Working calculators
Silver Coin Melt Value CalculatorWhat your silver coins are actually worth based on silver content and current spot. Coin Grading Premium CalculatorWhat you'd actually save (or lose) by submitting for CGC/PCGS grading.Plain note about money: Some product links are affiliate (eBay Partner Network). Small commission on purchases. Doesn't change your price. The math comes from real hands-on time, not marketing.
Guides
- Mintmarks and how to spot a removed S — wear patterns vs tooling marks under 10x
- Why you never clean a coin — the mistake that quietly destroys value
- The PVC flip that quietly ruins coins — and the one time you intervene
- Coin grading explained — why two almost-identical coins sell for wildly different prices
- Bullion vs numismatic — the buy reason that changes the coin (and the premium-over-melt tell)
Gear actually worth buying
Smart eBay searches we'd start with ourselves. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales through these links; the price you pay is the same whether you use them or go direct to eBay. Full disclosure.
Whitman coin albums and foldersWhitman folders and Dansco albums are the standard for type sets and date-mint runs. Map your collection before buying sizes.
10× jeweler's loupeA 10× loupe is the minimum for reading mint marks and evaluating surface condition. Triplet lens gives clearer edge-to-edge view.
2×2 coin flips and holdersMylar-window 2×2 holders protect individual coins and fit standard storage boxes. Avoid PVC flips — they leach and damage surfaces.
Storage boxes for 2×2 holdersStandard cardboard long boxes hold 250+ slabs or 2×2s upright. Label the spines; you'll accumulate more than you expect.
Red Book (US coin guide)A Guide Book of United States Coins is the field reference for dates, mint marks, and approximate values. Updated annually.