What Are Old Coins & Currency Worth?

Coins turn up in nearly every estate, often in jars, rolls or old wallets. Most are worth face value, but silver coins and a few key dates are worth much more. Never clean them, and know the melt value before you price.

Typical US resale: $10–$65Steady this month

Updated October 4, 2026

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Coins & Currency price guide

Typical in-person resale prices: booths, flea markets and estate sales. Online sold listings and auction records run higher.

90% silver dimes, quarters and halves (1964 and earlier)
Melt value +
Better dates and sharp, uncirculated coins earn a premium over melt.
Kennedy half dollars 1965–1970 (40% silver)
Melt value
Uncirculated rolls bring a little more.
Morgan and Peace silver dollars, common dates
Melt value +
Bright, lightly worn coins and Carson City mint marks sell well above melt.
Wartime Jefferson nickels 1942–1945 (35% silver)
Melt value +
Look for the large mint mark above Monticello.
Indian Head cents (1859–1909)
$1–$10
Full LIBERTY on the headband and early dates bring more.
Buffalo nickels with full dates
$0.50–$3
Clear dates and better mint marks sell higher.
Wheat cents in bulk (1909–1958)
$0.03–$0.10 each
Older dates and S mint marks are worth sorting out.
US mint and proof sets (1960s–1990s)
$5–$20
Sets with silver coins or in clean original packaging sell best.
Small-size $1 silver certificates (blue seal)
$2–$5
Crisp notes and star notes go higher.
Large-size US notes (before 1929)
$30–$150
Crisp paper, bright seals and no tears earn the top.

What old coins and paper money sell for by region

Based on real PocketPrice seller data and known market trends. Refreshed monthly.

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Morgan silver dollars
pre-1965 90% silver coins
Canadian silver dollars
national park quarter sets
$20 Liberty gold pieces
1967 Centennial sets
pre-1968 silver dimes
Canadian silver Maple Leaf coins

Region	Typical	Trend
Northeast	$10–$75	Steady
Southeast	$8–$60	Rising
Midwest	$5–$35	Steady
Southwest	$20–$70	Rising
Mountain	$10–$50	Steady
West	$20–$150	Steady
Atlantic	$10–$50	Steady
Quebec	$5–$60	Steady
Ontario	$10–$45	Rising
Prairies	$5–$40	Steady
British Columbia	$20–$150	Rising
Northern	$10–$45	Steady

Sell in one of these regions? A free account prices every item for your region and the way you sell.

What makes old coins and paper money worth more

Silver content

US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90% silver. Their value follows the silver price, so check melt value the day you sell.

Date and mint mark

A few dates are scarce, like the 1909-S VDB cent and the 1916-D Mercury dime. The small letter under or near the date matters.

Condition

Sharp details and original surfaces matter a lot. Worn coins sell close to melt or face value.

Never cleaned

Cleaning scratches coins and cuts their value hard. Collectors want the original toning.

Paper money details

Size, seal color, star notes and crispness all move the price of old bills.

Often underpriced

Rolls of old dimes and quarters mixed in with change jars
1965–1970 Kennedy halves that people mistake for face-value coins
Star notes with a small star in the serial number
Foreign silver coins that look like ordinary travel change

Usually overvalued

Modern state quarters and dollar coins, which are worth face value
Cleaned or polished coins sold as rare
Private-mint 'commemorative' medals in plastic sleeves, which sell for little

Tips for selling old coins and paper money

1Sort coins by type and date before pricing. Silver gets separated first.
2Check the silver price on the day you sell and price silver coins from melt value.
3Keep coins in a locked case and hand them over one buyer at a time.

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Coins & Currency value questions

How do I know if a coin is silver?

US dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver. Look at the edge: silver coins show no copper stripe.

Should I clean old coins before selling?

No. Cleaning almost always lowers the value. Sell them as found.

What is melt value?

It is the value of the metal inside the coin. It changes daily with the silver price, so look it up the day you sell.

Are wheat pennies valuable?

Most are worth a few cents each. A few dates, like the 1909-S VDB and 1914-D, are scarce and worth much more.