Old coins: how can you tell whether a coin is valuable?

An old coin may be worth very little, several thousand kroner, or sometimes considerably more. Age alone does not determine value. Date, denomination, mintage, metal, variety, rarity and especially condition must be considered together.

1. Start with country, date and denomination

Identify the country, denomination and year first. Older coins may have difficult lettering, and the same basic type may exist in several dates and varieties.

2. Rarity and mintage

Original mintage can matter, but surviving population and condition are also important. Die varieties, mint marks and production details can separate a common coin from a much scarcer one.

3. Condition can make a major difference

Two coins with the same date and denomination can have very different collector values. Wear, scratches, knocks, corrosion and preservation of fine details all matter.

4. Do not polish old coins

Do not polish or clean an old coin before you know what it is. Cleaning can create micro-scratches, alter the surface and remove natural patina.

5. Gold, silver and other metals

Precious-metal content can provide a base value, but collector value may be much higher. We use XRF analysis when relevant to investigate metal composition.

6. Historical context

Coins are small historical documents. Wars, unions, monarch changes, jubilees and economic events may all be reflected in coinage.

7. Norwegian silver coins and speciedalers

Norwegian coins from the 18th and 19th centuries often require careful identification. Year, type, mint, weight, diameter, metal, edge and preservation should be checked.

8. Modern collector coins are not automatically rare

Proof sets, commemorative coins and modern issues may be attractive collectibles, but original retail price is not proof of current market value. Demand and comparable completed sales matter.

9. Asking price is not market value

For realistic valuation, completed sales of the same type, date, variety and comparable grade are more useful than asking prices.

10. Inherited a coin collection?

Keep the collection together if you do not know its contents. Preserve holders, labels, old notes, receipts and original packaging, and avoid washing or taping coins.

Objects handled by OBA

Our auctions and shop have included Norwegian and Swedish silver coins, commemorative issues, proof sets, albums and larger collections. Examples include a 16 Skilling Rigsbanktegn of 1814 under Frederik VI and a half speciedaler of 1776 under Christian VII. Date, variety, authenticity and condition remain important when investigating an individual coin.

Four individual OBA auction results

The following are hammer prices for specific lots, before buyer's premium and shipping:

• Large mixed Norwegian and Swedish coin lot: starting bid NOK 1,000, 30 bids, hammer price NOK 5,000.
• Half speciedaler, 1776, Christian VII, Kongsberg: starting bid NOK 3,000, 3 bids, hammer price NOK 3,200.
• Norwegian 1975 coin set in a hard-plastic holder: starting bid NOK 100, 15 bids, hammer price NOK 450.
• Mixed Norwegian and Swedish coin collection: starting bid NOK 100, 15 bids, hammer price NOK 475.

Starting bids are not valuations. These results relate to the specific coins or collections offered, and should be compared with other examples according to contents, grade, scarcity and demand.

Keep labels, notes and receipts with an inherited collection. Clear photographs of both sides of a coin help with an initial assessment. For a larger collection, begin with an overview.

Browse coins and banknotes, or contact OBA with photographs and details.

Do you have old coins?

Østlandet Brukt & Antikk buys and assesses coins and collections. Read our guide to modern collector coins or contact us through obaantikk.no.