Our team at Carolina Silver & Gold has extensive experience in numismatics, which is the official term for coin collecting. If you are interested in buying or selling coins, you can stop by our shop to speak with our coin dealer. Before you visit, we want you to be aware that working with a coin dealer comes with its own expected etiquette, and we have put together this article to give you a brief overview of what to expect and how to behave.
- Let the Coin Dealer Handle the Coins – The first piece of etiquette we want you to know about is that you should avoid touching the coins with bare skin, as doing so will transfer oils, dirt, and other contaminants to the coins, potentially decreasing their value. Instead, let the coin dealer handle the coins for you as much as possible, even if you have brought your own coins to sell. We also encourage you to listen to the dealer’s advice on how to handle your coin collection to preserve its value.
- Respect Your Coin Dealer’s Time – While some coin dealers take walk-ins, most will have you schedule an appointment to discuss your coin collection or view the dealer’s wares. Make sure to show up on time for your appointment and keep the conversation on topic and to the point so as to respect the dealer’s time.
- It’s Rude to Test Every Coin – Lastly, if you buy coins from your dealer, we advise you not to test every coin. While we understand the caution—it would be terrible to buy such an expensive item only to have it be counterfeit—asking your coin dealer to test every coin implies they are dishonest or bad at their job. Our dealers test all the coins, bullion, jewelry, etc., before we put them up for sale. It’s appropriate to ask to see test results for high-value items, but not for every silver quarter in a roll, for example.