Expert: Brad Swain - 2/4/2010

Question
I inherited several old silver half dollars and dollars plus what apperas to be chinese or japanese paper money maybe WWII era.  is there a good source I can go to get a legitimate value?  Also I received steel pennies and a 2 cent coin as well.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Jay, 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.
U.S. coin prices for professionally graded coins: http://www.pcgs.com/prices/
and ungraded coins: http://www.bestcoin.com/united-states-coin-pricing-guide.htm .
Ungraded coins (raw) are worth less depending on amount of wear and collector demand.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Guidebook of United States Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.

The paper money may be found here:
Paper Money Gallery: http://aes.iupui.edu/rwise/notedir/mappage.html
or you might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad