World coins in Philadelphia
Sell World and Ancient Coins in Philadelphia
Coins from Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Mexico and many other countries have a way of ending up in Philadelphia homes. We sort the gold and silver from the base metal, pick out the collector pieces, and write an offer you can read line by line.
Private appointments across Greater Philadelphia. We call back the same business day.
How world coins are priced
World coins fall into three groups. Gold and silver pieces like British sovereigns, Mexican 50 pesos and Canadian silver are priced on metal content against the live spot price, unless the date or grade adds collector value. Ancient coins and scarce world issues sell on collector demand. Base metal pocket change from trips abroad usually has little resale value, and we tell you so plainly.
One Mexican 50 pesos gold coin at today’s spot price
41.67 grams × 90% gold = 1.2057 troy oz × spot $4,117.72 = $4,964.93 in metal
Melt value only. Collector value, when a coin has it, is priced separately and shown to you at the table.
What sets the offer on world coins
- Gold and silver content sets the floor for most world coins.
- Country, date and grade decide whether a coin has collector value.
- Ancient coins are judged on how much detail and portrait survive.
- Cleaned or polished coins, ancient or modern, lose value.
- Base metal pocket change is worth little unless it is an unusual piece.
World coins we buy in Philadelphia
- British sovereigns
- Mexican 50 pesos gold coins
- Mexican silver coins and Libertads
- Canadian silver coins
- Chinese Silver and Gold Pandas
- South African Krugerrands
- European gold and silver coins
- Roman coins
- Greek coins
- Jars of mixed foreign coins
What happens when we meet
- 1
Call or send the form
Tell us roughly what you have. We call back the same business day and set a private appointment at a time that suits you.
- 2
Bring everything as it is
Don't clean, polish or sort. Bring the jars, albums and jewelry box, plus a government-issued photo ID if you plan to sell.
- 3
Watch each piece get checked
Date, mint mark and grade for coins. Karat for gold. Non-destructive testing and a calibrated scale, right in front of you.
- 4
Take the written offer, or don't
Say yes and get paid that visit by cash, check or wire. Say no and leave with everything plus the item-by-item list.
Selling in Philadelphia
Coins from the old country, kept in Philadelphia homes
Families with roots in Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and many other places built much of Philadelphia, from the blocks around the Italian Market on 9th Street to the rowhouses of Fishtown, Frankford and Mayfair. Many of them brought a few coins from home. Those coins sat in jewelry boxes and cookie tins for generations, and often nobody left in the family can say what they are.
Veterans brought home their own share, and so did sailors who passed through the Navy Yard. A tin of European or Pacific pocket change saved from wartime service often turns up next to a parent's U.S. coins, along with a souvenir or two picked up on leave. Students and professors home from a year abroad at Penn, Temple, Swarthmore or Princeton University add their own handfuls to the mix.
Most of a mixed jar is base metal and worth little more than the stories behind it. The pieces we watch for are gold and silver. British sovereigns are 22K gold. The Mexican 50 pesos gold coin holds 1.2057 troy ounces of gold. Canadian silver, Mexican silver and some older European coins carry metal value, and modern Chinese Pandas come in both gold and silver. Every piece is tested without acid or scratching and weighed on a calibrated scale.
Ancient coins are a field of their own. Roman and Greek coins turn up too, often bought as souvenirs or collected by a relative who loved history. Collectors care about how much detail survives, how clear the portrait is, and whether the coin has been cleaned. We price ancients on collector demand and tell you when a coin is a common type. If a relative kept notes, receipts or old dealer envelopes with the coins, bring them along, since they can help us identify a piece.
All of this happens in front of you, piece by piece, as we sort collector coins from gold and silver priced on metal and set the pocket change aside. The written offer lists each item that has value. Accept it and you are paid the same visit, by cash, check, or wire for larger sales. Decline it and you take everything home, with the list for your family records.
Bring a government-issued photo ID if you decide to sell. Call 215-798-9204 to book a private appointment in the city, the suburbs, South Jersey or Wilmington. For a large inherited collection, ask about a home visit.
Sellers come from
Questions
Common questions
Are foreign coins worth anything?
Some are worth a good deal more than others. Gold coins like British sovereigns and Mexican 50 pesos, and silver coins from Canada, Mexico and Europe, carry metal value. Scarce dates and ancient coins can bring collector premiums. Most modern base metal pocket change is worth very little. We sort your coins in front of you and show you which group each one falls into.
Do you buy ancient Roman and Greek coins?
Yes. We evaluate Roman and Greek coins on condition, how much detail survives, how clear the portrait is, and any signs of cleaning. Pricing follows current collector demand. Many ancient coins are common types and sell for modest amounts, while better pieces bring more. Each ancient coin you bring gets its own line on the written offer.
What is a British sovereign made of?
A British sovereign is a 22K gold coin, which means it is about 91.6% gold. Because it is gold, a sovereign always carries metal value tied to the live spot price, and some dates and conditions add collector interest on top of that. We test sovereigns with non-destructive methods and weigh them on a calibrated scale before writing an offer.
My grandparents brought coins from Europe. Where do I start?
Start by leaving them as they are. Do not clean them or sort out only the shiny ones. Gather everything, including any notes, envelopes or boxes they came in, and book a free evaluation at 215-798-9204. We will identify what we can, separate the gold and silver from the rest, and give you a written list either way.
Do you buy jars of mixed foreign change?
We will go through them with you. Most mixed jars hold base metal coins with little resale value, but they sometimes hide a silver piece or an older coin worth setting aside. We pull out anything with value, put it on the written offer, and tell you plainly what the rest is worth. You keep anything we pass on.
Find out what your coins and gold are worth. Then decide.
- Free evaluation, with no obligation to sell
- Every piece checked in front of you
- A written offer, item by item
- Paid the same visit if you say yes
Request your free offer
Three quick questions. We call back the same business day.
or call (215) 798-9204