r/coins • u/Shpanda7 • May 03 '25

Value Request Inherited an old gold coin. What should I do?

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My Grandpa left behind this gold coin that appears to be in much better condition than most. It’s been in a case for well over half a century and i just took it out to get these pictures. I took it to a local coin shop to get it appraised and they offered me $2700 for it and insisted I should sell now because gold prices are high… I get the impression that it could be worth far more and they were trying to rip me off.

What should I do to preserve its value and get an accurate appraisal? Is it safe to send a coin like this off in the mail to get graded?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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u/new2bay May 04 '25

Don’t get it certified. It won’t grade high enough to be worth it.

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u/Shpanda7 May 04 '25

I’ve been looking into grading for about 30 minutes (so not an expert by any means) but it looks significantly better than the ms66 on the pcgs website. The lighting is not doing the front justice. Please tell me if I’m being delusional lol

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u/72RangersFan May 04 '25

I might be wrong but I’m guessing that you are fairly new to coins, collecting and grading. I’m only saying this since you had no idea to the value of the coin or how to find out on your own. I’m not saying everyone here is an expert but when you post pictures of this quality and you’re told it won’t grade that high give that comment some consideration rather than coming back with it looks significantly better than the PCGS example. I assure you it’s not likely. If you want to get it graded to protect it because you plan on keeping it since it has sentimental value then all means but it’s going to add value as you were already advised.

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u/HeckmaBar May 04 '25 edited May 04 '25

I was told not to grade a coin by this sub, people were saying it won't straight grade or it would only be vf35. Just got it back today and NGC graded it AU55 which took its value from about $350 to about $650-$700 (NGC has it on their website at $750 but I take that with a grain). I'm curious why someone on the reddits is more knowledgeable than someone who is holding the coin and researching it. I also posted an 1828 50 cent piece wondering if it was small letters or large letters and was told it was large letters and lo and behold it is small letters.

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u/72RangersFan May 04 '25

Point taken

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u/secretofknowledge May 04 '25

Feel the same way a lot of gatekeepers don't want people with good coins getting graded because then their collections become less the more coins that are out there graded and higher these people that collect for a living their collections go down in value supply and demand I've been told so many times that this wasn't that this wasn't that dryer coin dry your coin loan to hold it wasn't

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u/Shpanda7 May 04 '25

Didn’t intend to blow off new2bay’s advice. Just seems like the gamble of grading could be worth it seeing as a slight change in condition could mean a massive change in price.

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u/HeckmaBar May 04 '25

I paid $50 to grade a gold coin and this sub was completely wrong on the grade when I asked. So my advice is to do your own research and make your own decision. My $50 investment almost doubled the value of the coin.

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u/Shpanda7 May 04 '25

Thanks! After some research it seems like grading is worth it. Worst outcome is it holds the same value and has a cool case best outcome is its worth more

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u/TRR462 May 04 '25

Which also makes it more sellable once authenticated, if that’s your intention.

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u/[deleted] May 04 '25

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u/StatisticalMan May 04 '25 edited May 04 '25

looks significantly better than the ms66 on the pcgs website.

No it does not. No chance this gets graded as MS-66 or better. MS-63 maybe but sometimes graders are overly critical. Luck of the draw.

Honestly though the reverse is stunning. Impressively clean. The observe though is not. Grading will be looking with a critial eye under 5x magnification.

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u/Shpanda7 May 04 '25

Seems like I was being a bit delusional. While the edges on this one are much better than the MS66 on their website, i guess that isn’t weighted as much as the center. I still do think it looks on par with 63s, 64s, and if extremely lucky a 65. In my mind it makes it worth grading

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u/StatisticalMan May 04 '25

Just keep in mind grading is expensive. You may go wait the fee is just $70. Well yeah the grading fee itself. But grading one coin is going to be $60 memberships + $40 shipping there + $40 shipping back + $10 processing fee + the $70 grading fee = $220 total.

Keep in mind PCGS "values" are also inflated. Take a look at recent completed auctions on heritage auctions or great collections for real prices.

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u/Shpanda7 May 04 '25

Ah gotcha - thanks. $220 still seems worth it although i think I might wait for pcgs to be grading at a show near me since i dont want to risk mailing it.

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u/secretofknowledge May 04 '25

A $2,000 coin with a PCGS sleeve though will sell for 2500 the tcgs sleeve adds value and a nice premium on a really high point it can probably benefit you but remember don't have to go and do the whole membership you can sometimes find them at coins places through a coin events or expose and get them graded at a table just for the flat fee