Appraisals

Fair, experienced and
knowledgeable coin appraisal

We have worked with hundreds of individuals to help them identify and realize the greatest value for their collections. All of our rare coin appraisals and purchase offers are made by principal & owner Dave Wnuck. You can find his qualifications here.

Dave Wnuck Numismatics is an established, appointment-only business. Meeting our clients one-on-one allows for complete privacy and discretion, as well as a lower cost than we can pass on to our clients.

We are appraisal experts in:

US coins and currency collections
Rare silver and copper coins
Colonial coins & currency
World coins and currency
Bullion and 90% US silver
Providing a network for our clients with other collectibles

Professional Accreditation:

Member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild since 2006
Life Member of the American Numismatic Association (member since 1978)
Professional Coin Grading Service Authorized Dealer
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation Authorized Dealer
Paper Money Guaranty Authorized Dealer

How to Go about Selling Your Old Coins

Ultimately, the goal of most collectors and heirs is to sell the coins for the most money possible. But selling a coin collection can be an intimidating process. It is difficult to trust what you read on the Internet; the same could be said of local “coin experts”.

Many people get so overwhelmed by the idea of selling a coin & currency collection that they don’t do anything. The collection languishes for years in a closet or basement or attic. Here is a two-step guide that may help you.

Step1 #:
Determine the Type of Collection You Have

Collection Type A: A Collector’s Collection.

This describes a group of coins that was put together primarily from buying from coin dealers or auctions. There were a goal and a purpose to the collection, and often serious time and money were spent to assemble it.

Collection Type B: A coin accumulation or hoard.

This a group of coins that was pulled from circulation (back when silver coins and other obsolete coin types were available in circulation. These accumulations were often augmented by trips to garage sales, flea markets, and antique shops where interesting looking coins were purchased.

Collection Type C: A collection of products of US and world mints, and similarly packaged items.

These collections consist of proof sets, mint sets, modern commemorative coins, and the like. Often there is lots of packaging, and sometimes the sets are still in their mailing envelopes. These were generally assembled from the 1960s to date when the mints started cranking out such products by the millions each year.

Included in this category are coins purchased from “late-night TV shows” or from telemarketers. Often these items are long on fancy packaging and a bit short on current collector value.

The type of collection you have will likely determine the level of interest serious coin buyers will have in the collection. A purposeful, well-chosen collection of 20 to 50 truly rare collector coins will find many buyers, while accumulations and collections consisting primarily of proof and mint sets will likely find less enthusiastic or interested buyers.

Step2 #:
Find a Buyer with whom you can comfortably work.

Look at their credentials.

Some credentials are easy to acquire. Pay your dues and you are a member of most coin collector organizations. But there is at least one credential that is very selective and difficult for coin buyers to get: membership in the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG).

Because requirements are so onerous, expensive, and strict (see the details on this here, very few coin buyers qualify. There are only around 5 PNG members in the entire state of Connecticut.

Look for a record of honesty and fair dealing.

Ask around. Look for testimonials from clients. Look for reviews posted online by verified clients [see such as these: – https://business.google.com/reviews/

Ask the folks at one of the many antique auction houses sprinkled throughout Connecticut. Ask your lawyer or local banker. These are all good sources.

Look for a dealer who has the financial resources to pay you what a collection is worth.

We paid 1.5 million dollars at auction for this very coin in 2019.

Work with someone you can trust.

Many coin buyers will want to buy just the “cream” of your collection, leaving you with the less desirable and harder to sell the remainder. At Dave Wnuck Numismatics, we buy it all, and for fair prices.

While we often buy a single rare coin or an entire coin collection, Dave Wnuck Numismatics may not always be the best firm to sell to. In a situation where he feels like there may be a better or more logical buyer, he can refer you to that person or another firm free of charge.

Dave Wnuck is here to answer all of your coin & currency questions. Dave is in the business of buying & selling coins because he has a passion for coins and the history they represent. Please allow us to share this knowledge with you.

Testimonials

"My father recently passed away. Among his effects was an envelope with 5 gold coins and some silver coins.

We live in western Massachusetts so we contacted Dave, along with other coin dealers as far away as the Worcester area.

Dave offered us a price for the group that exceeded the other 4 dealers by nearly $1200. He explained that he was able to pay a lot more because he recognized that one of our gold coins was in superior condition.

Thanks so much, Dave."

When I decided to sell my coin collection, I researched many dealers. I was most impressed with Dave Wnuck's website.

I contacted him to make an appointment. His response was prompt.

I was even more impressed meeting Dave in person. Dave took much time reviewing my collection and explained each step in the process. I was so pleased and he made an offer that was far more than I had anticipated.

Dave Wnuck is an EXTREMELY trustworthy, courteous, very patient, knowledgeable individual. I highly recommend doing business with him -- he is an outstanding professional. His expertise is unmatched!

Thank you, Dave!

"I have been searching for quite some time for a 1922 1c with a strong 22. I finally found one on Dave's site. I have also sold him coins for very fair offers. He is very cordial and a pleasure to do business with."

We are in the process of moving from our old house to a condo in Florida, now that my husband has retired. We had had boxes and albums of coins stored in the back of our closet ever since my father gave them to us many years ago.

I did my homework and found Dave listed as one of the few dealers in Connecticut on the Professional Numismatists Guild website. We contacted him and met in his office a few days later.

We had spent some of the coins a few years ago, but I wish we hadn't. What was left (which was most of it, fortunately) was worth thousands of dollars.

We were thrilled! It will make the move that much easier. Fewer boxes to move, and more money to help pay for it. I would recommend Dave to anyone who is looking for a fair and honest coin dealer.

SOLD! This one's a keeper. My check will go out in tomorrow's mail.

Hi Dave,

The quarter arrived today. It is a beauty! Excellent luster and a great strike. Honestly, it looks like a 64 all day to me. I have no problem at all cracking this one out of its MS62 holder. It's going to look great in my album!

My father spent about 40 years building and enjoying his coin collection. When he passed away late last year I checked out several buyers in the New England area. I narrowed the list down to you and one other dealer. I must say I am quite happy I chose to do business with you.

You met with my sister and me, and you spent the time necessary to find each of the coins worth a premium over their metal value. You made an offer that was over twice the amount that the other dealer made. I was surprised because that dealer also came very highly recommended.

It was a pleasure meeting you and I thank you for doing such a thorough job with my dad's collection.

Sincerely,

I wanted to find a PNG member dealer. I got Dave's name from their website. As one of the few PNG members in all of New England, they are known as the Gold Standard of coin dealers.

I didn't want to get ripped off. Dave treated me with respect and showed me why my more expensive coins were valued as they were. In the end, he paid me significantly more for my dad's coin collection than I had estimated it was worth, based on what my dad paid for the coins. Thank you for that, Dave.

I received the coin yesterday. It looks great! Nice original color on both sides and no marks that I can see with the naked eye. An excellent type coin!

I took a shoebox worth of coins into (well known coin buying store advertised on local TV). The clerk behind the counter took a quick look and said, “There's nothing of value here. I'll give you $35 for the lot.”

Something about that did not sit right with me. So I took them home and put them away. A few months later I did an Internet search and came up with your name. I wanted to be sure this time, so I checked out your credentials.

We set up an appointment at your office. You spent about 25 minutes going over the coins in the box, and said there were a few interesting coins in there. You told me that that same box of coins was worth exactly $836. I sold them to you and was quite happy. I have already recommended you to a friend of mine who has some old coins. Thank you for your honesty.

I received an offer from my grandfathers coin collection from another dealer. He told me that it was the best offer I would receive for the coins.

Then I found you online. You carefully looked at the collection. When it was all added up the total came to nearly three times that amount.

I was shocked. And happy of course. Thank you.

It turns out that there are no licenses or anything needed to call yourself a coin dealer. Anybody can do it. So when I became the executrix of my father's estate, I wanted someone with credentials. That way all the heirs could feel comfortable that knew the correct value of my dad's coin collection.

I found Dave through an Internet search. Turns out there are only 5 dealers in the entire state that are members of the PNG (Professional Numismatists Guild). Plus, he is a contributor to several coin reference books.

We were very happy with his work. Some of the coins my dad thought were very valuable turned out not to be. But a few others he thought were nothing special turned out to have significant value.

Overall I am very pleased, and would recommend Dave to anyone who is settling an estate that contains a coin collection.

Sincerely,.

Hi Dave:

The coin looks great! Let me know if you get any others like it.

Thank you Dave for taking the time to appraise my coin collection. I appreciate the links to the websites as well and look forward to learning more. Hope you and your family have a great 4th of July!

All the best-

Thank you for your help, Dave. My attorney was impressed and I am happy with your thoroughness!

As you know, My husband and I inherited a substantial coin collection from my dad last year. We have been fortunate in life so far, so the proceeds from the collection won’t have a big impact on our lifestyle. However it was important to my father’s memory that what he collected over his lifetime were sold at fair prices.

Through both coin auctions (for the most expensive coins) and private sales you selected the best venues for his coins so that his collection,that he cared so much for, were all sold at the current market values.

Thank you for honoring his wishes.

Sincerely,

I had a most enjoyable transaction selling my coins to you. I will certainly recommend you to anyone wishing to sell their coins.

I was the Executrix of my father's estate. There were blue coin album folders stacked high in several boxes, coins in pill bottles and coffee cans, etc.

First off, everything had to be appraised for the Probate Court. Dave did so quickly and efficiently. Several months later when it came time to settle the estate, I called Dave and asked if he wished to buy the collection. He did -- lock, stock and barrel. I spoke to another dealer before that and he wanted to pick and choose the coins he would buy, leaving us with the bulky remainder.

He sent three equal checks to each of the three heirs.

Much thanks to you Dave, for making the process so easy!

Dave, the check has been received with thanks, and has gone to the bank.

I will have to look over the results in more detail and talk to my accountant on how to handle this windfall for which I thank you very much. It feels good to get the coins out of the safe deposit box where they have sat for years and into something productive.

Looking forward to the wrap up and the chance to recommend another customer to you in the future. It has been a real pleasure working with you and I hope that our paths cross again. Please feel free to use me as a reference if you wish.

Dave,

Thank you so much for coming yesterday and treating my late father's collection with such care.

We hope you were able to get home safely.

Sincerely,

I visited Mr. Wnuck in his Cheshire office 4 times over the course of 18 months. Each time he made a generous offer for that part of my grandfather's coin collection. Dave has proven himself to be fair, honest, and trustworthy. He is a coin expert that will do his best to make a strong offer. Give him a try when you have coins to sell. Thank you, Dave.

Appraisals

Fair, experienced and
knowledgeable coin appraisal

We are appraisal experts in:

Professional Accreditation:

How to Go about Selling Your Old Coins

Step1 #:
Determine the Type of Collection You Have

Collection Type A: A Collector’s Collection.

Collection Type B: A coin accumulation or hoard.

Collection Type C: A collection of products of US and world mints, and similarly packaged items.

Step2 #:
Find a Buyer with whom you can comfortably work.

Look at their credentials.

Look for a record of honesty and fair dealing.

Look for a dealer who has the financial resources to pay you what a collection is worth.

Work with someone you can trust.

Testimonials

Serving Connecticut's Coin Market

Quick Links

Newsletter

Appraisals

Fair, experienced and knowledgeable coin appraisal

We are appraisal experts in:

Professional Accreditation:

How to Go about Selling Your Old Coins

Step1 #: Determine the Type of Collection You Have

Collection Type A: A Collector’s Collection.

Collection Type B: A coin accumulation or hoard.

Collection Type C: A collection of products of US and world mints, and similarly packaged items.

Step2 #: Find a Buyer with whom you can comfortably work.

Look at their credentials.

Look for a record of honesty and fair dealing.

Look for a dealer who has the financial resources to pay you what a collection is worth.

Work with someone you can trust.

Testimonials

Serving Connecticut's Coin Market

Quick Links

Newsletter

Fair, experienced and
knowledgeable coin appraisal

Step1 #:
Determine the Type of Collection You Have

Step2 #:
Find a Buyer with whom you can comfortably work.