Mint locations, dates and mint marks used: Here’s an alphabetical breakdown of the U.S. Where a coin was minted sometimes greatly influences its value. Some coins were produced at some mints but not others, or may have been made in varying quantities. Coins minted in Philadelphia often lack a mint mark. coins, this will be on the obverse (or head side) of the coin, but certain older coins have the mint marks on the reverse. Become familiar with these common errors to help you quickly identify them. Does it have appropriate edges, or for those with words on the edge, are they all there? There are known errors in coins of certain types and years. Those that are “out of rotation” are slightly more valuable than “perfect” coins.Ĭheck the edge. The reverse side should be right-side-up. Tilting the coin in the light may pick up errors you don’t see head-on. Look for strike mistakes such as doubling, cracks or missing sections. Pay special attention to the words and edges of images. Look for die cracks and missing elements. Look for ErrorsĮven slight differences can make a coin more valuable than its face value. It’s important to note that the book provides retail values, not wholesale, which is what dealers would typically pay. gives you a really basic idea of how to look for particulars for technical grading, and is written in a way that you don’t have to be numismatically savvy to understand it.' The Red Book, he says, “lists the average retail price of every United States coin, based on grade. There’s probably no serious collector out there that does not have a copy,” adding that it’s available in both hardcover and spiral bound forms, with the latter being less expensive and easier to use. Gillis describes it as 'sort of the bible of United States coins. The annual A Guide Book of United States Coins is known in collecting circles as the 'Red Book.' This book can give you a ballpark figure of what your coins are worth. Here’s how to investigate, learn what coins are wanted by collectors, and what to do if you find a coin of value. (If you have a complete set, they may be worth more together.) To determine this, says Rod Gillis, the education director at the American Numismatic Association, 'You have to look through every one of them.' It’s not likely you have a $1 million coin in your pocket, but if you were given a collection, some of those coins might have significant value. Set aside those that look different until you have time for a closer examination. If you know what an everyday coin looks like, you are more likely to notice when one is a little different. How can you tell which coins are worth money? Once you've found a rare coin that's valuable, how do you sell old coins?

Perhaps you found a coin from the 1800s or earlier, or maybe you’ve inherited a collection of coins. Maybe you’ve read about a single coin that sold for $1 million.

How to Find Rare Coins Worth Money and Wanted by Collectors Here’s everything you need to know about valuable old coins and what you can do with them.

Rare coins and their value