What is my coin worth?
I ask clients to do a preliminary search through books such as a Guide Book of United States Coins (the Redbook) or Coin World’s Guide to U.S. Coins to see if your collection merits the expense of enlisting a professional. Many of my inquiries can be answered by taking a look at the pricing in either of these books, or in a coin pricing magazine such as Coin World.
Why should I work with a consultant before going to an auction house?
The auction process can be very confusing. If you’re selling a large estate or a valuable item, maximizing your objects sale potential can only happen by placing each piece in the proper sales venue. For even substantial estates, some pieces may be suitable for major auction houses, others might be better-suited to specialized venues and still others might be best-suited for estate sales. By working with an auction consultant, you can get better rates, placement and ultimately, make more money and have less surprises.
What are your fees for appraisals?
For formal USPAP appraisals, I typically charge an hourly fee of $200 for the first hour and $150 for each additional hour for formal appraisals, although this can vary depending on the project. Coin projects can go surprisingly fast as I use grouping techniques to identify, sort and value large groups of coins.
Why do I need an appraisal?
You might need an appraisal to help your insurer in providing insurance coverage, or settling a claim. Appraisals are often required by the IRS for settling estates or before making a charitable contribution. They can also be used for distributing an estate to make sure that all heirs receive equal values, or can be used as a second opinion before purchasing a major item. During our preliminary consultation, we will discuss the function and purpose of the appraisal.
What areas do you serve?
I am based in Dallas, Texas but I provide appraisal, speaking, writing and consulting services across Texas and throughout the country.
What kind of objects do you work with?
My primary work is with rare coins, medals, paper money and precious metals. I also work with fine art, specifically paintings and sculpture of the 17th through 20th centuries, with a specific expertise in 19th century European and American paintings. I work with a wide network of other professionals in different areas, so can handle entire estates of diverse items, or can point you in the right direction.
What does the International Society of Appraisers AM designation mean?
This is a designation awarded the a professional appraisal organization to members who have achieved a level of experience and education. It means Accredited Member and it shows that the member has demonstrated knowledge of his or her chosen specialty field through an approved course of study.
What if I don’t need an appraisal, I just want to know what my things are worth?
An appraisal is a written report that has a cover document, a description of the markets and a complete listing of items among other things. An estimate of value is separate and can not be used for legal or insurance purposes. I often meet clients for informal sessions where we discuss collections and their values. This verbal approximation of value is not a formal appraisal, but one can be developed from the meeting if required.
What do you charge for writing projects?
Writing services are priced by the word, depending on the complexity of the project, with a minimum fee of $250 (although this can be several smaller pieces, such as blog entries). Please note that I do not write on coin topics for coin-related publications as I write exclusively on these subjects for Coin World. While I will collaborate with another author, I will not ghost-write on coin-related topics.
Can you recommend a local dealer?
There are thousands of coin dealers in the country. A good place to start is to ask if the dealer is a member of the American Numismatic Association, the nation’s largest coin collecting organization. The Professional Numismatists Guild is another organization that many prominent coin dealers belong to.
Steve is a rare coin and fine art expert appraiser and consultant who writes the widest-read weekly report on the rare coin market for Coin World, the world's largest hobby publication. He has worked with ANACS (Columbus, OH), Christie's (New York, NY), Heritage Rare Coin Galleries and Heritage Auctions (Dallas, TX). Steve is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers.