Antique Coins-care and value?

Question

A friend found a bounty of old coins, mostly from the 30's. Most are weathered, dirty, etc (however the one paper $ found-a1957 Silver Certificate-is in great shape). We need a crash course in how to care for them and what potential value they have. Thanks!!

Answer 1

Most coins of the 1930's have little value when they are weathered and dirty. A weathered coin is a damaged coin. The possibility of cleaning them up is slim, for the weathering has probably eaten into the metal. It actually takes a person with a high grade of skill to clean a coin right. I clean ancient coins but it is a time consuming thing. Ancient coins are supposed to look rough anyway. Try olive oil. There is a series 1957,1957A and a 1957B, plus star notes of all three. The star notes are the most valuable at about retail $8.00 in extra fine condition. The others are around $3.50. These are retails so if you sold it you would get less. Store the note in a non PVC currency sleeve. The coins can be put into 2x2 coin holders. All available from a coin dealer. He too can tell you the value of your coins or go to a library and see if you can find a copy of an up to date coin magazine. A good one is Coin Worlds Coin Values and comes out each month ( first week ) with the Coin World paper, that has an issue every week. A Guide Book of U.S. Coins will at least let you know if you have a valuable coin, it comes out only once a year. Hope this helps, had you listed some I could have given you more advice.

Answer 2

Go to the library and see if they have any books on coin collecting. Most recent books will have some basic info on how to care for and preserve your collection. The library might have something on currency values also. Coin values can be had at pcgs.com in the values listing. You could also get copy of the Red Book for a lot of this information.

Answer 3

www.charlottegoldcoins.com