Our Process for Pricing Rare Coins
When you sit down with us, we don’t just glance at your collection or blindly put it on a scale. Our approach is hands-on, educational, and transparent—we show you exactly what we look for when pricing rare items.
Lifetimes of Passion Deserve Scientific Respect
Many of the coins brought into our North Scottsdale showroom represent lifetimes of passionate collecting, or have been treasured in families across generations. Our senior appraisers understand that rare coins require rigorous analytical protocols: verifying authenticity, examining die states, checking mint varieties, and distinguishing base metal bullion value from immense numismatic premiums.
We look at auction comp sales, PCGS and NGC population reports, CAC verification stickers, and wholesale dealer networks (CDN Bluesheet / Greysheet) directly in front of you. You see the exact numbers behind every offer.
How We Determine What Your Coins Are Worth
A transparent, repeatable evaluation standard that eliminates guesswork.
Step 1: Establishing the Foundation (Metal vs. Rarity)
Before evaluating the rarity of a coin, please remember: absolutely do not clean your coins. Cleaning ruins original surface luster and permanently damages collector appeal.
- The Silver Baseline: We start by identifying standard Constitutional Silver (90% silver coinage minted before 1965) to calculate its baseline intrinsic metal value from live spot prices.
- Historic Gold: The same careful scrutiny applies to Pre-1933 U.S. Gold. A Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ($20) or an Indian Head gold piece ($10, $5, $2.50) has intrinsic melt value, but its true market worth is heavily driven by its numismatic premium.
- Hunting for Key Dates: We meticulously check for key dates, rare mint marks (Carson City "CC", New Orleans "O", Charlotte "C", Dahlonega "D"), over-dates, and exceptional preservation that elevate coins into five-figure treasures.
Step 2: The Gold Standard of Grading
To ensure our offers are fair and reflective of the current national marketplace, we strongly rely on industry-standard third-party certification:
Certified Plastic: In the numismatic community, the triumvirate of PCGS, NGC, and CACG represents the pinnacle of grading integrity. If your coins are "slabbed" by these authorities, we look closely at the eye appeal of the piece and current auction data to determine the most aggressive cash price.
Raw Coins: If your coins are "raw" (ungraded in albums, envelopes, or flips), our senior numismatists have the expert connoisseurship necessary to grade them accurately against the exact same Sheldon 1-70 scale so you understand their true potential value.
Step 3: World Coins & Foreign Precious Metals
Our expertise does not stop at the U.S. border. We actively assess and price world coins and foreign precious metals from every continent:
- The Americas & Australia: We evaluate stunning Mexican Libertads, Centenarios (50 Pesos gold), Canadian silver dollars and Maple Leafs, and Australian Perth Mint gold issues.
- Europe & Beyond: We possess the specialized historical knowledge required to appraise classic British Sovereigns, French Napoleons / Roosters, Swiss 20 Francs, Sterling silver (.925) hallmarked flatware, and older European fractional silver coins.
- Each country's coinage comes with its own unique history, purity standards, and collector base, all of which we factor into our transparent pricing models.
How do you determine the value of Pre-1933 U.S. Gold coins?
We evaluate Pre-1933 U.S. Gold coins by initially examining their base intrinsic value, which is determined by the live precious metals market. We then add the appropriate numismatic premium by carefully assessing the coin’s date, mint mark, overall condition (grade), and the current level of collector demand nationwide.
What is the difference between intrinsic value and numismatic premium?
Intrinsic value refers to the exact market worth of the precious metal contained within the coin, such as the silver in 90% Constitutional coinage. The numismatic premium is the additional value derived from a coin’s historical significance, mintage rarity, exceptional condition, and desirability among serious collectors.
Do you purchase foreign silver and gold coins?
Yes, we certainly do. We actively evaluate and purchase a wide variety of foreign precious metals. This includes highly sought-after pieces like Mexican Libertads, British Sovereigns, Sterling silver items, Canadian silver dollars, Australian gold issues, and older European fractional silver coins.
Should I clean my coins before having them evaluated?
Absolutely not. Cleaning a coin removes its original surface luster and causes permanent micro-abrasions to the metal, which can drastically reduce its numismatic value and appeal to collectors. Always leave your coins exactly as they are—we prefer to see them in their authentic, uncleaned state.