Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Find the country that minted the coins in the collection. This is stamped into every coin. "United States of America" appears on the reverse of most American coins. Foreign countries also identify their coins with their country name. If this is in a foreign language, see the "identify foreign coins" link in the resources section.
Identify the denomination of the coins. All coins have their value stamped on them. This can be on the front or back of the coin. It can also be an exact amount like "one cent" and "five cents" on the penny and nickel. It can also be a coin nickname like "one dime" and "quarter dollar" on the 10 cent and 25 cent coins. Older coins can be labeled differently than modern coins.
Locate the date of issue on the coins. All coins have a year stamped on them. This can be on the obverse like a cent, nickel or dime. It can also be on the reverse like with state quarters. Some foreign coins base their year on a different calendar or the year of a king's rule. See the "identify foreign coins" link in the resources section for these coins.
Search for a mint mark on the coins. Many coins have tiny letters stamped on them indicating the mint where the coin was made. Many modern American coins are stamped with "P" for Philadelphia, "D" for Denver, or "S" for San Francisco. Some older American coins can have mint marks like "CC" for Carson City or "O" for New Orleans. Coins can also have no mint mark. American coins without a mint mark were made at the Philadelphia mint.
Look up the coin in a coin reference guide. Coin books and websites list coins by country, denomination, year and mint mark. Find the coin on these charts and take note of the list of coin values. This is a range of prices that the coin could be worth.
Examine the coin for rare varieties. If the coin reference guide has another row for a rare variety of your coin on the chart, the coin could have added value. Rare varieties are coins that were made with a defect in small numbers. It could be a double stamped mint mark, missing element or unusual feature on the design. If your coin has these qualities, it could be worth a great deal of money.
Determine the grade of the coin. A coin's grade is its condition. Coins in uncirculated condition are worth more than worn down coins. Every coin variety is graded differently. Consult your coin guide for specifics. It is very important to handle uncirculated coins with gloves or coin tongs. Oils on your fingers will damage uncirculated coins and decrease their value.
Look up the value of the coins in the collection. Once you determine the coin's grade, find the corresponding price on the coin reference guide. This is approximately what your coin is worth.