Your grandparents might have introduced you to the world of coin collecting, but the hobby dates back as far as the 14th century when royalty and the wealthy took pleasure in finding the most valuable, rarest coins to keep.
Before you part with your collectibles, uncover these 8 Genius Money Moves to Score $500+ in Free Cash This Week! Why sell when you can earn more effortlessly?
In modern times, coin collecting has become something anyone can enjoy, although, as with virtually any type of collectible, some coins hold incredible value. To illustrate, some rare pennies are set for auction for more than $400,000 on eBay. Other coins with slight errors or those in rare circulation sell for $1,000 or more.
Some people hang onto their collections for life, and others view their collections as an investment. If you fall into the second category, this guide is for you. Selling your coins could be a lucrative move, especially if you have any rare coins tucked away. Find out where to sell your coin collection for extra cash.
Want more fast money ideas? Checkout:
- EarnIn: Borrow up to $750 against an upcoming paycheck!
- National Debt Relief: Get fast debt relief assistance if you have $10,000+ in debt!
Where To Sell Coins: 12 Best Places
Most collectibles have their own niche marketplaces online that work best for finding buyers for your specific collection. For example, you might use Discogs to sell vinyl records or MyComicShop to sell comic books you’re ready to part with.
Selling coins is no exception. In fact, there are numerous places online for buying and selling coins. I rounded up some of the best options based on their ease of selling, pricing, reputation, and customer bases.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an auction company for coins and currency that’s been around since 1933. The company hosts live auctions online, and you can sell or consign your coins directly to them if you want to part with your collection.
You can get a free appraisal, and a buyer can come to your location to check out your collection and pay for it if they’re interested. If you’d rather consign, which might give you a bigger profit, fill out the website form to get an appraisal and learn more about the process.
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is an online auction house for collectibles of all kinds, but coins and currencies are hot commodities here.
You can consign your coins or sell them through an auction with Heritage Auctions. An initial appointment with an expert from the company can help you decide your best option for free. Heritage Auctions even offers cash advances for some coins, so you don’t have to wait for them to sell. Fill out this form to tell the company about your collection.
APMEX
APMEX buys and sells rare coins online, along with other collectibles, like gold, silver, and currency. You can request a quote or call the company to let them know what you want to sell.
APMEX provides shipping labels with insured shipping so you can send in your coins securely. Most payments are processed within 1-2 business days after receiving your coins.
Coinappraiser.com
Coinappraiser.com buys rare coins and collections. If it’s not interested in what you have or isn’t the right buyer, the company can refer you to someone else for free.
There are also numerous resources on the site for coin collectors, helping you value your coins, understand important terms, have a successful auction, and more.
The Royal Mint
Yes, The Royal Mint. The Royal Mint is responsible for making British coins and has been for over 1,100 years. You can also sell your coins here, although, as you might expect, the site is geared toward British coins and coin sets.
Most people can consign their collections to an auction for zero fees. Fill out the online interest form with photos of your coins or collection to get a valuation estimate.
American Rarities
American Rarities is a rare coin dealer that will potentially buy your coins. The company’s expert buyers can come to you if they are interested in your collection.
Simply text or email American Rarities to start the conversation. You can also mail your coins using the company’s insured service and receive payment after a free appraisal.
USA Coin Book
USA Coin Book is an online marketplace for coins.
Just register an account to start selling. You can create listings for each coin you have, write eye-catching descriptions, and name your pricing. You’ll need PayPal to receive payments.
Hertel’s Coins
Hertel’s Coins features live auctions for coins and currencies and buys these collectibles from people like you to continue refreshing its inventory. It’s free to get an appraisal, and there are no fees to sell to Hertel’s Coins.
Provide some information and photos for your collection to gauge interest using Hertel’s Coins online contact form.
GreatCollections
GreatCollections is another popular online auction house for coin collectors, selling everything from twenty-cent pieces and half dimes to gold quarter eagles and commemorative coins.
You can create your listings on the site after registering an account. If your coin has a value of over $1,000, GreatCollections takes no fees. For coins under $1,000, there’s a 5% fee.
Coin World Marketplace
Created by Coin World, a go-to online resource for tips, value guides, and other resources for coin collectors, Coin World Marketplace allows authorized dealers to sell their coins.
Authorized dealers are vetted and ID-verified and must stay on a probationary period for six months to maintain their spot. The marketplace takes a fee of up to 5-6% of your final sales, depending on how much you spend on advertising for your listings.
DLRC
DLRC hosts internet auctions weekly for rare and popular coins. You can consign your coins for DLRC to auction off, but you’re in control of the minimum pricing you’ll accept for your coins. Plus, DLRC doesn’t have any selling fees.
Fill out DLRC’s form to let them know what you have in stock. Then, you can mail in your coins to sell.
eBay
It’s almost impossible not to mention eBay as a potential selling spot for just about anything since sellers on the platform sell virtually everything. However, US and world coins, like other collectibles, really are popular on eBay. Take a look at current listings of US coins, and you’ll notice many selling for $50 or more.
eBay charges coin sellers a final sale fee of 13.25% for per-item sales of $7,500 or less or 7% if the per-item sale is more than $7,500.
Where to Sell Coins Near Me?
Selling online isn’t for everyone. If you’d rather find people near you to sell coins to, you have other options.
Like pawn shops, for starters. They’re always on the hunt for collectibles like coins. Pawn shops also tend to build relationships with frequent shoppers, so your local one might already have some coin collectors on hand to call and flip your coins quickly.
Vintage shops are another idea. Some let you set up a booth for sales, while others might let you consign or sell your coins directly to the store.
Whether you want to sell furniture locally or get rid of collectibles without having to ship them to an online buyer, I often recommend Facebook Marketplace and Facebook buying and selling groups for the job. They’re free to use, and you can message potential buyers to come to terms you both agree on.
There’s also Craigslist, which can work well if you live in or near a populated area where more people tend to browse their local listings. With Craigslist and Facebook, do your due diligence to vet buyers and be sure to get payment before handing over your collection, as they don’t offer seller protections like online selling marketplaces often do.
How Much Are My Coins Worth?
It can feel intimidating to start selling your coins if you have no idea how much they’re worth. Fortunately, there are a few websites you can use to help with this:
- Heritage Auctions’ Price Guide: This is an excellent resource to use when you’d like a potential price range for the coins you have. Click the type of coin to see its average circulated and uncirculated pricing.
- PCGS: PCGS authenticates coins and currencies. Its online price guide for coins is invaluable, listing current pricing for everything from half-cents to commemorative coins.
- Greysheet: Another great place to bookmark to compare coin prices, Greysheet provides an easy-to-use digital pricing guide for all types of coins.
If you prefer a physical price guide, try A Guide Book of United States Coins–Red Book. A new, updated version gets published each year to help you get the most accurate values.
Don’t forget that many of the places I listed to sell your coins offer free appraisals. Still, getting a couple of opinions is a good idea just to ensure you aren’t selling yourself short. You can always get a private appraisal from someone local to you, too.
Tips for Selling Coins
It’s time to sell your coins, but having a few tips tucked in your back pocket can help you make sure you get the most out of your collection.
Consider the following:
- Always get an appraisal or value your coins yourself using an up-to-date pricing guide. You don’t want to risk leaving money on the table by undervaluing your coins. Better yet, get a couple of appraisals to compare potential values and develop price ranges for each coin.
- Handle coins with care. Keep them in protective sleeves or cases to avoid getting oils from your hands or dirt and debris on them, especially if they’re uncirculated.
- Don’t clean dirty coins. Many old coins that have circulated are going to be dirty or scratched, and that’s okay. Depending on the coin, you might actually reduce its value by cleaning it.
- Try not to rush the selling process. If you wait for the right buyer to come along, you’ll likely wind up with more money for your coins than you would have if you quickly sold your collection to the first shop or online buyer you find.
To Sum Up
Selling coins is a smart way to make money, whether you started your collection as a hobby or intended for it to be an investment. Either way, you’re getting at least some money back, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get more back than you spent to build your collection.
Plus, you can get rid of something you no longer need from your home to save space, minimize non-necessities, and potentially make room for your next collection.
| Platform | Features | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Stack’s Bowers | Free appraisal, live auctions, direct selling or consignment | Depends on the service used |
| Heritage Auctions | Free initial expert consultation, cash advances, consignment or auction | Varies based on consignment/sale |
| APMEX | Buys and sells rare coins, provides insured shipping labels | No explicit fees mentioned |
| Coinappraiser.com | Buys rare coins, offers referrals if not interested | No explicit fees mentioned |
| The Royal Mint | Specializes in British coins, free auction consignment | No fees for auction consignment |
| American Rarities | Free appraisal, expert buyers can come to you, insured mailing service | No explicit fees mentioned |
| USA Coin Book | Online marketplace, requires PayPal for payments | 2% of final sale, PayPal fees |
| Hertel’s Coins | Live auctions, free appraisal | No fees to sell |
| GreatCollections | Online auctions, no fees for coins valued over $1,000 | 5% fee for coins under $1,000 |
| Coin World Marketplace | Only authorized dealers can sell, ID verification, probationary period | 5-6% fee |
| DLRC | Weekly internet auctions, no selling fees, control over minimum pricing | No fees for selling |
| eBay | Popular online platform, broad audience | 13.25% for sales ≤ $7,500, 7% > $7,500 |
Do you have other collections you want to sell? Check out these other guides:
