2026-01-14
What Happens If You Inherit Coins You Don’t Understand?
Grandpa left you a heavy shoebox. You have no idea what is inside. Do not go to a Pawn Shop. Read this first.
This is the most dangerous moment in the coin lifecycle. A lifetime of accumulation ($50,000+) is often sold for pennies ($5,000) because the heir didn't know what they had.
The Vulture Trap
If you walk into a "We Buy Gold" shop with a confused look on your face, they will smell blood. They will offer you "Scrap Price" for everything—even rare Key Dates.
The Protocol
- Do Not Sell Anything Yet.
- Sort by Color: Put silver in one pile, yellow (gold) in another, copper in another.
- Check Dates: Look for "Pre-1964". (1964 and earlier Dimes/Quarters/Halves are 90% silver. 1965 and later are just copper).
- Get 3 Appraisals: Go to 3 different shops. Don't sell. Just say: "I need an appraisal for insurance purposes."
The Golden Rule: The person giving you the appraisal should NOT be the person buying the coins. Conflict of interest is your enemy.
Inheritance Checklist
Download our 'Heir's Guide.' A simple PDF to print out and keep with the collection so your family doesn't get ripped off.