Hello fellow shoppers, my name is Kara Lyons and you've arrived at my shopping blog. Make no mistake, I absolutely love to shop and when I'm not working I'm in the city shopping at my favorite stores. Since I shop often, I've learned how to spot the best bargains and I also know the best times to buy certain items. I hardly ever pay full price for anything I buy and I always take advantage of in store coupons and promotions. My love of shopping began when I was little and I would tag along behind my mom while she shopped. When I got old enough to shop for myself, I began to discover ways to get more for my money. If you also enjoy shopping, but you're on a budget, read my blog to learn how you can get the things you want and need without breaking the bank.
If you've got some old coins that you think might be worth something, you should get them appraised, at least so you have an insurance value, if not a potential sale value. But you have to do more than just bring the coins into any store and plunk them down on the counter. Not only will you likely need an appointment for your appraisal, you'll also have to take a few steps to ensure the coin is ready and that you've found the right appraiser.
Keep the Coins With You
Good appraisers know that even the most unlikely pile of coins could contain some valuable items, and that you want to hang onto those items until you've finally decided to sell. Good appraisers will encourage you to stay near the coins at all times. Don't send coins away by mail to strange companies, and preferably, don't leave the coins with an appraiser while you go home. Set up an appointment and be present with the coins during the entire appraisal. It's one more step in ensuring that you've found an honest appraiser because someone who isn't so honest might try something funny if you aren't around. Good appraisers will sit with you and let you see the entire appraisal procedure.
Don't Try to Clean Them Beforehand
Keep your coins in the condition they're in now. If you clean them, hoping to spruce them up and get a higher value, you could actually ruin them. Washing and cleaning removes the patina on the coins, and removing dirt, which might seem good to anyone else, could seem like an attempt to misrepresent the condition of the coin. The appraiser needs to see the coin as it is now. Remember, you aren't the coin expert, so you might not realize that your coin could still be worth a lot even while covered with tarnish. Leave the coin alone.
Ask for Appraisal Sources and Sheets
Good appraisers use resources like the Red Book or another official price guide. Good appraisers should have the resources with them and be willing to show you the resources -- don't let someone claim he or she is going by memory.
Consider Slabbing the Coins
Slabbing is a procedure in which the coin is authenticated and placed in a plastic slab for protection. This is a separate grading procedure that is done by a third party and not the appraiser you hope to use. When you bring slabbed coins to an appraiser, that person knows that you are bringing real coins.
Appraisers often work with coin stores and jewelry dealers, which means you can wander around the shop and get a feel for how the staff deals with customers. Good security, good customer service, and a healthy flow of traffic (taking into account that coin dealing is a specialized field) are all good signs.
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