How to Sell Silver Coins

Because of the rising cost of silver, the U.S. Mint stopped making dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollar coins out of mostly silver in 1964. Because of the increasing scarcity of older coins and the ever-increasing price per ounce of the precious metal, collectors are often willing to pay top dollar for silver coins. There are a number of ways to sell your silver coins, from simple auctions to trips to the coin store.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Grade your coins to the best of your ability. It's important before selling to determine a fair estimate of the grade, and therefore value, of your coins. If you take your coins to a dealer, he will determine the grade, but if you are selling in an online auction you need to estimate the grade yourself. Grades range from About Good (AG-3) to Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70). Use a guide such as Whitman's Red Book to help you determine the proper grades for each coin.

2. Sell your coins to a local dealer. You will usually get less money from a dealer because he has to make money reselling the coins, but you can turn your coins into cash quickly this way.

3. Use an auction website such as eBay. This method will get the most eyeballs on your coins with the millions of users of the site, but you can encounter a supply-and-demand issue. If yours is a relatively common coin, say a 1937 Mercury dime, then there may already be several like it listed. You are likely to get higher prices for your coins if they are rare or unusual selections.

4. Find an auction house if you have rare coins. If you are trying to sell some 17th-century colonial silver coins, you would be better off seeking professional help to better market your potential four-figure items. Professional auctioneers will help you get the maximum value out of your unique coins.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're selling to a dealer, negotiate. A dealer will usually first offer the lowest he is willing to pay and may come up on the price if you offer a different selling price.

[ben454]

on 10/1/2009 I would strongly suggest checking out the Silver and Gold Exchange before selling gold or silver to ANYONE. I did a great deal of research, online and offline, and learned a lot about this business. I checked pawn shops, jewelers, "gold parties", hotel "buying events as well as the online buyers, including the "as seen on tv" guys. I found that the Silver and Gold Exchange paid more than anyone else I could find. I liked the fact that they post the prices they pay per gram (beware of the places that quote in pennyweight/DWT) on a live price chart at http://SilverAndGoldExchange.com I also checked out their Better Business Bureau report and found they have never had a single complaint as opposed to HUNDREDS of complaints some other companies have! I recommend them 100%