Your Trusted Coin Dealer in Idaho
Sell gold, silver, rare US coins & paper money for top dollar! Free statewide appraisals. Contact our expert buyers!
Idaho’s money story starts with the gold rushes of the 1860s in the Boise Basin, the Owyhee Mountains and the Salmon River country. From 1871 to 1933 the U.S. Assay Office in Boise tested and bought miners’ gold, and from the 1880s the Coeur d’Alene district around Wallace and Kellogg became one of the richest silver regions in the world. Idaho banks from Boise to Lewiston also issued national bank notes. American Rarities has bought coins and paper money since 1990, with over $400 million purchased.
Whether you have a family collection, an inheritance with Western silver dollars and gold, or bullion to sell, send us a list or clear photos for a free, no-obligation appraisal. Most offers come within 24 hours, though some can take upwards of a week or more depending on the collection.
- 4.7-Star Google Rating
- A+ BBB Rating
- ANA Life Members
- Authorized PCGS, NGC and ANACS Dealer
- Buying Since 1990
- Over $400 Million Purchased
Always Paying More For Your Rare Coins
Why Gem State Sellers Choose American Rarities
From Boise and Coeur d’Alene to Idaho Falls and Pocatello, here is why Idaho sellers choose American Rarities:
Expert Appraisals by Experienced Numismatists:
Our team has hundreds of years of combined experience in the rare coin market, including coins and precious metals tied to Idaho’s mining history. We pay more because we know what your coins are worth, whether you sell one coin or an entire inherited collection.
Convenient Selling Options Throughout Idaho:
From Boise, Meridian and Nampa to Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene, you can meet privately with one of our buyers, and we can meet you at your bank. Or use our mail-in service: packages are fully insured at our expense. We do not provide shipping materials.
Get Paid Immediately:
Accept our offer and you are paid immediately by cash, check, ACH or wire.
Transparent, Fee-Free Appraisals:
Our appraisals are free, with no hidden costs or obligations. The offer we make is the full amount you receive.
Decades of Experience in the Numismatic and Precious Metals Market:
Since 1990 American Rarities has built a reputation as a trusted buyer of rare coins, bullion and U.S. paper money nationwide, with the experience to assess collections of any size and complexity.
Secure and Discreet Transactions (Protecting Your Privacy):
In-person meetings are private and discreet, and mail-in packages are fully insured and tracked.
Dedicated Service for Idaho Collectors and Inheritors:
We respect the passion of lifelong collectors and the sensitive nature of an inherited collection. We explain what you have and what it is worth, with no pressure to sell.
What a Satisfied Idaho Seller Had to Say
“I was thoroughly satisfied with your coin buyer’s service. He was most professional, personable, and answered all my questions completely. I will certainly be calling your company when I’m ready to do more business.”— Ona R., Caldwell, ID, customer testimonial
Idaho Numismatic History: Gold Camps, Silver Valley and the Boise Assay Office
Idaho’s mining heritage left collectors gold, silver, Western coinage and hometown bank notes:
Gold mining regions: Idaho's gold rushes began in the early 1860s in the Boise Basin (Idaho City and Placerville), the Owyhee Mountains (Silver City) and the Salmon River Mountains (Florence and Warren). Miners brought gold dust and nuggets to the U.S. Assay Office in Boise, which operated from 1871 to 1933, and early U.S. gold coins circulated in the camps.
Silver and lead mining regions: Beginning in the 1880s, the Coeur d'Alene district in northern Idaho, around Wallace, Kellogg and Burke, became one of the world's richest sources of silver, lead and zinc.
Other mining areas: Other parts of Idaho mined copper and other metals, which also shaped the state's economy.
If you have gold or silver that you believe came from Idaho's historic mining regions, our appraisers can assess it for purity and historical interest.
Idaho's early economy relied on the circulating coinage of the American West. If you have older U.S. coins, they may hold historical and numismatic value:
- Silver dollars (Morgan and Peace): the workhorses of Western commerce in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including Carson City ("CC") dollars from the Nevada mint that served Western mining country.
- Early U.S. gold coins: eagles, half eagles, quarter eagles and gold dollars circulated alongside gold dust and nuggets in Idaho's camps.
- Trade dollars: struck for trade with Asia, these silver dollars also circulated in the Western states and territories.
- Hard Times and Civil War tokens: privately issued tokens used as small change during times of economic stress in the 1800s.
- Early silver and copper coinage: dimes, quarters, half dollars, nickels and cents, especially key dates, Western mint marks and high grades.
Banks across Idaho, from Boise to Lewiston, issued their own national bank notes during the National Banking Era (1863–1935). Territorial notes and notes from small mining-town banks are especially collectible today.
How to Sell Coins & Paper Money in Idaho
Idaho sellers can get a free appraisal from home. Text photos to 720-600-4740, email staff@americanrarities.com or use the form below. We buy coins, gold and silver throughout Boise and the Treasure Valley, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene. Mail your items fully insured at our expense, or for larger collections we can meet you at your bank, and get paid immediately by cash, check, ACH or wire.
Idaho Cities and Towns We Serve
Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Lewiston, Moscow, Rexburg, Blackfoot, Mountain Home, Sandpoint, Wallace, Idaho City and every other city and town in Idaho.
Coin Clubs and Numismatic Organizations in Idaho
Idaho collectors can join a regional association and a local club in Boise. When you are ready to sell what you have collected or inherited, American Rarities is here with an expert appraisal and a strong offer.
The main regional organization for collectors in the Pacific Northwest, including Idaho. The PNNA promotes education, research and fellowship, and hosts conventions and coin shows that draw collectors from across the region.
The club meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Dalton Lane Club House, 3275 N. Dalton Lane, Boise. Check the club's Facebook group for current meeting details.
Find more club information through the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association or the American Numismatic Association (ANA) club directory.
Idaho Museums with Mining and Money History
Idaho’s museums tell the story of its gold camps, silver mines and frontier towns.
The state's official history museum, run by the Idaho State Historical Society, covers Idaho's mining era, frontier towns and economic development.
This territorial-era prison site tells the story of daily life in Idaho in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is not a numismatic museum, but it brings the frontier period to life.
Though in Montana, the World Museum of Mining covers the Western mining culture Idaho shared, including the scrip and tokens common in mining camps.
Many Idaho towns with a strong mining past, such as Silver City, Idaho City and Wallace, have their own historical societies and museums. Their collections can include local bank notes, mining tokens and other historical money.
Coins, Bullion and Paper Money We Buy in Idaho
Selling in Idaho? Learn about Idaho coin and bullion laws and sales tax.
We buy single pieces as well as full collections, estates and hoards from anywhere in Idaho, with special interest in items from the state’s mining history:
All U.S. Coins:
We evaluate every U.S. coin, from early copper cents and classic silver dollars that circulated in Idaho Territory to modern commemoratives, proof sets and 2007 Idaho state quarters.
Valuable Gold Coins:
We buy all U.S. gold, including gold dollars, quarter eagles, half eagles, eagles and double eagles, with particular interest in gold that came down through families from Idaho’s mining booms in the Boise Basin, the Owyhee country and the Coeur d’Alene district.
Silver Dollars:
We buy Morgan, Peace and Trade dollars, which played a vital role in the commerce of the American West and Idaho Territory, in all grades and varieties.
All Denominations of Rare U.S. Coinage:
We buy half dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels and cents, paying close attention to key dates, mint marks (including “CC” for Carson City, “S” for San Francisco and “D” for Denver) and recognized varieties.
Error Coins and Die Varieties:
Off-center strikes, broadstrikes, wrong-metal planchets and die varieties can be surprisingly valuable. If a coin looks unusual, send us a photo for a free appraisal.
All Forms of U.S. Paper Money:
We buy all U.S. currency, from early Treasury Notes and Demand Notes to Civil War-era issues, Gold and Silver Certificates and modern Federal Reserve Notes.
National Bank Notes of Idaho:
We buy national bank notes issued by Idaho banks during the National Banking Era (1863–1935), especially territorial notes and notes from small-town banks.
Gold Bullion, Including Natural Gold from Idaho:
We buy natural gold nuggets and gold dust from Idaho’s mining districts, along with refined gold bars, rounds and bullion coins such as American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs.
Silver Bullion, Including Silver Ore Specimens:
We buy silver bars, rounds, 90% U.S. silver coins (“junk silver”) and bullion coins, and we have special interest in high-grade silver ore specimens from districts such as the Coeur d’Alene.
Platinum and Palladium Bullion:
We buy platinum and palladium bars, rounds and government-issued bullion coins.
Our Simple 3-Step Appraisal Process for Idaho Sellers
Our process is designed to be fast, easy and stress-free.
Step 1: Send Us Your Inventory
Send photos or an inventory list of your collection by text, email or the contact form on our website.
Step 2: Receive Your Free Written Appraisal
One of our expert appraisers will respond with a free, IRS-approved written appraisal and a no-obligation purchase offer. Most offers come within 24 hours, though some can take upwards of a week or more depending on the collection.
Step 3: Get Paid Immediately
If you accept our offer, you can use our mail-in service, fully insured at our expense, or we can arrange an in-person meeting. As soon as the purchase is complete, we pay you immediately by cash, check, ACH or wire.
Ready to Sell Your Idaho Coins, Gold, Silver or Currency?
Contact the Idaho coin buyers at American Rarities for a free appraisal. Email, text or use the form below to send us a list or photos of your coins, gold, silver or currency.
Free Appraisal for Your Idaho Coins, Bullion, Currency, and Collections
Email, Text, or Use This Form To Send Us Your Inventory List or Pictures
Email: staff@americanrarities.com | Text: 720-600-4740
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