Old coins usually arrive all at once: a tin from a grandparent’s dresser, a bag found when a house is cleared, a jar that sat on a shelf for forty years. Most people who search for where to sell old coins are holding a mix, and the first job is not finding a buyer. It is sorting the mix into three questions. Is it silver? Is it scarce? And who should look at it first?
Where to sell old coins: is it silver, is it scarce, and who to ask
Where To Sell Silver Coins is an independent referral service, not a buyer, pawnshop or dealer. When you call or send your coin list, we pass your details to an independent buyer in New York, who makes any offer. This page helps you sort what you have so that offer makes sense.
First sort: what country, what denomination, what date
Lay the coins out and make piles by country first. US coins carry the words United States of America and a denomination: one cent, five cents, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar or dollar. Foreign coins are valued differently and are best shown to a dealer who handles them, so keep them in their own pile. Then sort the US coins by denomination, and read the date on each.
The date tells you more than anything else, because US law decided what each coin was made of by date. A magnifier and good daylight are all you need.
Second sort: is it silver?
US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. The Coinage Act of 1965 removed silver from dimes and quarters and required that any 90% coins struck after it carry the date 1964; the new clad coins could not be dated earlier than 1965. Half dollars dated 1965 through 1970 are 40% silver. Standard silver dollars, the Morgan and Peace dollars, are 90% silver. Our what years are silver coins guide has the full list.
| Old US coin | Silver? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cents | No | Not among the Mint’s silver coins; the 1943 cent is zinc-coated steel |
| Nickels | Only October 1942 through 1945 | Wartime alloy of 35% silver; other nickels are copper-nickel |
| Dimes, quarters, halves to 1964 | Yes, 90% | Usually sold by face value as junk silver |
| Half dollars 1965 to 1970 | Yes, 40% | Priced apart from 90% coins |
| Silver dollars | Yes, 90% | Each one worth looking at as a collectible |
| Half dimes, 3-cent silver, 20-cent pieces | Yes | Old denominations, long discontinued: show a dealer |
| Trade dollars | Yes, 900 fine | 420 grains; discontinued by an Act of 1887 |
Very old silver coins weigh differently
The silver weights most buyers quote are the standards set in 1873: a 12.5 gram half dollar, 6.25 gram quarter and 2.5 gram dime, all 900 fine. Older coins were struck to other standards. The US Mint’s own table shows the half dollar at 208 grains under the Act of 1792, 206 1/4 grains from 1837 and 192 grains from 1853, and the dime at 41.6, 41 1/4 and then 38.4 grains. The half dime, the 3-cent silver piece and the 20-cent piece were all discontinued in the 1870s. Coins this old may matter to a collector, which is one more reason to show them to a dealer before selling them by weight.
Commemorative half dollars
From 1892 on, the Mint struck commemorative half dollars for anniversaries and other events, among them the Iowa Centennial and Booker T. Washington halves authorized in 1946 and the Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver half authorized in 1951. The Mint lists them at the same 192.9 grains, 900 fine, as the regular half dollar. They are silver, and they are also collected, so set them apart from ordinary halves.
Third sort: is it scarce?
Whether an old coin is worth more than its metal is a question for someone who handles coins, and what they look at is the date, the mint mark and the condition. Some dates were struck in larger numbers than others, and the same year can differ from one Mint to another. This site does not list scarce dates or prices, because only someone holding the coin can judge it.
What you can do is set aside any coin that looks different: much older than the rest, unusually sharp and bright, in a holder or envelope of its own, or a design you do not recognize. Someone in the family may have set it apart for a reason.
Do not clean old coins
Cleaning cannot be undone, and a coin’s surface is part of what a collector judges. Leave the coin exactly as it is.
Where to sell old coins: dealer, auction or melt
| Route | Suits | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Coin dealer | Mixed lots, silver dollars, common silver, a few better coins | Quick and simple; ask how each part of the offer was worked out |
| Coin show | Getting several opinions in one visit | More offers to compare; take notes on each |
| Auction house | Scarce or high-grade coins, important collections | Fees and time, and the price is set by bidders |
| Bullion or melt buyer | Common silver valued only for metal | Collector value is not paid |
| Pawnshop | A short loan against the coins | A pawn loan is not a sale; terms differ |
For most mixed tins and jars, a coin dealer is the right first stop: one visit separates the coins worth only their metal from the ones worth a closer look. If a dealer tells you a coin should go to auction, that is useful advice, not a brush-off. For silver coins sold for their metal, see how to sell junk silver and sell silver coins. Silver dollars have their own guide on where to sell silver dollars, and bullion coins on how to sell Silver Eagles.
Where to sell coins without getting the wrong price
- Sort before you go. Country, denomination and date, with anything unusual set apart.
- Know your melt value for the silver coins: face value of 90% coins x 0.7234 troy ounces x spot.
- Ask for a written offer, and ask which coins, if any, were valued above their metal.
- Do not accept a single price for a whole tin without the coins being looked through.
- Get a second opinion on any coin a buyer says is special.
- Never feel rushed. A fair offer does not expire while you think.
Selling old coins in New York City
In New York City, a business that buys used goods must hold a DCWP Secondhand Dealer General licence and post it, with the licence number on its receipts. A buyer of precious metal must weigh it on an approved scale and tell you the troy weight. Every seller shows official photo ID and signs in person, the buyer records the sale, and used items cannot be resold for 15 days. Buyers cannot buy from minors. Our guide to coin dealers in NYC has more.
Old coins from an estate
If the coins belonged to someone who has died, make sure you have the right to sell them before you do, and keep a simple list of what was sold and for how much. Our guide on how to sell a coin collection covers inventories and heirs. On taxes: a profit on coins may be taxed as a capital gain, at up to 28% federally for collectibles (IRS Topic 409). Ask a tax professional.
Have a tin of old coins? Call, or send your coin list, and we pass it to an independent New York buyer, who can contact you about them.
Questions people ask
Where can I sell old coins?
A coin dealer is usually the best first stop for a mixed lot. Scarce coins may suit an auction house; common silver coins sell for their metal. Sort the coins and get a written offer before you decide.
Are old pennies worth anything?
Cents are not among the Mint’s silver coins, and the 1943 cent is zinc-coated steel, so they hold no silver. Most are worth face value; if one looks unusual, ask a dealer.
How do I know if an old coin is silver?
Check the date and denomination. Dimes, quarters and halves dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver, halves dated 1965 through 1970 are 40%, and silver dollars are 90%.
Should I clean old coins before selling them?
No. Cleaning cannot be undone, so sell old coins as they are and let the buyer see them that way.
Is it better to sell old coins to a dealer or at auction?
A dealer is quicker and suits most mixed lots. An auction suits scarce or high-grade coins, with fees and a wait. A dealer can tell you which coins, if any, belong at auction.
Does Where To Sell Silver Coins buy old coins?
No. It is an independent referral service. When you call or send your list, we pass your details to an independent buyer in New York, who makes any offer.
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