Rare Coin Experts

When you need a straight answer about a coin or a banknote, you need a rare coin expert. At American Rarities Rare Coin Company, our coin buyers are specialists in numismatics and notaphily, and between all the buyers at and associated with American Rarities, we have hundreds of years of combined experience. We have been a rare coin and U.S. paper currency dealer since 1990 and have purchased over $400 million in rare coins, paper money and precious metals.

Many of our rare coin specialists have attended American Numismatic Association grading and authentication classes, and that knowledge is shared throughout our company. Whether you are buying, selling or settling an estate, our experts can tell you what you have and what it is worth, free and with no obligation.

On this page:

What our experts do
Coins and currency we know
Authentication and grading
How to choose a rare coin expert
Ways to work with us
Questions and answers

What Our Rare Coin Experts Do

A rare coin expert identifies a coin, judges its condition, checks that it is genuine and knows what it sells for in today’s market. Our team puts that knowledge to work for collectors, families and estates across the country:

Free appraisals. We offer free coin appraisals on all collections we appraise for potential purchase. Find out more about a rare coin appraisal near you.
Buying collections. We buy single coins and entire collections through our nationwide buying network, with immediate payment by check, wire or ACH. See how our rare coin buyers work.
Estate appraisals. We provide IRS-compliant appraisals, usually within 24 hours and can help with estate appraisals and liquidation.
Grading and authentication. We offer free in-house grading without slabbing and can help you decide whether a coin is worth certifying. Learn about coin and paper currency grading.
Finding coins. Collectors use our free rare coin want list service to locate the dates they still need.

These are part of the full range of numismatic services we offer the collecting public.

U.S. Coins, Gold and Paper Money: Our Areas of Expertise

U.S. rare coins our experts handle: 1871 proof Seated Liberty dollar, 1856-S double eagle reverse, 1914 Barber quarter and 1895 half eagle

Our experts handle all U.S. coins, from colonial and early copper through modern issues:

Early and classic U.S. coins such as large cents, Bust and Seated Liberty silver, and Barber dimes, quarters and half dollars.
U.S. gold, from gold dollars through double eagles, including territorial gold. Read our U.S. gold coin information.
Silver dollars, from Flowing Hair dollars to Morgan and Peace dollars, including the rare Morgan silver dollar key dates and varieties.
Certified coins graded by PCGS, NGC and ANACS. See selling certified coins.
World coins and bullion, including foreign gold and U.S. and world bullion coins and bars.

U.S. Paper Money

Notaphily, the study and collecting of paper money, is its own specialty. Our currency experts appraise and buy all U.S. paper money, both certified and raw, from large-size notes such as silver certificates, United States notes and national bank notes to small-size notes, star notes and fancy serial numbers. Paper money is graded on the same 70-point scale as coins, and condition details such as folds, tears, stains and repairs make a big difference in value. See the PMG grading scale, our U.S. paper currency information and paper money values.

How Our Experts Authenticate and Grade Coins

Rare coin authentication and grading: NGC-certified 1922 Peace dollar, 1879-S Morgan silver dollar and 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent

Counterfeit and altered coins are a real risk, especially for key dates and gold. Our experts examine every coin before we make an offer:

XRF analysis checks a coin’s metal content without harming it.
Digital microscopy shows tooling, added mint marks, cleaning and other signs that a coin is not what it seems.
Grading. We grade coins in-house on the Sheldon 1–70 scale, free and without slabbing, so you know where a coin stands before you decide anything.
Certification. As a PCGS and NGC authorized dealer and an ANACS submission center, we can help you send coins for certification when it makes sense.

Learn how the grades work on the NGC grading scale, and read our guide to fake, counterfeit and altered coins.

How to Choose a Rare Coin Expert

Anyone can claim to be an expert. Before you hand over a collection, ask these questions:

What are your credentials? Look for membership in the American Numismatic Association and authorized dealer status with the major grading services.
How long have you been in business? Experience matters when values depend on small details.
What do other customers say? Check reviews and ratings with the Better Business Bureau.
Is the appraisal free and explained? A good expert tells you what you have and why it is worth what it is.
Is there any pressure to sell? You should be free to say no.
How and when will I be paid? Ask before you agree to anything.

Here is how American Rarities answers: founded in 1990, more than 30 years in business, ANA Life Members, BBB A+ rating, 4.7 stars from 86 Google reviews, PCGS and NGC authorized dealer, free no-obligation appraisals and immediate payment by check, wire or ACH. For more tips, see our guide to reputable coin dealers.

Ways to Work With Our Rare Coin Experts

You can reach our rare coin experts wherever you are:

Send photos. Email pictures or an inventory list to staff@americanrarities.com, text them to 720-600-4740, or use the form below.
Home visits. Our nationwide buying network, with a presence in California, Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Wyoming and New Jersey, lets us visit you at home.
Insured mail-in. Ship your coins to us fully insured, with no deductible.

Want to check values yourself first? Start with our price guide for U.S. coins.