Very cool use of old coins on the cue stick.........and thats sorta what I want people to view and enjoy this old stuff.

Lurking on a coin collector forum similar to Pelican, it's cool that some people who have the old Bufallo nickels, that aren't worth that much, are "releasing them" back into the wild and circulation, sorta good karma, as someone else gets the joy of finding one while given back change at a store.........could turn someone else into a collector or gee whiz factor.

thanks all for your tips.

At least take some time to understand the collection. Is this your Dad's doing?
As you gain some insight, Some of the coins may become keepers for you. And you will learn more about marketing the collection.

These coins are a connection to the person collecting them. Like Those inheriting our cars, it would be nice if they come to appreciate our passion and find a good new caretakers. Rather than just call the nearest dealer and dump them.

Cheers Richard

What Hugh said about cleaning. But I am sure if you don't have time to value them, you don't have time to clean them either - a good thing!

If you are set on selling, I'd track down an appraiser and have them do it.

OTOH, me personally, I'd catalog the coins with pictures from both sides, into an excel sheet and off I'd go hunt down what they are and their approx values. 200 items really isn't that much. 10 minutes each, you can get this done in a couple weeks with less than 3h / day. That assumes that they are all unique. I would imagine that there are some doubles where it won't even take 10 minutes to catalogue.

Just my two cents.

Final solution: Take the whole thing and put it in the bottom of your safe and work on it later. 20 years from now if it needs to be. Or next time you are unemployed, or have a bad ankle and can't go to work etc.

G

The only "cleaning" I've done to coins was clean "junk sliver" in soapy water with an ultrasonic cleaner. These are coins where the value depends entirely on the silver content. I do have to admit, some of the 1963 90% Kennedy half-dollars are in AU condition. Some of the later year Franklin ones are as well.

These days, if I'm buying junk silver, I prefer Franklin half-dollars and Truman Dimes. I'm thinking of 1964 40% Kennedy half-dollars, but I haven't bought any yet.

Contact the American Numismatic Association, 818 N. Cascade, Ave, Colorado Springs, CO...719-632-2646. Several years ago I used to send them coins for grading. They are THE last word in the grade of a coin. They can point you in the right direction or someone they deal with in your area. Do not clean or handle any of the coins unless you have on cotton gloves. Good luck!

some of the more fun and unique ones in my new collection, man those proof sets, uncirculated or mint fresh coins are SHINY, and I have several sets from over several years.


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As both my parents were Canadian, lots of bills and coins, here is a 1917 bill, printed on March 17th, and it's interesting to note the actual date on the top that it was printed, yet on the Bottom of the bill (center super fine print) printing done by the "American Bill Printing Company". Yes most all of these old old coins and rare bills are going to stay in the family. There are a bunch of uncirculated sets, and 1964 fifty cent pieces that are 40% silver, but I only have 5-10 old coins from the 1800's.

Took me several hours today just to lump the different lots together. Sitting in a Bank Lobby for hours before it went back into the safety deposit box is no fun. Man there are a lot of fat ladies that have obnoxious kids running around.....:rolleyes:


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And I never knew that Ben Franklin used to be on the .50 cent piece till Kennedy took his place. Nice crack in the liberty bell too!





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That 1809 looks like it's in pretty good shape.