What Are My Old Coins Worth? Pennies, Silver Dollars, Quarters

The Quick Rules

Any US coin dated 1964 or earlier that's a dime, quarter, or half dollar is made of 90% silver. At current silver prices, these are worth at minimum $2-10+ just for the metal content, regardless of numismatic value.

Error coins — misprints, double dies, off-center strikes, wrong planchet errors — can be worth hundreds to thousands regardless of age.

Key dates — certain years and mint marks are rare. A 1909-S VDB Lincoln penny is worth $800+. A 1916-D Mercury dime is worth $1,000+.

Coins People Find That Are Actually Valuable

Morgan Silver Dollars (1878-1921)

$30 – $500+

Common dates in good condition sell for $30-50. Key dates like 1893-S can sell for $3,000+. All have silver melt value of $25+.

Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916-1947)

$12 – $200+

Common dates are worth $12-20 for silver content. Key dates like 1921-S can bring $200+. Beautiful design makes them popular with collectors.

1943 Copper Penny (Error)

$100,000 – $1,700,000

1943 pennies were supposed to be steel (zinc-coated). A few were accidentally struck on copper planchets. Extraordinarily rare — most "finds" are fakes. Use a magnet: if it sticks, it's steel, not copper.

Wheat Pennies (1909-1958)

$0.05 – $800+

Most common dates are worth $0.05-0.25. Key dates: 1909-S VDB ($800+), 1914-D ($200+), 1931-S ($80+). Worth checking every one.

How to Check Your Coins' Value

Identify the coin. Note the year, mint mark (small letter — D for Denver, S for San Francisco, no mark for Philadelphia), and denomination.

Check the grade. Coin grading runs from Poor (P-1) to Mint State (MS-70). Higher grades are exponentially more valuable. Key factors: wear on high points, luster, and contact marks.

Look up sold prices. PCGS CoinFacts and NGC Price Guide are industry references. For market prices, check eBay sold listings for your exact coin, year, and approximate grade.

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Where to Sell Coins

eBay — largest audience. Best for individual coins worth $20+. Use good photos of both sides.

r/Coins4Sale — Reddit's coin selling community. Knowledgeable buyers, no fees.

Local coin shops — immediate cash, but expect 60-80% of market value. They need margin to resell.

Heritage Auctions — for high-value coins ($500+). Professional numismatic auction house with global reach.