New To Coins, Looking For Help

Hello hfawn and to CCF.

It might look like an overwhelming task but from the way you describe what you have received it sounds like it will be well worth your time.

Here is a post I think might help you get started:

https://goccf.com/t/167629

Try reading that first.

You have found a great place to get information here at CCF. The people are friendly and are very helpful so Do Not be Afraid to ask questions! Some of the questions you ask may take others time to research to give you a good answer or to direct you to a place where you can do better research yourself.

Please remember to give time to people to give you an answer but don't be afraid to 'bump' your post if you have no answers after a few days.

I'm sure you can find what you need.

Enjoy your self here and Good Luck. Hope to see you in the forums!

Again,

Dar

Welcome to the CCF, Heather ... You'll receive lots of good advice and encouragement here!

Pick up a copy of the so-called " RedBook" a.k.a. Guide Book of U.S. "Coins" at a local coin shop or book store. It'll give you the basics like better dates, mintmarks and grades. You might also buy a package of "flips" in which to insert some better coins, better dates and higher grades. You'll likely progress best if you sort first by year, then by mintmark and lastly by grade. Here's hoping that you strile gold in all that silver!

My rule of thumb as far as professional grading is concerned is $200 and up. PCGS requires a membership to submit coins as does NGC....by the time all fees and postage are calculated it's around $40 a coin...roughly. It also depends on how many coins you're submitting at once. ANACS is a good third option, no membership fees and lower cost per coin to grade....but ANACS coins tend to not bring the premium that NGC and PCGS get.

The mercs that would be worth grading professionally are few and far between.

Like a 1916D, both 1921s in higher grades, maybe a 26S in the higher grades or the over stamps. Maybe the earlier coins in MS and above condition.

The later mercs sell for bullion or just above it in circulated condition typically.

I know less about Barber's, but the typical barber is in less than VG condition, and unless it is a rare date, they are certainly not valuable enough to get graded professionally in worn condition. Although really nice conditioned coins from that era are always valuable.

Thanks for the input! So far it's looking like we don't have anything rare but it's still fun learning. The ones I'm finding that are worth more than melt value are in the $5-10 range

We have been given an amazing gift and I'm embracing the opportunity to learn something new. My father-in-law gave it to us figuring the silver value, but we would like to make sure we're making the best decisions and not overlooking anything.

You should separate all the 1942 P+D's. Study pics of the two overdates, 1942/41, from those mints and see if you can find one or more. Those are often overlooked and worth a few hundred each or more.

but...



Google search images for 1942/1 overdate so you know what you're looking for

Well here is to hoping that you have found a new interest. :)