I have one in my possession. It's quality is maybe somewhere between mint and average, no scratches or rusting. I contacted an appraiser in Cali. but the scumbag told me it's only worth maybe 3 dollars and unless I ship it to him, he won't be able to make an accurate asessment. Does anybody know the real worth?
2007-11-21 19:12:08 · 7 answers · asked by SloBoMo 5 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
Did you check for a mint mark it is on the reverse at the bottom under the bow. If it has one email me with it for that will change the values. In grade good the 1893 without mint mark (Philadelphia)- date & letters plain the word liberty on the band gone $ 6.00, in grade very good-some letters in liberty visable $9, in grade fine-Letters in liberty all visable but some weak $15. In extra fine- all letters in libety sharp, distinct,headband edges distinct. $34. The dealer was right since I can't see it I have no idea what grade it is and have to give you a grading lesson. I told you waht to look for but it does take experence to grade coins. If your dime grade say below the garde of good which means it's rims are not well defined it is worth $3. This is the common way a lot of Barber dimes come for they were used a lot. One more thing there is a rare 1893/2 the re is a 2 under the 3. You may need a magnifier to see it. If so email me. Not that I am for coin dealers, but the general public does not understand the business and most think they are getting ripped off when they are not. On the other hand there are a few crooks out there but one good thing is they don't last long. The prices quoted are a guide only and is about what a dealer will pay. I get their newsletter to keep up with pricing.
2007-11-22 06:01:53 · answer #1 · answered by Taiping 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the Red Book even the lowest grade coins are valued at $8 and can go for upwards of 700 dollars.
Value is largely dependent on condition, mint marks and the number of coins available.
1 - Take your coin to a local coin dealer (trustworthy ones can be found - shop around). It never hurts to get a second opinion. They will be able to tell you so much more by evaluation the condition of the coins. They will also know the amount minted and what it is going for in today's market.
2 - Try posting pictures on this website (there are many experts here that can help you evaluate it - there also may be people willing to buy if you are trying to sell):
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/default.com
3 - Repost this question and include pictures. You can use websites like http://www.photobucket.com and include the link in your question.
Good luck!
P.S. You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.
When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.
Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.
If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!
I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.
2007-11-22 03:58:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The value of a coin is very dependent on the grade.
There is a huge difference between 'mint' and 'average'! If a coin is deeply scratched or 'rusted' then it is usually worth nothing at all.
The main gradings are:
U - uncirculated, mint, no marks or wear at all, will probably show lustre (original shine)
EF - extremely fine - hardly any wear, maybe some very small scratches, may still show lustre
VF - very fine - slightly worn, no longer new looking, high points showing wear, probably no lustre
F - fine - the 'average' coin. not damaged, but can be moderately worn and scratched
VG - very good - not very good
G - good - not good
Never polish or try to clean a coin if you don't know what you are doing. You can destroy any value that it may have.
There are links below to grading comments, plus two different 1893 dimes on ebay, one rated at G - good and one rated at VF - very fine - with pictures. They are priced at $7 and $150, which tells you the importance of grade.
2007-11-21 19:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say don't ship it to the scumbag. Check out ebay, there is an 1893 Barber dime for sale for about $86.00
2007-11-21 19:16:36 · answer #4 · answered by MeltdownMa 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its only worth as much as a buyer wants to pay for it,
if you can get $3 i think that would be fair
2007-11-21 19:16:57 · answer #5 · answered by bri n 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
14.50 you can buy them for that plus shiping
2007-11-21 19:31:23 · answer #6 · answered by Gustove 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://coinvalues.com i would look around here.Happy Thanks Giving :)
2007-11-21 19:28:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋