Expert: PAPAJACK - 1/30/2008

Question
I have two large cents in containers marked BU.Should i be sending them somewhere to be graded and if so where? How much to grade & approx.value of these coins.  thanks.

Answer
Hello Gerald,                            

What Date are the Large Cents?

Some collectors like graded coins and some do not.
Usually if you want to sell the coins to someone who cannot view them in person a grading company is the way to go. This way more buyers are likely to bid on the coin sight-unseen trusting the coin is authentic and the bid will be according to the grade assigned by an expert at the company.
Here are the top three grading companies that guarantee the work they do, PCGS, NGC and ANACS.
Professional Coin Grading Service at WWW.Pcgs.com

National Guarantee Corporation
http://www.ngccoin.com/

American Numismatic Association Coin Service;
If the surface has been altered in any way there is only one grading service that will guarantee the grade.
ANACS (http://www.ANACS.com) authenticates and grades and encapsulate all us coins that do not exhibit active corrosion. If the coin has had the surface altered in the past it will get noted on the holder and receive a net grade as well to establish the value.
PCGS and NGC services bring the highest prices presently when a coin is auctioned. But they will not grade a coin that has been altered and send it back to you and keep your money.

Independent Coin Grading is a newer service only gradually being accepted in the market place.
http://www.icgcoin.com/

All the other third party grading services do not guarantee the grade or even the authenticity of coins they encapsulate and therefore are not recommended.

You would go through almost any coin dealer to get the coins submitted to a grading company. Each grading company has there own list of charges depending on the value of the coin, its type and how fast you want it done.

The values of these coins are by date and grade so with out a date I cannot estimate a value range for you. But for just for an 1840's Large Cent type coin the range is from $50 to $150 in Very Fine to Almost Uncirculated condition.
And if the coins are actually in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) grades will sell for much more.

If you need to locate a coin shop in your area write me back, give me the nearest large Cities, some postal zip codes and telephone area codes. I will refer you to an expert in your area.

I hope this information helps.

Good Luck

PapaJack