Determining
Coin Values
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Determining Coin Values
By: Charles Roman
Factors that Influence the Value of Collectible Coins
If you are interested in collecting coins, it’s important to be able
to have a rough idea of how much coins are worth. Knowing how coin
values are determined will enable you to find good deals, and ensure
that you don’t get cheated into paying too much money for a coin with a
low worth.
Supply Influences Coin Values
One major factor in determining coin values is the law of supply and
demand. If there are many coins of a particular type available, that
coin will not be worth much. On the other hand, if only a very few coins
of that type are produced, the coin values will rise. This is why a
completely normal-looking copper penny minted in 1943 is worth about
$200,000, whereas a 2,000 year old Roman coin may be worth less than
$100 – because thousands upon thousands of Roman coins were minted, but
only 40 pennies produced during war-time 1943 were made out of copper.
Demand’s Effect on Coin Values
Even among coins with a similar number of copies in existence, some
have a higher worth than others. This is because some coins are in
higher demand, driving up the coin values. Coins may become popular
because they are particularly lovely to look at, because they are part
of a topical set that is often chosen by collectors, or because they
have a certain historical significance.
Precious Metals and Coin Values
Some coins are made out of precious materials like gold bullion or
platinum. These coin values are less volatile because the worth is
guaranteed in part by the material. A gold bullion coin, for example, is
usually worth more than its melted weight, but it is never going to be
worth less.
Coin Values are Tempered by Grade or Classification
The final major factor in determining coin values is the grade or
classification of the coin. The more wear and tear that a coin has
undergone, the less value it is going to have. This is why uncirculated
coins are usually more valuable than coins that have been passed from
hand to hand. Uncirculated coins have always been kept in the very best
of conditions, making their value much higher. A coin in flawless
condition may be worth hundreds of times more than a low-grade version
of the exact same coin.
Now that you understand the basic factors that influence coin values,
you have a better grasp of which coins may have real value and which
will be worthless. In order to get a ballpark estimate of the value of
any coins you might have, you will first need to determine its grade or
classification. You can do this by comparing your coin’s condition to a
published list of guidelines. Then look up the value of a coin in that
condition in a book such as “The Standard Catalog of World Coins,” which
should be available in most public libraries. If you need to know the
exact amount that your coin is worth, you should take it to a coin
dealer and let him or her evaluate it for you.
This article was posted on November 06, 2005
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