This is one of the most common questions we receive.
No, you do not need to sort your coins before bringing them to a dealer.
That said, there are situations where a small amount of sorting can be helpful.
Who Are You Organizing It For?
The first question to ask is who you are organizing the collection for.
If you are organizing it for a coin dealer, the reality is that most dealers do not need a collection sorted by date, decade, or individual coin type before they can evaluate it.
We appreciate the effort, but it is usually unnecessary.
In many cases, customers spend hours separating coins into bags, creating labels, and researching dates only to discover that the information does not materially change the evaluation process.
The Sorting That Actually Helps
If you really want to organize a collection before bringing it in, we generally recommend separating coins by broad categories rather than individual dates.
- Gold Coins
- Silver Dollars (Morgan, Peace, and other silver dollars)
- 90% Silver Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars
- 40% Silver Kennedy Half Dollars
- Lincoln Wheat Cents (and other cents)
- Buffalo Nickels (and other nickels)
- Proof Sets and Mint Sets
- Paper Money
- Foreign Coins and Currency
- Tokens, Medals, and Miscellaneous Collectibles
That type of sorting can save time because it separates completely different categories of material.
Sorting every Lincoln cent by date usually does not.
What We Are Usually Looking For
When a collection arrives, we are typically looking for the things that drive value.
- Gold coins
- Silver coins
- Key dates
- Certified coins
- Proof sets
- Collector albums
- Paper money
- Better type coins
A dealer can often determine the overall makeup of a collection very quickly without every coin being separated into its own bag.
The Plastic Bag Problem
One thing we see frequently is collections arriving in dozens or even hundreds of small plastic bags.
The owner spent hours sorting, labeling, and researching individual coins. We appreciate the effort, but the first thing that often happens is that many of those coins come right back out of the bags.
The reason is simple. We still need to examine the actual coins.
A label that says “1954 Lincoln Cent” tells us very little. The coin itself tells us much more.
We Would Rather Write the Check
This may sound funny, but it is true.
We would generally rather spend our time evaluating the collection and writing the check than separating pocket change from silver coins that have been mixed into dozens of individually labeled bags.
Most collections can be understood far more quickly by looking at the actual material than by reading pages of notes and labels.
When Detailed Organization Makes Sense
There are exceptions.
Estate settlements, probate matters, insurance claims, court proceedings, and disputes between heirs may require detailed inventories.
If the goal is legal documentation, then a detailed inventory may be appropriate.
If the goal is simply to understand what the collection contains, detailed sorting is usually unnecessary.
The Best Advice
If you inherited a collection, do not feel obligated to become a coin expert before visiting a dealer.
A little organization can be helpful. Excessive organization usually is not.
If the collection is already organized by the original collector, leave it that way. If it is not organized, that is often useful information too.
You can also review our guides on identifying inherited coins, selling inherited coin collections, and frequently asked questions.
Related Articles: Should I Sort My Coins Before Bringing Them to a Coin Dealer?, How Long Does a Coin Appraisal Take?, Can I Sell Coins Without an Appointment?, Browse All Selling Guides
