🪙 Coin Research — Step-by-Step

Discover the value of coins worldwide.

Simple tools help you identify, price, and verify your finds — fast and free.

Practice: Pick one coin and run it through these steps.

1 🔎 Correct ID 🔗 - [ i ]

TL;DR: Free AI apps can identify most coins in minutes.

How It Works:

Fast AI apps can recognize most world coins and display key details — country, era, metal type, and an approximate market value — which should always be cross-checked with price guides or specialists before relying on it.

Try:

• CoinSnap App 🔗 :
  
  • 🎥 Demo: Hawaii News Now / YouTube (2 min)🔗
  • 🎥 Demo: Couch Collectibles / YouTube (11 min) 🔗
    
    
• A Beginner’s Guide to Error Coins 🔗- APMEX, 2023

⚙️ Editor’s Note — CoinSnap App (Testing Experience)

In our tests, the CoinSnap App proved outstanding for identifying most world coins and highlighting which ones were struck in precious metals. It performed quickly and accurately across a wide range of examples.

In a few rare cases involving potentially valuable coins, the app missed a date or minor design details — a reminder that while it’s an excellent starting point, it should never be treated as the final word for rare or high-value items.
 Always confirm important details with reputable specialists before making appraisal or sale decisions.

During our initial trial, we were automatically enrolled in the one-year plan ($39.95 + tax) at the end of the seven-day free period. With our entire research department proudly dyslexic, it’s entirely possible we missed a step when reviewing the sign-up details — however, it gave us the perfect opportunity to test the company’s refund process.

We’re pleased to report that CoinSnap’s support team responded promptly and the charge was fully refunded. Given the app’s hundreds of thousands of positive reviews, we believe this was an isolated misunderstanding or display issue during the signup process.

Still, it’s worth noting so readers can double-check their subscription settings before the trial ends.

(Links are not endorsements. Experiences may vary by device, region, or version.)

Tips:

• Don’t clean coins — photograph them in soft, neutral light.
• Save your favorite screenshots to a folder; you’ll need them in Step 2.

AI Prompt Example:
 
“Extract and analyze this information: (paste screenshots). Identify likely country, era, and 3 catalog matches.”

Pro Tip:

Save your favorite matches and organize them by country or century — you’ll use these screenshots again in Step 2 → Selling Prices.

2 🔎 Selling Prices - [ i ]

TL;DR: Focus on what sold — not what’s listed.

How It Works:

Once your coin is identified, compare realized (sold) prices instead of asking prices. Realized results reflect the true market and help you spot trends, premiums, and outliers.

Start with:

• NGC Price Guide 🔗
• Auction archives (tools)

Tips:

• Label each comparison clearly: venue • date • grade • hammer + fees.
• Capture screenshots for your research folder.
• Use recent sales (ideally within 24 months) for the most accurate snapshot.

AI Prompt Example:  

“Build a table of realized prices for the attached (coin screenshots), ideally from the past 24 months.
Include venue, date, and grade.
Explain differences between high and low results and note any factors that may have influenced pricing.”

Pro Tip:

Look for repeat sales of the same coin type.
If prices rose or fell sharply, note possible reasons — grading changes, market demand, or metal values — for later comparison in Step 3 → Ballpark Values.

3 🔎 Ballpark Values - [ i ] 

TL;DR: Create three quick estimates to outline your coin’s potential range.

How It Works:

After gathering realized prices, estimate a low, typical, and high value for your coin. This gives you a snapshot of the market range before contacting specialists.

Estimate Levels:

• Low Value: Melt or bulk price — check Coinflation 🔗
• Typical Value: Median of comparable realized prices at your estimated grade.
• High Value: Top sale in the next higher grade or rarer variety (briefly note why).

Tips:

• Record your assumptions — provisional grade, variety, provenance.
• Keep notes on where each value came from.
• Verify uncertain data with more than one source.

AI Prompt Example:

“Analyze the attached (coin screenshots) and recent sale data. Provide low, typical, and high value estimates based on current market conditions. State all assumptions, including provisional grade, variety, and provenance.”

Pro Tip:

Cross-check results using multiple AI platforms — GPT, Grok, Gemini, etc. — and ask them to analyze one another’s data for consistency.
Significant differences can reveal market volatility or missing details worth investigating before proceeding to Step 4 → Specialty Appraisers

4 🔎 Specialty Appraisers - [ i ]

TL;DR: Vet first — then email several specialists politely to compare.

How It Works:

Once you’ve identified and priced your coin, reach out to reputable appraisers or numismatic specialists for confirmation. Comparing a few opinions helps ensure accurate evaluation and fair pricing.

Checklist:

✅ Credentials confirmed (tools) 
✅ Area of specialization 
✅ Turnaround time
✅ Clear explanation of fees

Email Template:  

Subject: Appraisal Inquiry — <Coin Details>

Hello <Name>,

I’m researching a <brief description>. Photos (edge, obverse, reverse), weight (g), and diameter (mm) are attached. 
Could you please confirm if this type of coin fits your specialty and share your fees, turnaround time, and a ballpark value estimate?

Thank you for your time and expertise.  

<Your Name> · <City/Country>

Tips:  

• Keep your inquiry short and professional.
• Avoid attaching too many images — 3 clear photos are usually enough.
• Ask whether they provide written reports or digital confirmations.
• Save all responses in one folder for easy comparison later.  

Pro Tip:

When possible, contact at least two or three appraisers.
Differences in their evaluations can highlight grading nuances or overlooked details before you decide where to consign or sell your coin in Step 5 → Specialty Selling Venues.

5 🔎 Specialty Selling Venues - [ i ]

TL;DR: Match the right selling venue to your coin’s audience, fees, and timeline.

How It Works:

Once your coin is identified, valued, and verified, choose a marketplace or auction that fits its type and value range. Different venues specialize in different items—knowing which one to use can save time and maximize return.

Compare: fees • audience • timeline • reserve policy.

Pre‑sale checklist:
🪙 ID and variety confirmed
📸 High-resolution photos (front, back, edge)
📜 Provenance notes (if known)
📄 Written terms (fees, reserve, insurance)

Tips:

• Always review the consignment agreement before shipping or listing.
• Keep detailed records of correspondence and terms.
• If possible, ask about payment timelines and any seller protection offered.

AI Prompt Example:
“Compare several coin-selling venues based on fees, audience reach, and average sale time.
Recommend the best match for the attached (coin details) and summarize pros and cons for each.”

Pro Tip:

If your coin is particularly rare or high-value, consider contacting a specialist auction house or numismatic society for guidance.
Their expertise can help confirm authenticity and attract serious buyers.

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Companion Worksheet

Purpose:

Use this simple worksheet to organize your research and record what you’ve discovered.
It’s a hands-on way to document your process and build your own coin reference log.

Setup:

1. Gather your coins
2. Set up a clean, well-lit workspace.
3. Keep a magnifier or loupe ready.
4. Open your preferred AI assistant to help organize and summarize results.

• ID Log (coin#, year, country, tool, notes)
• AI Use (prompt + result)
• Values (tool + approx. value)
• Reflection (what worked, what didn’t)

 

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💡 Universal Refinement Tip — Make It Your Own

Everyone’s situation is different.
 The tools and steps shared here are meant as a starting point — not a finish line.

You’re encouraged to copy any section from this guide and run it through your preferred AI assistant — ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Claude, or others.
 Ask it to refine or adapt the process for your needs, location, or level of experience.

Use Guidelines:


This guide is provided for personal research and educational purposes.
You’re welcome to adapt or refine it for your own learning, but please credit whatsellsbest.com if you share or quote sections publicly. Commercial use or redistribution of this content, in whole or in part, requires permission.

Example Prompts You Could Try:

• “Please adapt these coin research steps for my country.”
• “Can you simplify this worksheet for a beginner?”
• “List reputable coin specialists or appraisers in my region.”
• “Refine these steps for identifying error coins from photos.”

Using AI this way saves time, reduces guesswork, and helps you find resources tailored to your specific coins and circumstances.
 It’s a simple way to collaborate with technology — while keeping discovery, curiosity, and learning at the heart of your treasure research journey.

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Legendary Finds

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✩ Legendary Treasures ✩

Coins & Notes, 3 Finds, $14 Million+

Hidden Treasures Found in Everyday Places

Some of the most astonishing treasures aren’t buried underground—they’re 'hidden' in plain sight. News reports have revealed remarkable coin and banknote discoveries in ordinary settings, from ATM machines to hiking trails. By exploring the map, you can trace how different treasure eras, styles, and locations have shaped these unexpected finds.

Three legendary examples:

1. $396,000 for an ATM error banknote
2. $4.2 Million for coin found in a closet
3. $10 Million for trove found by couple hiking

Overlooked for years, these surprising discoveries show how valuable treasures can be—even when hiding in plain sight. Explore their story links and previews below the ad ☟

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3—Legendary Finds:

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1. 📽️ Gold Coin Cache—$10 Million for Coin Hoard Found by Couple on Hike 🔗 - CBS Antiques Roadshow / YouTube, 2018
   
   
2. 📰 Closet Coin—$4.2 Million for 1913 Nickel 'Declared a Fake' and Forgotten in Storage 🔗 - Antique Trader, 2022
   
   
3. 📰 Banana Bill Bonanza—$396,000 for Rare ATM Error Banknote 🔗 - The Hill, 2023

✩ Previews ✩