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How To Buy And Sell Coins

By Cameron Scheirer YN

Posted January 11, 2026

There are three major platforms which allow the buying and selling of coins: at shops, shows, and online.

• Coin shops can be found in most cities. A simple web-browser search will bring up many shops.
• Coin shows vary in size from smaller, local club sponsored shows with 20 dealers, to larger shows put on by companies or national associations. Large shows are often held in Rosemont (near Chicago). The ILNA Digest and website provides a comprehensive list of coin shows in Illinois.
• While there are many online venues to buy and sell coins, the most established of which are eBay and VCoins (which calls itself “The Online Coin Show”). Both are platforms for individual dealers to set up pages, but VCoins hosts only coin dealers; eBay is a platform for sellers of all items, from cars to coins to clothing.
• Individual dealers often have their own websites offering items for sale. Both of these sites require users to be 18 or over, which means that young numismatists
• (YNs) must use the account of an adult with their permission.

Buying

• Coin shows have many dealers; compare prices at different tables to make sure you get the lowest prices.
• When buying coins, determine the value of the item you want to buy beforehand, to ensure you pay a fair price. Refer to the price guides of Professional Coin Grading
• Service, Numismatic Guarantee Company, or Collector's Price Guide for up-to-date valuations. A Guide Book Of United States Coins (the “Red Book”) provides a general ballpark price and contains very useful information regarding the coins’ specification, but will not reflect up-to-date bullion prices and coin valuations.
• When buying online (especially on eBay), beware of scams. Scammers often try to sell coins at prices that seem too good to be true; the buyer only learns later that the coins are counterfeit. By that time, of course, the eBay seller will have deleted their account and therefore be untraceable.
• Be knowledgeable about the items you buy; knowing their grade, rarity, and historical background will allow you to buy wisely.

Selling

• Choose a reputable dealer that will buy your coins. Most dealers at shops and shows will be honest, and pay a fair price; still, be careful of dealers that seem to be underpaying.
• Join a coin club and ask around for the contact information of reputable dealers.
• Try as much as possible to sell in-person. That way, you can learn for yourself whether to trust the dealer, and avoid the risk of mailing your coins.