer to sell the collection. </p>
<p>Look to see if there are some coin collecting groups in your area. They may have some help for you. However, I would buy the book first, so you have an idea as to what you have. Then, you have to decide whether to keep it or sell it.</p>
<p>worrywart, We also inherited quite a coin collection. I got the red book mentioned above and we made a list of all the coins we had. We then took that list to a local coin dealer (we did not take the actual coins). He was very kind and honest and said some of the ones we had, he would be interested in taking and others were just ones that every coin collector has. We learned a lot about the process but as of today the coins are still with us. We haven’t quite reached the point where we are ready to part with them yet. My father in law treasued his coin collection and even though we have no interest in them, we would feel guilty getting rid of them.</p>
<p>Thank you for such thoughtful replies.</p>