Old coins carry two kinds of value: their metal content and their collector premium. Silver and gold coins have a hard floor from bullion value, while rare dates and mint marks can be worth far more.
Typical used price range
$1 – $2,000+
Common circulated coins trade near metal or face value. Key dates, low-mintage issues, and high-grade certified coins drive the high end.
Silver and gold coins have a bullion floor set by weight, purity, and spot price — a hard minimum regardless of collector demand.
Key dates, low mintages, and specific mint marks carry big premiums. A tiny letter can be worth hundreds.
Certified high-grade coins (PCGS/NGC) sell for multiples of circulated examples. Cleaning a coin usually destroys value.
Check the date, mint mark, and metal content, then compare against recent sold listings — never clean a coin first.
Only for coins already worth well above the grading fee in high grade — common coins aren't worth slabbing.
Photograph both sides with Valuenator for an instant AI estimate based on sold prices — free.