Expert: Brad Swain - 12/31/2009

Question
Hello! I have a very large amount of inherited coins from all over the world, and I am interested in knowing where I could go to look each one up on my own, as there are quite a few. So far, my answers from sources have varied by great amounts, and I would love to know an accurate place to look. Also, many do not have dates, or when I try to look it gives me information in the language of the country they came from. A few of them include:
1. France - 1854 - Empire Francais Cinq Centimes (eagle picture) side 1/ napolean III Empereur 1854 (man picture) side 2
2. Farthing 1902 (statue picture) side 1 & edwardvs vii dei gra:britt:omn:rex fid:def:ind:imp. side 2 (coin pouch has 1902 quarter penny (farthing) great britain written on it)
3. republica argentina 1910 (man picture) side 1 & 10 centavos side 2 (pouch has Argentina 10 centavos 1910 written on it)
4. alfonso xii por la gracia de dios 1879 side 1 (picture of man) & rev const. de espana cinco centimos (coat of arms & crown picture) side 2
5. guernesey (3 lions picture) side 1 & 1 double 1902 side 2
6. republica de chile (bird picture) side 1 & 10 centavos 1924 side 2
7. southern rhodesia 1942 one penny side 1 & george vi king emperor side 2 (coin has hole in middle)
8. Very faded coin, has probably lost value, coin pouch has buenos ayres 1 decimo 1822 written on it
9. romania bani (big 10 in middle) side 1 & 1900 (picture of crown) side 2, pouch has romania 10 bani 1900 written on it
10. 5 pennia side 1 (2 flowers picture) & 1922 (lion with crown and sword picture) side 2, pouch has finland 1922 5 pennia written on it
11. haakon.den.syvende.norges.konge 1925 side 1 & 1 krone alt.for norge side 2 (with hole in middle, pouch has norway written on it)
12. 1931 10 side 1 & vittorio emanyele iii re d`italia (picture of man) side 2, pouch has italy, 1931, 10 centesimi written on it

These are just a few.. and do not even put a dent into my collection but any information you have would be very very very much appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!

Answer
Hi Shelby, Collector value of a coin depends on denomination (face value), date, mint mark (if any), number minted and condition of a coin, including amount of wear, any dents, scratches or cleaning as well as collector demand for it.
You already have the information needed to discover their values.
You might try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info. With the catalog above, which can be bought new or used online, you should be able to get values for the vast majority in a day or less depending on how many you have.
If you start by listing them by Country, Denomination, and Date as below that will streamline the process.
1. France 1854 5 Centimes, Emperor Napoleon III (1852-70), mintmark under the eagle.
2. Great Britain Farthing 1902, King Edward VII (1901-10) on one side and on the other side is the allegorical figure of Britannia with shield and a trident which symbolizes Britain's mastery of the seas and worldwide empire. The abbreviated Latin legend stands for By the Grace of God, Ruler and King of Britain, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
3. Argentina 1910 10 centavos
4. Spain Alfonso XII 1879 5 centimos
5. Guernsey 1 double 1902
6. Chile 10 centavos 1924, condor
7. Southern Rhodesia 1942 1 penny British King George VI (1936-52)
8. Buenos Aires (Argentina) 1 decimo 1822
9. Romania 10 bani 1900
10. Finland 5 pennia 1922
11. Norway 1925 1 krone
12. Italy 1931 10 centesimi King Vittorio Emanuele III (1900-46)
World coin pictures and some values may be found here: http://worldcoingallery.com/index.htm ,
http://www.coinarchives.com/ , and http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis.jsp .
Brad