Expert: Joe Hylas - 3/20/2008

Question
I inherited my father-in-law's coin collection.  Mostly US coins, mostly silver.  I want to have them checked out by a professional, but don't know where to start.  Should I attempt to clean any of the tarnished silver coins and if so, how?  My biggest concern is not getting "taken" by the guy at the coin shop.  What should I look for in a reputable coin professional?  Is a second opinion usually worth the time and/or money?  And once I have the coins checked out, where do I sell them?  EBay?  Individually or in groups?  And what do I do with the foreign coins?  I'm sure there are questions I don't even know that I should be asking!  Any help and suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for your time and attention,
John Oaks

Answer
Hello John,
First off, where are you located?  I might be able to refer you to a reputable dealer, if not, I can arrange for the shipment of the coins to my office here in New York.
Secondly, do not clean any of the coins.  Doing so will diminish their value.
How organized is the collection?  Are the coins inn albums or loose?  Do they appear to be coins that were purchased or collected out of change?  What sort of denominations are there?
After we determine a value, I can better suggest how to liquidate them.  Traditionally, eBay, due to the fees involved, is not the best way to handle this.
Email me directly at JoeHylas@aol.com
Regards
Joe Hylas
www.AllCoins.US