My Kids Won't Know What to Do With This.
If that's what you're thinking — whether you're the collector or the heir — you're in exactly the right place. Burgess helps collectors, families, and executors understand what a coin collection is actually worth and determine the best path to maximize that value.
1893-O Morgan Silver Dollar — $2,525 at auction. This coin looks nearly identical to the $50–$70 common-date Morgans surrounding it in a collection.
Coin Collections Are One of the Easiest Assets for Heirs to Undervalue.
To an untrained eye, coins are coins. A circulated 1964 Kennedy half dollar looks nearly identical to a 1963 Franklin half dollar — but one is 90% silver and one is not. An 1893-O Morgan dollar in a coffee can looks similar to an 1896 Morgan — but one brought $2,525 at our September 2025 auction and the other brings $50–$70.
This information gap is where families lose money. Not because anyone is dishonest. Because the knowledge gap is real and the stakes are higher than anyone realizes until they find out — usually after a decision has already been made.
Large coin collections are among the easiest assets for heirs to undervalue because collector premium and silver value are often very different things. A collection that looks modest may contain key dates, varieties, or condition rarities that dramatically change the math.
At Burgess Auctions, we help collectors, heirs, and executors understand what they actually have — and connect it with the buyers who will compete for it. We work in live markets. Our valuations are informed by real auction results, not catalog estimates or guesswork.
There Are Three Kinds of Value in a Coin Collection. Most People Only Know One.
Face Value
What the government says it's worth. For most coins this is the floor, not the ceiling. A roll of pre-1964 Roosevelt dimes has $5.00 in face value — and considerably more in silver content.
The starting point — rarely the selling point.Melt Value
The intrinsic metal content. Pre-1964 U.S. coins contain 90% silver and sell at strong multiples of face value based on the current silver spot price. Gold coins carry melt value based on weight and purity.
The silver floor — often a pleasant surprise.Numismatic Value
What a collector will pay based on rarity, condition, date, mint mark, and demand. This is where the real surprises happen. A key-date coin in any grade may bring ten times or more what a common-date coin in identical condition brings.
The collector premium — where expertise pays off.A single collection can contain all three types simultaneously — and the heirs sorting through it may not be able to distinguish between any of them. That's exactly why an expert assessment matters before any decisions are made.
The Categories That Consistently Perform at Burgess Auctions
Gold Coins — Pre-1933 U.S. Issues
Liberty and Indian Head pieces in $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 denominations carry strong melt value plus collector premium. Common dates in circulated condition are liquid and consistent. Scarce dates and high-grade examples command substantial premiums above melt.
From the 50-Year Collection, September 2025: 1901 Liberty $10 Eagle — $3,250 | 1897 Liberty $5 Half Eagle — $2,250 | 1881 Liberty $10 Eagle — $2,100
Morgan & Peace Silver Dollars
One of the most actively collected categories in American numismatics. Common dates in circulated condition have a solid silver floor plus modest collector premium. Key dates — 1893-O, 1890-CC, 1878 8-Tail Feather, 1921 Peace — can bring multiples of common-date value. Condition and authenticity matter enormously.
September 2025: 1893-O Morgan — $2,525 | 1878-8TF Morgan — $875 | 1890-CC Morgan — $425 | 1921 Peace Dollar — $475
Pre-1964 90% Silver Coinage
Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin and Kennedy halves — all containing 90% silver. These sell at consistent multiples of face value regardless of collector condition because of intrinsic metal content. Albums, rolls, and bulk lots all find active buyers.
Album of 80 Mercury Dimes ($8.00 face value) — $300 | Album of 77 Silver Roosevelt Dimes — $300 | $10 face Walking Liberty Halves — $270–$425 per lot
Early American Coinage — Bust & Seated Liberty
Pre-Civil War American coinage has a dedicated collector base. Bust halves, Seated Liberty halves, and early quarters carry collector premium based on date, mint mark, and condition — independent of silver content.
September 2025: 1806 Bust Half — $600 | 1851-O Seated Half — $500 | 1836 Bust Half — $450 | 1844-O Seated Half — $425
American Silver Eagles & Gold Eagles
Modern U.S. bullion coins issued since 1986. Consistently liquid, easy to sell. Early dates, proof versions, and graded MS70 examples command premiums above common-date bullion. The 1986 first-year Silver Eagle consistently brings more than later dates.
September 2025: 1986 Silver Eagle — $140 | 1989 Silver Eagle Proof with box and papers — $160 | 2016 ANACS MS70 First Day Issue — $240
Collectible Paper Money
Silver certificates, large-size notes, Federal Reserve Bank issues, and small national bank notes from specific towns can bring strong collector premiums. The condition grading standards for paper money — PMG and PCGS Currency — significantly affect value.
September 2025: 1899 Black Eagle Silver Certificate — $400 | 1918 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago $1 Oversize — $200
A Lifetime of Collecting. One Auction. $47,031.
A retired auctioneer from Hamilton County, Indiana spent roughly fifty years building a coin collection. He understood the market. He knew his collection was significant. And he knew exactly what he wanted to happen with it when the time came.
He contacted Burgess and said something we hear often: "Silver is up, and my kids won't know what to do with this when I'm gone."
The collection included 90% silver coinage — Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Franklin and Kennedy halves — alongside Morgan and Peace dollars, gold pieces, early American coins, proof sets, commemoratives, paper money, and carefully organized albums.
The auction produced results across every category — from $25 common silver sets to $3,250 for a single gold piece. Competitive bidding ensured that each lot found the buyer willing to pay the most for it. The results reflected the true market for every piece in the collection.
What happened next made the story more important.
An Executor from Pennsylvania Watched That Auction Online.
After the 50-Year Collection sold in September 2025, an executor from Pennsylvania was settling his late father's estate. The collection included coins. He had visited local dealers. He received offers. He was not satisfied with what he was seeing.
While researching alternatives, he found Burgess. He watched the 50-Year Collection auction online — the bidder participation, the catalog presentation, the realized prices on Morgans, gold, and early American coins he recognized from his father's collection. He saw how the market responded to a well-presented collection with the right buyer exposure.
He arranged to transport his father's collection to Indiana. Competitive bidding produced results that exceeded every local offer he had received.
The right marketplace changes the outcome. Distance is not the obstacle most people assume it is. Serious collectors and executors will cross state lines for results.
Out-of-state executors and heirs work with Burgess regularly. We coordinate everything remotely and communicate the plan before anything is committed. You don't need to be present for the sale.
Coin Shop Offer vs. Competitive Auction. Two Different Questions.
This is not a criticism of coin dealers. It's a description of how two different business models work — and why they produce different results.
What a Coin Shop Does
A dealer needs to buy inventory at a price that allows them to resell at a profit. Their offer reflects what they believe they can get for the coins, their carrying cost, and their required margin.
This is a legitimate business model. It provides immediate cash and zero hassle. For small collections or when speed is the priority, it may be the right choice.
The question they're answering: What can I pay and still resell at a profit?
What Competitive Bidding Does
Auction exposes the collection to multiple qualified buyers who compete against each other. The price rises until the most motivated buyer wins. No inventory margin. No wholesale discount.
For collections with gold, key dates, significant silver content, or numismatic material, the difference between a dealer offer and an auction result is often substantial.
The question they're answering: What will the right buyer compete to pay?
The right choice depends on your priorities. Burgess will give you an honest assessment of both options and let you decide. We can also purchase outright when the situation warrants it — when a timeline requires immediate cash or auction logistics don't fit the circumstances.
Selected Highlights from the 50-Year Collection — September 2025
These are actual realized prices from Auction #43874. All lots are public record.
| Lot Description | Realized Price |
|---|---|
| 1901 Liberty $10.00 Gold Eagle | $3,250 |
| 1893-O Morgan Silver Dollar | $2,525 |
| 1897 Liberty $5.00 Gold Half Eagle | $2,250 |
| 1881 Liberty $10.00 Gold Eagle | $2,100 |
| 1911 $2.50 Indian Quarter Eagle | $1,250 |
| 1915 Indian $2.50 Quarter Eagle | $1,150 |
| 1878-8 Tail Feather Morgan Silver Dollar | $875 |
| 1806 Bust Half Dollar | $600 |
| 1851-O Seated Half Dollar | $500 |
| 1921 Peace Silver Dollar | $475 |
| 1836 Bust Half Dollar | $450 |
| 1890-CC Morgan Silver Dollar | $425 |
| 1844-O Seated Half Dollar | $425 |
| 1921 Peace Silver Dollar | $425 |
| 1899 Black Eagle Silver Certificate | $400 |
| 1883-O Morgan Silver Dollar | $400 |
| Album of 80 Mercury Dimes | $300 |
| Album of 77 Silver Roosevelt Dimes | $300 |
| $10.00 Face Value Walking Liberty Half Dollars (per lot) | $270–$425 |
| $10.00 Face Value Franklin Half Dollars (per lot) | $280–$350 |
| 339 Total Lots | $47,031 Total Gross |
From First Call to Final Settlement.
Tell Us What You Have
Call, email, or send photos. You don't need to know what anything is worth — just describe what you have and we'll ask the right questions. Even "a bunch of old coins in albums and coffee cans" is a perfectly good starting point.
We Assess the Collection
For local consignors, we come to you. For out-of-state heirs and executors, we can assess from photographs for an initial opinion and coordinate safe transport if you decide to proceed. We'll give you a realistic picture of what you have and what we expect it to produce.
We Catalog and Present the Collection
We sort, identify, photograph, and describe every lot. Key dates, silver lots, gold, and numismatic material are presented to attract the right buyers. The presentation quality directly affects the result.
Competitive Bidding
The collection is presented to 11,150 registered buyers and 900,000+ through our national platform. Coin buyers are national, not local. The right buyer for a 1893-O Morgan dollar may be in California or New York — our platform puts the collection in front of them.
Settlement
You receive a complete accounting of every lot sold, with proceeds remitted promptly. Most coin collection engagements are completed within 30 to 60 days of initial contact. If a formal written appraisal is needed first, that is a separate engagement we can provide.
Some Situations Require Documentation Before Decisions Are Made.
Probate courts, divorce proceedings, insurance policies, and charitable donation records may all require a written appraisal from a qualified appraiser. Burgess provides certified personal property appraisals for coin collections through Zack Burgess, who holds the Certified Appraisers Guild of America (CAGA) credential — accepted in probate court and legal proceedings.
Appraisal and auction are separate engagements. There is no obligation to sell through Burgess after an appraisal. Appraisal fees start at $375 for the first hour. In qualifying situations, appraisal fees may be credited toward commission if Burgess is later engaged to sell the collection.
Attorneys and fiduciaries can visit our professional appraisal services page for court-ready documentation and litigation support information.
What People Ask Most Often About Selling a Coin Collection
Gold coins consistently bring the highest prices — Liberty and Indian head pieces in $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 denominations carry strong melt value plus collector premium. Key date Morgan and Peace silver dollars can bring hundreds to thousands depending on date, mint mark, and condition. Pre-1964 90% silver coinage has consistent melt value. Early American coinage — Bust halves, Seated Liberty — can bring significant collector premiums regardless of silver content. The 1893-O Morgan dollar brought $2,525 at our September 2025 auction — while common-date Morgans from the same collection brought $50–$70 each.
A coin shop offer is a wholesale offer — it reflects what the dealer can resell the coins for, not what the open market will pay. For collections with gold, key dates, significant silver content, or numismatic material, the difference between a dealer offer and an auction result can be substantial. Collections with more than a few hundred dollars in estimated value almost always benefit from auction exposure. Burgess will give you an honest assessment of both options and help you decide what makes sense for your situation.
Yes. Burgess provides certified personal property appraisals through Zack Burgess, who holds the CAGA credential accepted in probate court and legal proceedings. Appraisal is a separate engagement from auction — there is no obligation to sell through Burgess after an appraisal. Appraisal fees start at $375 for the first hour.
Burgess can purchase collections outright when the situation warrants it — when a timeline requires immediate cash, when an executor needs a fast close, or when auction logistics don't fit the circumstances. Our preference is to sell at auction because competitive bidding consistently produces better results for the seller. We'll give you an honest assessment of both options.
Yes. Burgess works with out-of-state executors and collectors regularly. We can assess a collection from photographs for an initial opinion and coordinate safe transport if you decide to proceed. An executor from Pennsylvania transported his father's collection to Indiana after watching our September 2025 auction online — he confirmed the results exceeded every local offer he had received. Distance is not the obstacle most people assume it is.
Pre-1964 U.S. coins — dimes, quarters, and half dollars — contain 90% silver. Their melt value is based on the current silver spot price, which changes daily. At current silver prices, a $1.00 face value of 90% silver coins contains approximately 0.715 troy ounces of silver. At auction, these coins typically sell at or above melt value depending on condition and collector interest. Check current silver prices at Kitco.com for a baseline calculation.
Tell Us About Your Collection.
Whether you're a collector planning ahead, an heir sorting through a parent's estate, or an executor with a deadline — we've handled exactly your situation before.
No pressure. No obligation. We respond within one business day.
Zack Burgess — Available to Talk
(765) 445-7814Burgess Auctions LLC | Knightstown & Carthage, Indiana | burgessauctions.com