Numistify guide
What Is My Coin Worth? How to Find a Coin’s Value
There is no single number for what a coin is worth. There is a reliable way to find out, though: identify it exactly, judge its condition honestly, and check what coins like it have actually sold for.
The short answer
Identify the coin exactly — country, denomination, year and mint mark — and judge its condition honestly. Then compare it with the same coin in the same condition in the Red Book (US coins) or a world coin catalogue, auction archives and eBay sold listings, and ask your local coin shop. Sold prices, not asking prices, show what a coin is worth.
1. Identify the coin exactly
Value attaches to a precise coin, not a general type. Before looking anything up, pin down four things: the country, the denomination, the year and the mint mark — the small letter that shows where it was struck. Two coins of the same year can be worth very different amounts because of that one letter: a 1916 Mercury dime from Philadelphia had a mintage of around 22 million, while the 1916-D from Denver had just 264,000.
If you are not sure where to look, our guide to finding the mint mark shows the position on the common US coins, and reading a Thai coin date covers coins dated in other calendars.
2. Judge the condition honestly
Condition is usually the biggest single factor after the coin’s identity. The same date can sell for many times more in sharp, unworn condition than in a worn one. Collectors describe condition on the 1-to-70 Sheldon scale, from barely identifiable to flawless; professional grading services such as PCGS and NGC assign these grades and seal the coin in a holder.
Be honest rather than hopeful: compare your coin with photographs of graded examples, and look at the high points of the design, where wear shows first. If a coin has been cleaned, polished or damaged, it is valued as a problem coin — see should I clean my coins? before doing anything to it.
3. Check what coins like it actually sell for
Use more than one source, and compare like with like: the same date, mint mark and condition.
The Red Book. A Guide Book of United States Coins, known as the Red Book, is the standard annual reference for US coins, listing values by date, mint mark and grade. Treat its figures as a guide to retail levels, not a guaranteed offer.
World coin catalogues. For coins from outside the US, the Standard Catalog of World Coins (the source of the KM numbers used by collectors) and the online catalogue Numista identify the coin and give indicative values.
Historical auction prices. Major auction houses keep searchable archives of past results. These show what a coin in a stated grade actually brought, which is the most concrete evidence of value, especially for scarcer coins.
eBay sold listings. Search for your coin, then filter to sold items. Asking prices show what sellers hope for; sold prices show what buyers paid. Ignore listings with vague titles or poor photos, and weigh certified coins separately from raw ones.
Your local coin shop. A good dealer can examine the coin in hand, spot problems photos hide, and tell you whether it is worth having graded. For a coin you think may be valuable, an in-person opinion is worth having before you sell.
What you will actually be paid
Price guides generally list retail prices — what a collector might pay a dealer. A dealer buying from you has to resell the coin, so an offer is normally below retail. That is not a sign of a bad dealer; it is how the trade works. For anything of real value, get more than one opinion, and consider whether professional grading would make it easier to sell; our guide to sending coins for grading covers when that is worth the fee.
The metal sets a floor
Silver and gold coins are worth at least the value of the metal they contain, whatever their condition. Every pre-1965 US dime, quarter and half dollar is 90% silver, for example. Our guide to silver and gold melt value shows how to work it out from the day’s spot price.
Common mistakes
Assuming old means valuable. Many old coins were struck by the million and remain common. Age matters far less than scarcity, condition and demand.
Trusting asking prices. A listing at a high price shows only what someone hopes to get.
Comparing the wrong coin. A different mint mark, variety or grade can change the value completely.
Cleaning the coin first. It almost always lowers the value, permanently.
Questions people ask
How do I find out what my coin is worth?
Identify it exactly (country, denomination, year and mint mark), judge its condition honestly, then compare it with the Red Book for US coins or a world coin catalogue, with auction archives and eBay sold listings for the same coin in the same condition, and ask your local coin shop.
Where can I look up coin values?
The Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins) for US coins; the Standard Catalog of World Coins and the NGC World Coin Price Guide for world coins; auction archives for prices actually realized; eBay sold listings for recent sales; and your local coin shop, which can examine the coin in person.
Why are eBay sold listings better than asking prices?
An asking price is what a seller hopes to get. A sold listing is what a buyer actually paid. On eBay, filter the search to sold items and compare only coins of the same date, mint mark and condition.
Will a coin shop pay the price in the price guide?
Usually not. Price guides generally show retail prices; a dealer buying a coin has to resell it, so the offer is normally below retail. That is normal, and comparing offers is reasonable.
Is an old coin automatically valuable?
No. Age alone does not make a coin valuable. Many old coins were struck in huge numbers and are common; value comes from scarcity, condition, demand and, for silver and gold coins, the metal.
Related guides
How to tell if a coin is valuable — the signs to look for before you research prices.
What to record when you buy a coin — so you always know what a coin cost you.
Need to track your collection?
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