inherited some old coins-What to do? ? ?
My thanks in advance to central texan for letting me use his/her inquiry as a starting point.
[Not that I asked! I am just making the assumption.]
With so many inquiries of this type we all begin to sound like a broken record! [Boy,
the youngsters here do not know what a "record" is!]
With any and all of these inquiries, the following information should be included:
"I am "99" years old and I have
inherited coins from my "xxxxxxxxx" who
collected/assembled/amassed/hoarded these coins during the years "9999-9999".
This immediately gives us a clue as to what you may have.
"Some old coins" is a relative term. What is "old" to a neophyte may have been in circulation when I was 10 years old.
To me, a 1959
Lincoln Cent with the Memorial design was a new coin!
"Buy a
Red Book." Perhaps. The common advice. But with the Internet resources this may not be necessary.
Identification as to type is simple. Within the CCF is all of the info needed. The members will direct you.
Better dates and mint marks? Many of us have those memorized!
"To sell or to start a collection?"
That is your decision. Personally, I try to give you knowledge and direction and then let you decide.
If you do not care for coins that is fine. Sell them and use the proceeds as you see fit.
IF you are thinking of starting a collection, well, we can help you do so. After all, the CCF
is dedicated to teaching.
"How much is it/are they worth?
We can only answer when you have done the above AND provided pictures, if possible.
Speaking only for myself, it is the collective duty of the CCF to provide answers to all questions.
Be they from collectors or folks who have just been burdened with the disposition of a family member's coins,
we should all refrain from placing our personal bias upon a new member and instead allow him or her
to ask for advice and then we provide it.
If the powers that be see fit, this little start should be polished into a "sticky" for helping people in
central texan's position, and everyone else, to proceed with confidence.
Are we not, after all, here to serve?