# What do I do with these old coins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-these-old-coins/505102 "2009-08-02T23:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-these-old-coins/505102/1 "2009-08-02T23:53:07Z")
Okay, so, I’ve got a pile of old coins, old paper money, and old…stuff from when my father passed away two years ago. It holds zero sentimental value and I am tired of hauling it around every time I move. How does one go about getting old coins appraised without getting ripped off? It seems to me that going to someone who would be interested in both appraising and purchasing the small collection would be best served by severely understating the value of the objects, while someone appraising them with no intention of purchasing would be difficult to find (I certainly haven’t been able to find anyone in this club). What’s the SD on the most accurate way to get old coins appraised and then to liquidate them? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-these-old-coins/505102/2 "2009-08-03T00:48:55Z")
MY strong suggestion would be to PM moderator **Samclem** giving your location. He is a (reliable) professional coin and currency dealer, and may be willing to recommend reputable dealers in your area who could appraise your “collection” and would probably be willing to dispose of it for you (either buying it themselves or reselling it for you on consignment. I suspect. however, that it would probably not be wise to do that on open board. ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-these-old-coins/505102/3 "2009-08-03T02:13:45Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > MY strong suggestion would be to PM moderator **Samclem** giving your location. He is a (reliable) professional coin and currency dealer, and may be willing to recommend reputable dealers in your area who could appraise your “collection” and would probably be willing to dispose of it for you (either buying it themselves or reselling it for you on consignment. I suspect. however, that it would probably not be wise to do that on open board. Hey, we really do have something of everything here, don’t we? Thanks, **Polycarp**. I didn’t know **Samclem** was in the trade and will be sending him a PM shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-these-old-coins/505102/4 "2009-08-03T03:15:14Z")
An interesting story, if a slight tangent: [http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090731\_ap\_usmintmustseekcourtoktokeeprare1933coins.html](http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090731_ap_usmintmustseekcourtoktokeeprare1933coins.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-these-old-coins/505102/5 "2009-08-03T06:53:51Z")
You could also take them to to a main office of a local bank, and they will exchange them for you. But they will pay only the face value, not any extra for rare or antique coins.