If you have old coins lying around and are looking to sell them online, you may be wondering where to start. There are a variety of websites that buy and sell old coins, but not all of them are created equal.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best sites where you can sell your coin collection.
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Best sites to sell old coins online
If you are just starting out and want to do some research on the best websites to sell it is a good idea to begin by comparing different websites. There are several popular websites that buy and sell old coins:
Ebay
eBay is one of the largest online marketplaces in the world and offers a wide variety of items, including old coins. The site is user-friendly and allows you to set your own price and create your own listing. However, the competition can be tough, and you’ll need to work to get your listing noticed by potential buyers.
EBay is a popular website for selling old coins online, but it does charge fees for listing and selling your items. These fees can add up and impact your profit margin, so it’s important to factor them into your pricing strategy.
It also offers a variety of listing options, including fixed price and auction formats, which can help you sell your coins quickly or wait for the right buyer.
Pros
- Large audience: It is one of the largest online marketplaces in the world, which means that you’ll have access to a large audience of potential buyers for your coins.
- User-friendly: It is a user-friendly platform that allows you to create your own listing, set your own price, and communicate with potential buyers.
- Control over pricing: You have control over the pricing on eBay, which means that you can set your own price and potentially earn more than you would by selling to a dealer.
- Variety of listing options: eBay offers a variety of listing options, including fixed price and auction formats, which can help you sell quickly or wait for the right buyer.
- Seller protections: eBay offers seller protections, including a secure payment system and policies to protect sellers from fraudulent buyers.
Cons
- Competition: Because it is such a large platform, there is a lot of competition for buyers’ attention. This means that it can be difficult to get your listing noticed among the thousands of other listings for coins.
- Fees: It charges fees for listing and selling your items, which can impact your profit margin. These fees can add up quickly, so it’s important to factor them into your pricing strategy.
- Counterfeit coins: Because eBay is such a large platform, there are many counterfeit coins on the market. This means that you need to be careful to ensure that your coins are genuine before selling them.
- Shipping costs: Shipping costs can be a significant expense when selling coins here, especially if you need to ship them to buyers outside of your region.
- Scammers: As with any online marketplace, there is always the risk of scammers or fraudulent buyers. It is important to be cautious and protect yourself by following eBay’s policies and using secure payment methods.
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is a reputable online auction site that specializes in rare coins and currency. They have a team of experts who can help you determine the value of your coins and ensure that you get a fair price. This site may be a good choice if you have rare or high-value coins to sell.
Heritage Auctions is an auction site that specialize in rare coins and offer free appraisals and grading services. These site charge commissions on the final sale price. But they can help connect you with collectors and investors around the world. If you have rare or high-value coins to sell, it may be a good choice.
Pros:
- Reputable: It is a reputable online auction site that specializes in rare coins and currency. They have a team of experts who can help you determine the value of your coins and ensure that you get a fair price.
- Wide audience: Heritage Auctions has a large audience of collectors and investors who are interested in rare and high-value coins. This means that you may be able to reach buyers who are willing to pay a premium for the coins.
- Free appraisals: It offers free appraisals and grading services, which can help you determine the value and ensure that they are properly authenticated and graded.
- Competitive commissions: It charges commissions on the final sale price, but these commissions are competitive with other auction sites and may be lower than what you would pay a dealer.
- Seller protections: Heritage Auctions offers seller protections, including insurance for your shipment and a secure payment system, which can help ensure a smooth and secure transaction.
Cons:
- Competition: Because Heritage Auctions is a popular site for selling rare and high-value coins, there is a lot of competition for buyers’ attention. This means that it can be difficult to get your coins noticed among the many other listings on the site.
- Commissions: Heritage Auctions does charge commissions on the final sale price, which can impact your profit margin. It’s important to factor these commissions into your pricing strategy.
- Long selling process: Because Heritage Auctions is an auction site, the selling process can be lengthy and may take several weeks or months to complete. If you need to sell quickly, this may not be the best option for you.
- Limited control over pricing: While you can set a reserve price on Heritage Auctions, you don’t have as much control over the pricing as you would on a site like eBay. This means that you may not be able to sell for as much as you would like.
- Risk of low bidding: There is always the risk of low bidding on an auction site, which means that you may not get as much for your coins as you were hoping. It’s important to set a reserve price and be prepared for the possibility of low bidding.
GreatCollections
GreatCollections is another online auction site that specializes in rare coins. They offer free appraisals and can help you determine the value of your coins before you sell them. It is a popular choice for collectors and investors and may be a good option if you have rare or valuable coins.
Pros:
- Wide exposure to potential buyers: It has a large audience of collectors and investors who are interested in rare coins and other collectibles. By selling through GreatCollections, you can potentially reach a broader pool of buyers than you would through a local dealer or other selling methods.
- Professional expertise: GreatCollections employs experienced coin experts who can help you evaluate and price your coins. This can be especially valuable if you’re not sure about the value of your coins or how to properly grade them.
- Competitive bidding: It operates as an auction site, which means that buyers will compete against each other to purchase coins. This can lead to higher sale prices than you might get through other selling methods.
- Safe and secure: It takes security seriously and provides a safe and secure platform for selling. They also offer insurance and other protections to help ensure that coins are protected during the selling process.
Cons:
- Fees: GreatCollections charges a commission fee for selling your coins, which can range from 0% to 10%, depending on the value. You should carefully consider the fees and how they will impact your profits.
- Uncertain selling price: While competitive bidding can lead to higher sale prices, there is no guarantee of what coins will sell for. If the bidding is low, you may end up with a lower sale price than you had hoped for.
- Potential delays: The selling process on GreatCollections can take time, as your coins may need to go through a certification process and then be listed in an upcoming auction. If you need to sell quickly, this may not be the best option.
- Risk of non-payment: As with any selling method, there is a risk of non-payment from the buyer. While the company takes steps to minimize this risk, it’s still something to consider when deciding where to sell.
APMEX
APMEX is an online precious metals dealer that buys and sells coins, bullion, and other precious metals. They have a simple and straightforward process for selling coins online and offer competitive prices. APMEX is a good choice if you have bullion coins or other precious metals to sell.
APMEX offers competitive prices for bullion coins and other precious metals. They do not charge fees or commissions for selling your coins, which can help you maximize your profit margin. It also offers a variety of payment options and shipping methods to make the selling process easy and convenient.
Pros:
- Wide reach: APMEX has a large customer base of coin collectors and investors, so there is a good chance that your old coins will be seen by potential buyers.
- Trusted reputation: It has been in the precious metals industry for over 20 years and has a reputation for being a reliable and trustworthy dealer.
- Competitive pricing: It offers competitive pricing for both buying and selling coins, so you may be able to get a good price for your old coins.
- Convenient process: It provides a convenient online platform for selling coins, making it easy to list and sell your coins from the comfort of your home.
Cons:
- Fees: APMEX charges a commission fee for selling your coins on their marketplace, which can range from 3% to 10% depending on the value of the coin. This can eat into your profits, so you’ll want to make sure to factor this into your pricing.
- Competition: With a large number of sellers and buyers on the APMEX marketplace, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd and attract potential buyers.
- Market fluctuations: The value of coins can fluctuate based on various factors, such as market demand and the condition of the coin. This can make it difficult to predict the price you may be able to sell your coins for.
- Shipping: You will be responsible for shipping the coins to APMEX, which can be an additional expense and risk if not done properly.
Stack’s bowers coin auction
Coin auctions are another option for selling old coins online. These sites are ideal if you have rare or high-value coins to sell. They can connect you with collectors and investors around the world. Stack’s Bowers is a well-known auction house that specializes in buying and selling rare coins, including old and historical coins.
Pros:
- Expertise: Stack’s Bowers has a team of experienced professionals who are well-versed in coin grading and valuation, which means they can provide you with an accurate appraisal of your coins.
- Access to buyers: As a prominent auction house, Stack’s Bowers has a vast network of buyers who are interested in purchasing rare coins. This means that your coins may be more likely to sell at a higher price than if you were to sell them independently.
- Convenience: Selling through an auction house like Stack’s Bowers can be more convenient than selling on your own, as they handle all of the details of the sale, from advertising to shipping.
Cons:
- Fees: Auction houses typically charge a commission fee on the sale of your coins, which can range from 5-20% of the final sale price. This means that you may not receive as much money as you would if you were to sell them independently.
- Time: The process of selling through an auction house can take several weeks or even months, as your coins will need to be appraised, advertised, and sold at an auction. This may not be ideal if you need to sell coins quickly.
- Risk: There is always a risk that coins may not sell at the price you’re hoping for, or may not sell at all. Additionally, there is a risk of damage or loss during shipping.
Factors to consider before selling old coins
If you have old coins that you want to sell and are looking for the best websites to do so, there are several factors to consider. Some of the top criteria for selecting the best site to sell old coins online include:
Reputation
When it comes to reputation, it’s important to choose a website that has a good track record and positive reviews from past users. This can help ensure that you are working with a trustworthy and reliable buyer. You can read reviews of different websites online, ask for recommendations from other collectors, or do some research to determine which sites are most reputable.
Pricing
Pricing is another important factor to consider when selling old coins online. Different websites may offer different prices based on factors such as the rarity, condition, and demand for your coins. It’s a good idea to get appraisals from multiple sources to ensure that you are getting a fair price.
Reliability and Security
Reliability and security are also crucial considerations when selling coins online. You want to work with a website that has a secure payment system, offers insurance for your shipment, and has a good track record of completing transactions in a timely and professional manner.
How to sell old coins online
If you are interested in learning more about the value of old coins and how to sell them online, there are several resources available. One of the best ways to determine the value of your coins is to get them professionally graded by a reputable grading service like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).
These services use strict grading standards to evaluate the condition and authenticity of coins, which can help increase their value and appeal to buyers.
Another important factor to consider when selling old coins online is authentication. There are many counterfeit coins on the market, so it’s essential to ensure that your coins are genuine before selling them. You can have the coins authenticated by a third-party service like PCGS or NGC or by a professional coin dealer.
Once you’ve determined the value and authenticity, you can take steps to maximize their value when selling online:
- Create detailed and accurate descriptions,
- provide high-quality photos that showcase their features,
- offer competitive pricing based on the market value of similar coins.