Expert: PAPAJACK - 11/19/2008

Question
I have a 1963,1964 quarters, 1922,1923 silver dollars, 1942, 1943 silver half dollar and other old dimes, V nickels and some old pinnies what is the best way to find there value.  thanks James

Answer
Hello James,                             

Good question your silver coins are worth about 10 times their face value in silver content alone and then a numismatic value may be added to them.

If the coins are in a collectable condition I would start by looking at the (red or blue cover) book titled "A GUIDE TO UNITED STATES COINS” by R.S. Yeoman. If you can borrow a copy it will help your public library may have one. An older copy will work as well. They sell new for less than $10 but are updated and issued each year.  
There are grading details described at the start of each coin series. These are taken from the American Numismatic Association grading standard and use the 1 to 70 scale recognized by all professionals since the 1970's.

Most circulated coins range from Good (grade-G4) to Almost Uncirculated (grade-AU50) on the scale. So a grade of Good or 4 out of a possible 70 is a low grade. Lower grades are much more common than high grade examples, of this coin, and therefore less valuable.  

Once the grade is established you can go to other catalogs, on-line and books for values for your date, mint mark and coin type in each grade. These price lists are only "Guides" though. Some modern coins sell less than the mint sold them for and others are selling higher than the list price at auction. Try to get a price guide at a news stand or a coin newspaper like Numismatic News, Coin World or other, but also look at sites like eBay and see what a coin like yours has sold for.

If there any more information you require on this question just ask.

Thank you for this question and Good Luck,

PapaJack