Selling coins in Greenville: your questions answered
Where can I sell coins in Greenville, SC?
You can sell coins to us at Greenville Gold & Silver, 1637 Woodruff Rd. We are a family-run coin shop and precious-metals buyer, and we have been buying coins across this counter since Dan opened the shop in 2012. Bring in whatever you have: a single silver dollar, a coffee can of wheat pennies, or an inherited collection nobody has ever looked at. We test and weigh everything in front of you, tell you what is melt value and what carries a collector premium, and pay on the spot. No appointment is needed during business hours, and there is no pressure to sell. Most people are in and out in about ten minutes with a clear number in hand. If you only want to know what you have, that is fine too. Knowing is free.
How do you figure out what my coins are worth?
Two things decide it: the metal and the collector demand. For the metal, we weigh the coin, read its actual silver or gold content, and apply that day’s live market price. For the collector side, the date, mint mark, condition and rarity matter. A common-date coin in worn shape is worth its melt value. A scarce date or a coin in high grade can be worth well over melt. We look at both on every coin and pay the higher of the two, and we show you how we got to the number. We are not going to talk a scarce piece down to melt, and we are not going to pretend a common one is rare. You see the same information we see, and you decide what to do with it.
What is the difference between melt value and collector value?
Melt value is what the raw metal in a coin is worth at today’s spot price, nothing more. Collector value, sometimes called numismatic value, is what someone will pay above that because the coin is scarce, in strong condition, or in demand. Most coins that come across our counter are melt-value pieces, and that is a real, fair number tied to the live market. A smaller number are worth more to a collector than the metal alone, and those are the ones you do not want to sell to a place that only pays melt. We check both on every coin and pay the higher of the two, so you never leave collector value on the table by accident.
Do you buy Morgan and Peace silver dollars?
Yes, we buy Morgan and Peace silver dollars every week, one at a time or by the roll. Each one contains about .7734 troy ounces of silver, so even a worn, common-date dollar carries real silver value that tracks the market. Better dates, key mint marks and higher grades are worth more than the silver alone, and we grade them in front of you so you can see why. We also buy 90 percent silver coins (dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier), silver and gold Eagles, and world coins. If you have a roll or a bag of old silver you have been sitting on, bring it in and we will sort it with you and give you one clear number.
Do you buy bullion coins?
Yes. We buy American Gold and Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, Krugerrands, Britannias, and generic rounds and bars. Bullion is priced on the live spot price for its metal content, so you get a number tied to the market that day, not a guess. We verify every piece with our XRF analyzer in front of you, which reads the actual metal content without scratching or damaging the coin. Selling locally means no shipping, no insurance fees, and no waiting on a mail-in buyer to decide what your coins are worth.
Do you buy whole collections, estates and inherited coins?
Yes. We buy entire collections, estate coin lots and inherited coins all the time. A lot of families bring in boxes, albums and coffee cans that nobody has looked through in years, and there is often real silver or a better date hiding in there. Bring the whole thing in as it is and we will sort and value it with you, piece by piece, and explain what is melt and what is collectible. For large collections, call ahead at 864-901-7975 so we can set aside time and give it the attention it deserves.
Do you buy foreign or world coins?
Yes. A lot of shops wave off anything that is not U.S., but we buy world coins all the time, and plenty of them carry real silver or gold that most people do not realize is there. Older British, Canadian, Mexican and European coins often contain meaningful precious metal, and some have collector demand on top of that. We also buy religious silver and other pieces that get overlooked. If you inherited a mixed box of coins from travel or from a relative, do not sort it yourself and toss the foreign pile. Bring the whole thing in and we will go through it with you.
Should I clean my coins before I bring them in?
No, please do not clean them. Cleaning a coin, even gently, leaves tiny scratches a collector can spot, and it almost always lowers the value instead of raising it. The toning and surface on an old coin are part of what a collector pays for, so we would rather see a coin exactly as it has aged. If it is dirty, that is fine. Bring it as it is and let us look at it before anything happens to it. There is no coin we would tell you to clean first. When in doubt, leave it alone and let us take a look.
What do I need to bring?
Bring your coins and a valid government-issued photo ID. South Carolina requires ID for precious-metal purchases, and we check it on every buy. Leave the coins in whatever holders, albums or rolls they are already in, since original packaging can matter to a collector. If you have paperwork, receipts or certificates from a grading service, bring those too.
How fast do I get paid?
On the spot. Once you agree to a number, we pay you the same visit, with no waiting and no mailing anything away. Larger purchases may be paid partly by check.
