Sell inherited silver coins and coin collections
An inherited jar or album of coins can be ordinary change, silver, or something a collector wants. The first rule is simple: do not clean anything. This page explains what to check and how to present a collection.
Short answer: Leave the coins as they are, lay them out, and photograph both sides of the best ones and the whole collection to (858) 247-2017 or use the form below. In general, US dimes and quarters dated 1964 or earlier are 90 percent silver, and those from 1965 on are not. Tell us what you have and we say what looks like a fit.
What should I do first with an inherited coin collection?
- Do not clean, polish, or dip any coin. Cleaning can destroy collector interest and is easy to spot
- Keep coins in the holders, albums, or envelopes they came in, and do not rearrange them
- Write down where each batch came from and anything the owner said about it
- Handle coins by the edges, and keep them dry and away from sun
- Set aside graded coins in plastic slabs from PCGS or NGC, and keep the slab labels readable
Which US coins are silver?
Dimes, quarters, halves
Regular US dimes and quarters dated 1964 or earlier are generally 90 percent silver. Half dollars from 1964 are 90 percent silver, and 1965 to 1970 halves are 40 percent silver.
Silver dollars
Morgan dollars (1878 to 1921) and Peace dollars (1921 to 1935) are silver. Eisenhower dollars from 1971 to 1976 can have silver versions that are specially marked.
Nickels
Wartime nickels from 1942 to 1945 are 35 percent silver and carry a large mint mark above the building.
Not silver
Regular dimes and quarters dated 1965 or later are not silver. Neither are pennies and most modern coins.
Dates are a starting point. Collectors care about mint marks, variety and condition, so a rare date is sorted from the rest before a collection is treated as metal.
What makes some coins worth more than their metal?
- Date and mint mark, with scarce dates sorted out from the common ones
- Condition, which is why cleaning hurts so much
- Certified coins in sealed holders from known grading services
- Proof and mint sets, original rolls, and gold coins
- Silver dollars and older US series, which are handled separately from junk silver
How should I present a collection?
- A photo of the whole collection or container
- Both sides of the best or oldest coins, in even light
- A rough count by denomination and a note on which are silver by date
- Any certified slabs, albums, or paperwork that came with them
What we look at
- 90 percent silver US dimes, quarters and halves
- Silver dollars and older US coins
- Proof and mint sets in original packaging
- Certified coins in grading holders
- Estate jars and albums that include coins, jewelry and silver
What is usually not a fit
- Modern clad coins
- Cleaned or damaged coins sold as rare
- Replica and novelty coins
- Single common coins with no silver content
Careful notes on coin collections
- Never clean or dip a coin before you ask someone who knows coins.
- Get a written offer and a written itemized list before you hand over a collection.
- Be careful with anyone who offers to buy a whole collection by the pound without looking through it.
What photos should I send?
Good photos get a faster and more honest answer. Natural light and a plain background are enough.
- The whole collection or jar
- Both sides of the best coins, flat in even light
- Any slab labels, albums or envelopes with writing on them
- A few dates and mint marks close up
How an offer works
We make one offer for the whole lot after we see the items. You are free to say no.
Step 1
You send what you have
Photos and a few details are enough: what it is, roughly how many, and what condition. A form, a text, or a call all work.
Step 2
We tell you if it is a fit
We reply with whether we buy it and whether we can come to you or you should mail it in. If it is not a fit, we say so.
Step 3
We look at the items, then make one offer
We do not quote a price from photos. Once we have seen the items, you get one offer for the lot, and we can explain what drove it.
Step 4
You decide
Say yes and we complete the sale. Say no and you owe nothing.
What moves an offer
- Which exact items, titles, or models are in the lot
- Condition and completeness, such as boxes, manuals, and all the parts
- Whether it works, if it is a device or a console
- What similar items are selling for right now
Who you are dealing with
DeKlutterNow is a small business based in Oceanside, California. You can ask questions before you send anything: text (858) 247-2017 or email hello@deklutternow.com.
Get an offer
Send photos of your coins
The more you tell us, the faster we can say whether it is a fit and what happens next. We do not quote a price from a form. Final offers come after we look at the items. You can also text photos to (858) 247-2017.
What to send
- • One photo of everything together, then close ups of the best pieces
- • Titles, brands, model numbers, or marks like 14K or 925 when you can read them
- • Boxes, manuals, papers, or graded labels if you have them
- • Anything that is broken, missing, or not working, so we can price it honestly
- • Your city and zip so we know if we can come to you
What we do not buy
- • Trash, broken items with no resale value, or bulk junk
- • Counterfeits, bootlegs, and replicas
- • Plated or costume jewelry with no precious metal
- • Anything you do not own or cannot legally sell
Not sure? Send it anyway and we will tell you. See the full list.
Questions sellers ask
- Do you buy silver coins?
- Yes. Send photos and a description. 90 percent silver coins are reviewed by date and weight, and anything unusual is looked at separately.
- Should I clean old coins?
- No. Cleaning can damage the surface and lower collector interest. Send photos as they are.
- How do I know if a dime is silver?
- In general, US dimes dated 1964 or earlier are 90 percent silver, and dimes dated 1965 or later are not.
- Do you buy certified coins?
- Yes, we look at coins in PCGS and NGC holders. Keep the slab intact and photograph the label.
- Can I mail in a coin collection?
- Yes, after we agree on an offer from photos. We send packing and insurance instructions first.
- Do you also buy gold coins and bullion?
- Yes. See our gold and silver page for gold coins, bullion bars and rounds.
Keep reading
- Sterling silver flatware
- Broken and scrap gold
- Sell gold and silver nationwide
- Inherited and estate jewelry
- Guide: selling before an estate cleanout
- Prepaid mail-in
Questions before you send anything? Text DeKlutterNow at (858) 247-2017.