How Do I Know If My Old Coins Are Rare or Valuable?

If you have a jar, box, or collection of old coins sitting around the house, you may be wondering: Are any of
these actually valuable?

The good news is that you don’t need to be a professional coin collector to do a quick first check. A few
simple things can help you determine whether your dimes, quarters, and nickels deserve a closer look.

Start With the Date

The first thing to check is the date on each coin.
Older doesn’t automatically mean valuable, but certain dates are much scarcer than others. Don’t clean the
coins before checking them. Cleaning an old coin can actually reduce its collector value.

Check the Mint Mark

Next, look for the coin’s mint mark. Depending on the type and year of the coin, the mint mark may appear
on the front or back.

• D – Denver
• S – San Francisco
• P – Philadelphia

Some older Philadelphia coins have no mint mark at all.

The mint mark can make a tremendous difference. Two coins with the same date can have very different
values because they were produced at different mints and in different quantities.

Dimes: Check 1964 and Earlier

• One of the easiest things to remember is: most U.S. dimes dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver.
  That includes Roosevelt dimes from 1946 through 1964 and older Mercury dimes.
• Even a common-date silver dime has value because of its silver content. Certain dates and mint marks can
  be worth considerably more to collectors.

If you find Mercury dimes, Barber dimes, or anything older, set them aside for a closer examination.

Quarters: 1964 and Earlier Are Important Too

• The same basic rule applies to traditional U.S. quarters: most U.S. quarters dated 1964 and earlier are 90%
  silver.
• Washington quarters from 1932 through 1964 should therefore be separated from newer quarters.
• Older Standing Liberty and Barber quarters should also be examined individually rather than simply valued
  for their silver.

Some Washington quarters have key dates and mint marks that can make them much more desirable to
collectors.

What About Nickels?

Nickels are a little different.

• The standard Jefferson nickel isn’t made primarily of silver. However, during World War II, the composition
  was temporarily changed.
• Certain Jefferson nickels dated 1942 through 1945 contain 35% silver. These are commonly called war
  nickels.
• An easy clue is the large mint mark above Monticello on the reverse of the coin.
• Older Buffalo nickels and Liberty Head, or “V,” nickels should also be separated and examined for better
  dates and varieties.

Look for Something Unusual

Sometimes the valuable coin isn’t simply the oldest one.

• Unusual or doubled lettering
• Missing or unusual design details
• Off-center strikes
• Coins that appear to have been struck incorrectly
• Unusual mint marks
• Coins that look dramatically different from others of the same year
• Coins in exceptionally nice condition

But be careful: damage that happened after a coin left the Mint isn’t the same thing as a genuine mint error.

Condition Can Make a Huge Difference

Two identical coins can have dramatically different values depending on condition.

A heavily worn coin might be worth only a modest premium, while an exceptionally well-preserved example
of the same date and mint could be worth considerably more.

This is why you should never polish or clean an old coin to make it look better.

Collectors generally prefer coins with their original surfaces.

A Simple Way to Sort Your Coins at Home

Dimes

• 1964 and earlier
• 1965 and later
• Mercury or older dimes

Quarters

• 1964 and earlier
• 1965 and later
• Standing Liberty or older quarters

Nickels

• 1942-1945 war nickels with the large mint mark above Monticello
• Buffalo nickels
• Liberty/V nickels
• Other Jefferson nickels

Then look more carefully at the dates and mint marks within each group.

Don’t Assume an Old Coin Is Worth Only Its Metal Value

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make.

Silver value is important, but a scarce date, mint mark, variety, error, or high-grade coin could be worth
considerably more than the metal it contains.

Before selling an old collection, inherited coins, or a jar of coins that has been sitting untouched for decades,
it’s worth taking a closer look.

You never know what might be hiding in that old coin jar.