The best coin collection appraisal services are those that offer both free and professional appraisals, have certified experts on staff, and have experience handling all types of coins. A select few not only appraise but auction off and buy coins from its customers. Heritage Auctions was founded in 1976 and has become one of the largest auction houses in the United States. Its coin auction site has hosted and sold some of the most prestigious coin collections in the world, and the company keeps a staff of numismatic experts who can help identify, certify, and appraise your coins. Heritage offers two appraisal services, free and professional. Free appraisals are a complimentary service that is strictly for those looking to use heritage auction services to sell their coins or collection. Users can submit their collection details online and upload pictures. For professional appraisals, Heritage has a team of numismatic experts, many with ISA (International Society of Appraisers) and ASA (American Society of Appraisers) certification. They offer paid appraisal services that are valid for legal or insurance purposes. Heritage also offers auction services, as well as direct purchasing of appraised items. This gives users the ability to not only value their coins but sell them all in one place. To get started with Heritage free appraisals, fill out the online appraisal form, and attach pictures of your coins if you have them. If you are interested in professional appraisal services, you can contact one of Heritage’s appraisal experts directly via email or phone. You can find the contact information for the experts on the company’s professional appraisal page. PGS Gold and Coin is an Illinois-based dealer that focuses on gold and U.S. minted coins. Founded in 2008, it is a family-owned business and authorized coin dealer endorsed by organizations like PCGS and NGC. The company offers in-person or remote appraisals of U.S. coins and can even professionally grade and authenticate your coins. The appraisals fall into two categories verbal appraisals for valuation purposes and formal written appraisals for legal and insurance purposes. The verbal appraisals cost $75 and can help value your coins or collection for consignment or auction sales. The written appraisals cost $175 per hour (minimum $175 charge) and are professionally reviewed by multiple appraisers. The written appraisals are used for estate valuations, legal proceedings, or insurance purposes. To get started with PGS Gold and Coin appraisals, you can view the company’s guide to organizing your collection before submitting it. Once your collection is arranged, you can contact the team via email, phone, or by submitting an online form. Great Collections is an online auction house that specializes in U. S. and world coin collections. Founded in 2010 by Ian Russell, the website has listed and sold over $235 million worth of rare coins in 2021. The Great Collections staff is composed of domestic and world coin numismatic experts certified by several professional coin organizations, including Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Professional Numismatic Guild (PNG). The entire 11-year history of its auction sales is also available on its site, helping users evaluate and pre-appraise their collections using real-world sales prices. Great Collections offers free appraisals for items that collectors are considering listing for sale. Clients can submit their coin details online and organize their collection using the Great Collection free excel spreadsheet. To get a free appraisal from Great Collections, simply fill out the online form (and attach pictures if needed). If you have any questions, you can reach the Great Collections team via email or phone.
Should I Get My Coins Professionally Graded?
Most serious coin collectors and auction houses recommend getting rare and valuable coins professionally graded. This helps certify their authenticity, as well as their condition, and may help increase the value of your collection. There are two main certification companies for coins:
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is the largest coin grading company in the world and is the industry standard for graded coins. Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) is the second-largest grading company and the only other grading service that holds weight in the coin collecting community.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Coin Collection Appraised?
The costs associated with appraising your coin collection can vary depending on the type of appraisal needed. Many online appraisals are available for free, especially by auction houses looking to list your coins. These free appraisals are for valuation and selling purposes only. Formal written appraisals can range from $75 to over $150 per hour, depending on the coins, appraisal details, and purpose. Formal written appraisals are typically used for insurance or legal purposes, such as estate planning.
Methodology
We reviewed the service offerings, prices, customer service, and expertise of almost a dozen appraisers from around the U.S. All appraisers on our list are numismatic experts with many decades of experience in the coin collection industry.
