Searching for coins on eBay

[rainbowcolorz]

Today someone gave me 2 circulated and quite used silver quarters to add to my very large collection of coins. 

1 is a 1950 D US Washington quarter and the other is a 1957 D US Washington quarter.

I thanked her and said as soon as I check them out on eBay and see what they're worth I will give her the $ when I see her again.  She said no but I want to anyway soooo .... I started my search on eBay about 25 minutes ago and am still not sure what they are worth.  

I know from reading many posts here that sometimes searches on eBay can be difficult.

The first search I did:  1950 D Circulated US Silver Washington Quarter - showed me 5 results with prices starting at $5.75 BIN Free Shipping to $27.88 OBO (BIN) Free Shipping.

The 2nd search I changed to:  1950 D US Silver Quarter - and came up with 19 results with prices starting at $5.54 Free Shipping to $27.88 OBO (BIN) Free Shipping.  

Then I did a search for SOLD coins and came up with 4 results ranging in price from $2.50 Auction Style with Free Shipping to $27.88 B/O  Free Shipping - B/O was accepted. 

Aside from taking my coins IRL to a coin dealer (something I will have difficulty doing with my very heavy collection) how does someone determine from searching listings on eBay, what their coins are worth?  

I know there were some coin dealers who posted here and I often thought about contacting them in the past about my collection (that I definitely don't know the value of and can't list them now anyway) but since I was/am concerned about eBay thinking my message may result in an off-eBay sale, I won't contact them.    

Any advice about how to search for the correct dollar amount of these 2 quarters will be appreciated.   

Thanks. 

[ersatz_sobriquet]

Unless you're trained in double stamped coins or flawed coins, put it on auction at a price you can stand to accept (middle of the road) and let it rip. If there's anything truly unusual about it with luck two dealers will spot it and drive it up. 

[rdj831]

You can go to the NGC Coins website and get current values for coins.

All you have to do is sign up for a free account.

This will give you an idea of worth based on grade.

[fashunu4eeuh]

@rainbowcolorz Wrote

”...how does someone determine from searching listings on eBay, what their coins are worth?”

Hi, actual value cannot be determined by looking at eBay completed listings. But it can give you a ballpark of what you might get for them if you put them up for sale here. As the other posters said, sales price may not reflect the coin’s actual worth.

When researching item value, i google it first. I also consult Completed listings on eBay, both sold and unsold. Additionally, i have a Worthpoint account to get historical pricing from multiple sources. 

However, coins are specialized and have different values based on condition, and that would be very difficult to ascertain without an expert to grade the coin. I can think of no way around seeking an expert to learn your coins’ genuine worth.

I was alarmed for you reading about your search for coin dealers. Please don’t just leave your coin collection in someone else’s hands and hope they are honest. Especially like an unknown someone you found on CL. That is so risky and i’m glad you saw thru a possible scam attempt there.

 Did take a look using my Worthpoint for “1950 D Circulated US Silver Washington Quarter” and it returned 1655 results. Average price ran about $12 for a single coin but most of the results were in large lots selling for several thousand dollars. For your information, here is a link to that, dont know if the prices will transfer too.

https://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/refineSearch?offset=100&max=100&sort=Price&query=1950+D+Circula...

Good luck to you and wish you much success!

[rainbowcolorz]

---

@escuintla wrote:

Don't spend them 

Back in 2001-2002 if my memory doesn't fail me, here in San Francisco CA, I heard over the radio this guy went to purchase something at the store. Imagine the price of $3.76. He grabbed his wallet, dropped the bills, then some coins from his pocket and went home. 

Then, next day, he realized his precious 1943 copper penny was given to that cashier that day. He was offering $20,000 as a reward 

Somebody must have it in a jar. 

---

Wow.  I think I have some copper pennies.  I know I have some, I think they are steel? pennies.   I would never carry a valuable coin in my pocket along with my other change.   Some people I know save 2$ bills for me.  I have a stack of those.  

[rainbowcolorz]

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@emerald40 wrote:

Obviously someone who did not realize it used it to make a purchase and it was now in general circulation.

Now this person may not have realized it had any value either until after it was too late.

Who knows?  Plausable.  So no reason to doubt someone until you do.

Who looks at their coins when going about their daily routine.

---

I do, all the time.  Especially if I receive change from a machine.  I love finding old coins or even coins from another country. 

[rainbowcolorz]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

You might be able to call or email a coin store and give them an idea of what you have. They may be able to give you some ball park figures, and tell you if any dates are desirable.

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Thanks, I did.  The owner said because I have so many I would have to bring them in.   

[rainbowcolorz]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

Probably no more than $5 if that, most collectors are not interested in quarters.

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Wow.  I didn't know that.  Thanks.  

[rainbowcolorz]

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:

Unless you're trained in double stamped coins or flawed coins, put it on auction at a price you can stand to accept (middle of the road) and let it rip. If there's anything truly unusual about it with luck two dealers will spot it and drive it up. 

---

Yes, thanks ... auction is the only way I would put them up.  

[rainbowcolorz]

---

@rdj831 wrote:

You can go to the NGC Coins website and get current values for coins.

All you have to do is sign up for a free account.

This will give you an idea of worth based on grade.

---

Thanks, I'll think about that.  Unfortunately, I have no idea what *grade* these coins are.  

[rainbowcolorz]

---

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

@rainbowcolorz Wrote

”...how does someone determine from searching listings on eBay, what their coins are worth?”

Hi, actual value cannot be determined by looking at eBay completed listings. But it can give you a ballpark of what you might get for them if you put them up for sale here. As the other posters said, sales price may not reflect the coin’s actual worth.

When researching item value, i google it first. I also consult Completed listings on eBay, both sold and unsold. Additionally, i have a Worthpoint account to get historical pricing from multiple sources. 

However, coins are specialized and have different values based on condition, and that would be very difficult to ascertain without an expert to grade the coin. I can think of no way around seeking an expert to learn your coins’ genuine worth.

I was alarmed for you reading about your search for coin dealers. Please don’t just leave your coin collection in someone else’s hands and hope they are honest. Especially like an unknown someone you found on CL. That is so risky and i’m glad you saw thru a possible scam attempt there.

 Did take a look using my Worthpoint for “1950 D Circulated US Silver Washington Quarter” and it returned 1655 results. Average price ran about $12 for a single coin but most of the results were in large lots selling for several thousand dollars. For your information, here is a link to that, dont know if the prices will transfer too.

https://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/refineSearch?offset=100&max=100&sort=Price&query=1950+D+Circula...

Good luck to you and wish you much success!

---

Thanks very much!  I saved the link to look at later.   Unfortunately, I am not able to do much in the way of physical activity so hauling bags of coins here and there is not an option any longer.   I made the mistake once of trusting someone I was introduced to, with gold and silver jewelry and that was a BIG mistake.  

[ohnojoey]

@rainbowcolorz wrote:

Any advice about how to search for the correct dollar amount of these 2 quarters will be appreciated.   

"Knowledge is power."

Search 1950  or 1957 US Washington quarter in your favorite search engine and you will find common denominators and values from coin dealers.

Ebay doesn't know coin values. Some sellers do.

There will be sales for a $3-$5 average circulated coin listed for $27 or more, just because some sucker will pay it. Unless it was a S over D or a D over S. Even a slabbed MS-60 1950 is available for around $4-$15 from coin dealers.

I can buy 1950 quarters for $3-$4 any day. Not on ebay though.

If you have a "very large collection, very, very heavy coin bags (with thousands of coins in them)" then you better start with one at a time to research, if it takes a year, then get started, otherwise you just have some heavy bags taking up space. They wouldn't even make a good pillow. 

If you leave them with a dealer or "expert" then I hope you trust them because greed is a heavy motivator for corruption. You may have some valuable coins that you would never know about if they were "culled" from the bags left with a stranger.

Maybe you have a trusted relative to give them to, or will to them. Best course is to take the time to learn; all of the coin collectors I know are at least moderately passionate about their collections and know what they have.

Bottom line is to use your search engine for non-ebay dealers/values.

[rainbowcolorz]

---

@ohnojoey wrote:

@rainbowcolorz wrote:

Any advice about how to search for the correct dollar amount of these 2 quarters will be appreciated.   

"Knowledge is power."

Search 1950  or 1957 US Washington quarter in your favorite search engine and you will find common denominators and values from coin dealers.

Ebay doesn't know coin values. Some sellers do.

There will be sales for a $3-$5 average circulated coin listed for $27 or more, just because some sucker will pay it. Unless it was a S over D or a D over S. Even a slabbed MS-60 1950 is available for around $4-$15 from coin dealers.

I can buy 1950 quarters for $3-$4 any day. Not on ebay though.

If you have a "very large collection, very, very heavy coin bags (with thousands of coins in them)" then you better start with one at a time to research, if it takes a year, then get started, otherwise you just have some heavy bags taking up space. They wouldn't even make a good pillow. 

If you leave them with a dealer or "expert" then I hope you trust them because greed is a heavy motivator for corruption. You may have some valuable coins that you would never know about if they were "culled" from the bags left with a stranger.

Maybe you have a trusted relative to give them to, or will to them. Best course is to take the time to learn; all of the coin collectors I know are at least moderately passionate about their collections and know what they have.

Bottom line is to use your search engine for non-ebay dealers/values.

---

Thank you for your very informative post.  Unfortunately, I dont have a year to do the necessary research and nobody to will them to.  So I rely on eBay to help me with my searches and ... if someone I know, knows someone who collects or buys items I have, then I do the best I can.   I tend to trust first ... and then sometimes find out that I was duped.   

[ohnojoey]

It's a good strategy, but the value will be elusive, just an ebay value which can swing wildly. I sometimes use ebay for getting a feel for a collectible that is rare or uncommon, to see what others sell for, like you are doing.

Most of what I sell has no comparison (non-coins) though, so it is a challenge. But coins are easy to price. I guess just do what you are doing, but you will still have to do them one by one or trust someone to hand them over to.

Funny thing, I don't buy coins on ebay, anyway, I wish I could help.

[collectablesofliberty]

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@rainbowcolorz wrote:

Today someone gave me 2 circulated and quite used silver quarters to add to my very large collection of coins. 

1 is a 1950 D US Washington quarter and the other is a 1957 D US Washington quarter.

I thanked her and said as soon as I check them out on eBay and see what they're worth I will give her the $ when I see her again.  She said no but I want to anyway soooo .... I started my search on eBay about 25 minutes ago and am still not sure what they are worth.  

I know from reading many posts here that sometimes searches on eBay can be difficult.

The first search I did:  1950 D Circulated US Silver Washington Quarter - showed me 5 results with prices starting at $5.75 BIN Free Shipping to $27.88 OBO (BIN) Free Shipping.

The 2nd search I changed to:  1950 D US Silver Quarter - and came up with 19 results with prices starting at $5.54 Free Shipping to $27.88 OBO (BIN) Free Shipping.  

Then I did a search for SOLD coins and came up with 4 results ranging in price from $2.50 Auction Style with Free Shipping to $27.88 B/O  Free Shipping - B/O was accepted. 

Aside from taking my coins IRL to a coin dealer (something I will have difficulty doing with my very heavy collection) how does someone determine from searching listings on eBay, what their coins are worth?  

I know there were some coin dealers who posted here and I often thought about contacting them in the past about my collection (that I definitely don't know the value of and can't list them now anyway) but since I was/am concerned about eBay thinking my message may result in an off-eBay sale, I won't contact them.    

Any advice about how to search for the correct dollar amount of these 2 quarters will be appreciated.   

Thanks. 

---

As of right now, those quarters are worth $2.61 each for average circulated, basically their silver value. If you bought them from our show we would charge you $3.05 each. Hope that helps. 

[dblkj-0]

They are definitely worth at the least their face value of 25 cents, each.

At the most they're worth their street value of what silver each contains, minus the cost of melting them down and then sifting out the actual silver, so probably 2-3 dollars.

That is along the lines of what a dealer is going to tell you.

Certainly it's worth more but the dealer has to resell them and therein must exist a profit.

You've gotten some very good input along the lines of 5-6 dollars as to what these coins might be worth.

You have to understand at some point, no matter what the expectation, they're not worth much more.

Even perfectly uncirculated mint condition silver coins of old dates (just because they're old doesn't make them rare) aren't worth much more than their numismatic value and they're worth what a collector is willing to pay and they're not paying that much either...

Sorry if I was too blunt.