3 Mistakes To Avoid When Preparing Coins For Appraisal

If you own an extensive coin collection, then you probably wonder how much your coins are worth. The best way to find the true value of your coins is through a professional appraisal. A coin collection quote will not only show you the value of your coins, but you may have the opportunity to sell some of your most valued pieces to a coin appraisal company.

Ideally, you want to get the most value for your coins and avoid any mistakes along the way that could impact the overall appraisal. Check out some of the more common mistakes to avoid and keep them in mind as you prepare your coins for a sale.

1. Cleaning Coins

You may have coins that look like they could use a good cleaning, but do not attempt to clean any coin within your collection. The cleaning process could devalue a coin in many ways. For example, excessive scrubbing could end up scratching a coin. The chemicals used on a coin could lead to a loss in quality.

No matter how faded or dirty a coin appears, an appraisal company knows the best way to clean a coin and can determine its value based on its current condition. You want the coins to remain as natural as possible to help ensure the best quality.

2. Removing Coins From Packaging

Some of the coins in your collection may have come from advertised sets or collector's sets like the 50 State Quarters. If possible, leave all of your coins in those books. Not only do you not want to risk damage to the coin, but the coin holder itself could add extra value to your appraisal.

For example, you may have received a special coin from an event you attended. The coin holder could give more details on the event, along with illustrated graphics. The mint condition coin holder could increase the demand and value of the coin itself.

3. Over-Sorting Your Coins

You may have the urge to prepare your coin collection as much as possible before the appraisal. This includes organization and typing up individual coins in separate documents. Do not worry about this element as part of the process. Ideally, you should only sort your coins by denomination. Let the appraiser do the rest.

For example, you can separate quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. You will also want to place your international coins in a separate collection as well. The appraiser will recognize and label the coins as needed. You will save time and have an accurate value of your collection.

Contact a professional to learn more about coin collection appraisal.