How to appraise coins & how to check the value of your coins?

People have always been fascinated by gold and silver coins. The fact that we consider them precious and appealing make them valuable to everyone. But how can we calculate the fair market value of a gold or silver coin? Basically, the math comes down to 3 factors: metal and purity, condition, and scarcity.

Value of Coins Made of Gold

The value of a gold coin is based on the coin’s weight, the coin’s purity, the coin’s condition, and the coin’s scarcity.

Value of 1 Gram of Pure Gold: $85.73
Common Coin Alloys: 999, 986, 916, 900

Value Coins Made of Silver

The value of a silver coin is based on the coin’s weight, the coin’s purity, the coin’s condition, and the coin’s scarcity.

Value of 1 Gram of Pure Silver: $0.99
Common Coin Alloys: 999, 925, 900

Value of Coins
4 Types

The four most important types of coins are bullion coins, rounds, antique coins, and numismatic coins.

Bullion Coins

Coins minted for investment purposes.

Rounds

Round-shaped coins with no denomination.

Antique Coins

Coins minted in the last century.

Ancient Coins

Antique coins minted 1000+ years ago.

Value Factors of Gold & Silver Coins

The value of gold and silver coins is determined based on a coin’s weight, purity, condition, and scarcity. A rare coin in very bad condition may not be worth more than scrap value. For rare coins, condition is the MOST important value factor.

Weight & Purity

For most gold and silver coins, weight and purity are the most important factors in determining the current value. The heavier a coin is, the more valuable it is. While some coins weigh just a few grams, others can weigh a full ounce, two ounces, or even a kilo. While the value of a one-ounce gold coin is $2666.06, the value of a one-ounce silver coin is only $30.74 in direct comparison. Many coins will have their weight minted on the obverse or reverse, which makes a quick value assessment easier for inexperienced coin owners.

Condition

Most coins are priced based on their weight and purity, but the condition may add some or even significant extra value. A coin in bad condition may be worth only $50, while the same coin in excellent condition could be worth thousands of dollars. The condition may be critical to the value; older mass-made coins in GREAT condition are especially rare. Consider that the highest-graded coins are almost always sealed and include certification papers; they’re rarely loose and not kept in a coin holder or capsule.

Scarcity

One common misbelief is that if a coin is old, or even very old, it must be VERY valuable. People tend to consider very old items to be very valuable, which may be true in certain circumstances. But even 100 or 200 years ago, people collected things like special coins and stored them safely. A coin we consider scarce was probably rare even 100+ years ago. People may not have realized that, and the coin changed hands for its face value only. This is another reason we consider the condition of a coin when we want to determine its value.

Value Coins Made of Gold

Here is a list of very common and widespread gold coins with their current base values. The listed purchase prices are minimum prices. Some coins may have significantly higher values due to their condition, grading, or scarcity.

Value of Coins Made of Silver

Here is a list of very common and widespread silver coins with their current base values. The listed purchase prices are minimum prices. Some coins may have significantly higher values due to their condition, grading, or scarcity.

Question & Answers: Value Coins & How To Appraise Coins

At reDollar.com, everything is about knowledge transfer and education.

How do I find out what my coins are worth?

The best way to find out how much your coins are worth is doing an online research. reDollar.com is a also a great place to get an online appraisal for your coins. Other resources like “eBay” or “A Guide Book of United States Coins” are great for getting educated. Another good start is sorting your coins by  metal: gold, palladium, platinum, and silver. Very often, markings on your coin will indicate what type of metal is present. Especially gold and palladium coins can be very valuable. A general rule is: the bigger the better. A bigger coin is heavier than a small coin resulting in a higher value.

Helpful for you: gold calculator

What is the best website for coin values?

reDollar.com has a tremendous coin knowledge section. Besides countless articles with photos and price charts, they do have an expert section where you can upload photos for getting a free online evaluation – as far as possible. While many coins can be roughly evaluated, some really need to be seen in person. Another great website for coin values is eBay. You can browse trough their sold section to get an idea about the value in your coins. Please consider that eBay is charging approx. 15% for selling on their website. While 15% doesn’t sound too bad, this is about 300 dollars in fees if you sell a coin for 2,000.

How much is a gold or silver coin worth, today?

As a general rule, gold is significantly worth more than silver. While a one ounce gold coin can be sold for $2532.76, a one ounce silver coin can only be sold for $29.20. Gold is a precious metal that is much rarer than silver and thus gold is reflecting a higher value. In the US, the most common gold and silver coins are the American Eagle gold coins and the American Eagle silver coins. Those coins are produced by the United States Mint and are backed by the government for weight, purity, and authenticity. Those so called bullion coins are available in various sizes and denominations, making them the most popular choice for investors in North America.