How Atlanta Gold & Coin Determined Offer Prices for Coins and Coin Collections

When this article was originally published, the following recently exchanged correspondence between Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers and customers or prospective customers—some lightly edited—was presented to explain the company’s method for assessing coins and coin collections, and for reaching offer prices for valuables.

Customer: What information did you rely on when quoting an offer price for each coin?

AGCB: Atlanta Gold & Coin evaluated every coin on its individual characteristics. At the time of publication, the process included determining market values, the activity and interest surrounding each coin, and a reasonable margin for the capital invested. The estimated length of time a coin might remain in inventory was also considered.

At the time of publication, demand was assessed beforehand through conversations with customers and other dealers, along with market activity for the coins. Coins expected to sell comparatively quickly could justify a higher purchase rate. By contrast, certain coins and currency might have stayed in inventory for many months, perhaps a year or longer. The purchase price for those items was lower because the capital tied up in them could not be recycled quickly.

Item size and weight were another consideration. Some sets could be large, heavy, and relatively low in value. When Atlanta-area demand was limited, the original article explained that the sets would likely need shipment to a stronger market. Shipping and insurance costs could quickly reduce the possible margin.

Customer: Rather than accept the complete offer, could I choose to sell only part of the collection?

AGCB: The original policy described this as entirely acceptable. Atlanta Gold & Coin preferred to purchase a whole collection and often did, but was also willing to purchase only a portion. Unlike dealers using an all-or-nothing approach, the company recognized that a customer might have paid a high basis for certain coins and might prefer to retain them in hopes of additional appreciation before selling.

The article also noted that particular coins could carry sentimental importance for customers. When that was true, its historical recommendation was to keep those items, since Atlanta Gold & Coin did not want a seller to later regret the decision.

Customer: Since prices change, how long was this offer intended to remain valid?

AGCB: The article explained that this was an important question. Some coins, bars, and rounds were closely connected to gold, silver, and platinum spot prices, while others were not. At publication, offers for bullion coins, bars, and rounds were generally valid only on the evaluation date because spot prices moved. The same applied to common-date pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, raw and certified, though not necessarily to key-date or low-mintage 1933 & earlier gold coins, which tended to be comparatively stable.

As previously noted, an offer on higher-end numismatic gold coins was likely to remain valid longer because those pieces were true collectibles. The article said the same generally applied to Morgan and Peace silver dollars and base-metal coins, including pennies and nickels. In contrast, U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars issued in 1964 and earlier, commonly called junk silver coins, could fluctuate during the day, so appointment-day pricing was typical.

Customer: Thank you for the quote. I compared the quoted amounts with values I found online and saw differences. Could you explain the reasoning used to price the coins in my collection?

AGCB: The original response explained that value information on many websites—including PCGS, NGC, CoinWorld, CoinTrackers, and USA Coin Book—was often exaggerated or reflected high retail figures. It compared retail figures to new-vehicle MSRPs: suggested amounts that were seldom, if ever, actually achieved.

The article offered another collectibles comparison: people who had tried selling baseball cards or stamps may have learned that Beckett Guide card prices or Scott’s catalog stamp prices did not necessarily show actual market value. A coin’s value was described as what a buyer was willing to pay, rather than the amount a guide stated it was worth.

Market value was defined as the price Atlanta Gold & Coin expected to receive when reselling coins. To make a profit, the company had to buy below that market amount, commonly called wholesale value. At publication, readers were directed to a prior article explaining distinctions among wholesale, market, and retail values: Wholesale, Market and Retail Values.

At the time of publication, Atlanta Gold & Coin stated that its aim was to provide among the industry’s most competitive wholesale rates. It described monitoring demand for different products so it could quote a fair price for coins, bullion, and currency.

When this article was published, readers with questions or needing help valuing a coin collection were invited to email Atlanta Gold & Coin at sales@atlantagoldandcoin.com or contact the company at 678-922-4909.

At publication, Atlanta Gold & Coin welcomed hearing from readers.