Attenzione: We're in Firenze February 16-24, but still reachable!

Kindly read our FAQs ("Tutorials") before submitting appraisals or inquiries!

ANA Life Member, USPAP Compliant, IRS Standards, Family Friendly




Attenzione: We're in Firenze February 16-24, but still reachable!

Kindly read our FAQs ("Tutorials") before submitting appraisals or inquiries!

ANA Life Member, USPAP Compliant, IRS Standards, Family Friendly




Call Today  •  (914) 649-3317  •  (833) THE-COIN  •  (833) 843-2646

Frequently Asked Questions

Trust Hudson Valley to conserve, preserve, certify, and sell in the proper venue.



Top Questions

Review Our Privacy Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

Coins and currency require special care, as does jewelry, antiques and art. Learn how to preserve the value of your family treasure.

Q. What kinds of material do you handle?

I appraise and advise on the sale of personal  property. My specialty is U.S. and International coins and currency,  precious metals, and jewelry. I have helped clients with many kinds of  personal property, including fine art, furniture, automobiles,  collectibles, and other goods. If I don't know about something and you  need help with it, I make it my business to let you know, and to find  out what we need to know to do the job right. If your needs require me  to refer you to someone with a license outside my area, such as real  estate, law, or accounting, I'll do the best I can to send you to a  trusted colleague at no charge.

Q. What do you charge for appraisals and offers?

I don't charge anything to meet with you first and  assess what you have. Once I've done that, I can tell you what an  appraisal would cost and, if you approve, perform it on the spot for  immediate payment; make a contract with you for delivery of the  appraisal and payment after delivery, if it requires research; or if all  you want to do is sell, I may be able to make you an immediate or  standing offer, which costs you nothing.

Q. How should I handle coins and currency?

The less you touch them, the better. Try to leave  everything in the original holders or containers. If you must handle a  coin, wash your hands first and hold it by the edges. DO NOT CLEAN them in any manner. A client of ours recently took it upon himself to  give a rare banknote a gentle washing before bringing it to us. The  residual damage this left rendered the value from $20,000 to $500...

Q. What do you want to know about my collection?

How you acquired it, and what you know about it.  Who originally put the collection together? Do you have original  holders, invoices, or notes? How is it stored (e.g., rolls, books, 2x2  square holders, certified plastic "slabs," loose)? Have you assessed it  yet in any way? What are your goals with the collection? The more  information you share with me, the more I can help you.

Q. If I sell to you for $500, how do I know I won't read that you sold an item for $150,000?

I want to be known as the guy who got you the $150,000. For me, that's priceless.

Q. Can you tell me anything about value before we meet?

Chances are, I can tell you a remarkable amount. I  can ask questions and explain things on the phone, and you can send me  photos by email or text. Photo Tips: Bright, diffused daylight is best,  such as indoors near a window but not in direct sunlight. Put the item  on a flat surface and don't get too close. Take photos of all sides.

Q. If you refer me to another dealer or auctioneer, will you be getting a "kickback"?

You are my client. I have an obligation to  maximize your return, to be fair to myself, and to maintain good  relations with my colleagues after you are gone. The secret tool I use  to achieve all of this is honesty. Let's say you have a collection and  want me to find the best outlet to disburse it. You and I can decide,  before I do anything, whether I should charge you a flat fee to  represent you, a percentage of gross sales or profit, or an hourly fee.  If I am to get a fee from the buyer or auctioneer, commonly called a  "finder's fee," it is my practice to do that by mutual agreement with  you and to disclose to you the amount. Frankly, the dealers I work with  function on a narrow margin and can't pay me much when I bring them  business. I'd rather push them as high as I can on your behalf and have  you pay me fairly for a job well done.

Q. How should I prepare for our meeting?

The most you need to do is to group things in  similar groups using boxes or plastic bags. Typical groupings include:  proof and mint sets, albums, holders, and loose change. Don't overstudy  things! With all collections, the total value is not the sum of every  individual piece; common issues trade in rolls and sets, and I can tell  you those prices easily. Don't lie awake worrying about the "key date"  coin buried in grandma's mason jar. Rare coins are rare because they are  rare; the overwhelming odds are that collectors plucked them out of  change and put them in albums and holders long ago. Once coins are  handled and spent, they are no longer "mint state," and though old, may  still be abundant in circulated grades at shows and within collections.

Q. What about sticky situations like fighting relatives, sales and estate tax, and security?

For decades I taught public school and worked as a business consultant—sticky situations are my specialty!

Privacy Policy

We take your personal information personally, and work hard to protect it.


Q. What information do we collect?

We collect information from you when you submit it to us in writing or  verbally. We may release your information when we believe release is  appropriate to comply with the law, to enforce our site policies, or to  protect ours or others' rights, property, or safety.


Q. How do we use your information?

We use what you share with us to perform the various services you  request. For example, we may determine the value of a coin in a  particular grade, or identify a dealer looking for it and what he/she is  willing to pay. We use it to reach you in the future if you want us to  do that. You may provide us with a credit card number to pay for goods  or services; we will retain it only insofar as required to complete the  transaction. We do not add you to an automated email subscription.


Q. How do we protect your information?

We record only as much information from you as we need, and secure both  print and electronic information in a variety of reliable ways.


Q. Do we disclose your information to outside parties?

We do not sell, trade, or transfer to outside parties your personally  identifiable information. With your permission we may share your  information with trusted third parties such as our web designer, or  another professional who can help us. In the unusual event we should  receive over $10,000 in cash from a single transaction or from two or  more related transactions, we would first advise you of our obligation  to file Form 8300 with the IRS.


Q. Third party links.

A few places on our site may link to the sites of other vendors. These  third parties, though trusted, have separate and independent privacy  policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the  content and activities of these linked sites. For this reason we are  selective in our partnerships and we welcome any feedback you have about  these sites.


Q. Will you report us to the government?

Our services do not include accounting, banking, or law enforcement. We  may release your information when we believe release is appropriate to  comply with the law or to adhere to our company policies. We have an AML  (Anti-Money Laundering) Program as required by the Bank Secrecy Act  (BSA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and may  share information insofar as prescribed by the USA Patriot Act Section  314(b).


Q. What the heck does that mean?

It means you are the client, and our primary mission is to furnish  information to you about your personal property. In the normal course of  business, we advise you on your holdings and leave it to you to decide  with your accountant or lawyer whether you have a reporting obligation  or tax liability. We act under the presumption you are coming to us for  help with your own assets or on the behalf of someone you are authorized  to represent, in a lawful manner. Unless it is suggested to us there is  a reason we should give information to the authorities, it is not our  practice to do this.

Rare Coin and Currency Consulting

We identify items, determine value, and even make an offer on the spot. We can help you decide what to sell, put at auction, or hold for investment.

Or call us now to discuss your items
(914) 649-3317 (833) THE-COIN (833) 843-2646

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