Foreign Currency Collector’s Price Guide: How to Appraise the Value of Old Coins and Bills?

If you are an experienced currency collector, you can probably gauge the ballpark value of old dollar bills and coins with a cursory glance. However, not a lot of people have experience with foreign currencies so many collectors struggle to determine the value of old coins and bills, especially if the foreign currency in question is exotic.

Fortunately, the same principles that apply to the dollar apply to foreign currency as well. This article is intended to be a foreign currency collector’s guide regardless if you are just starting out or already have some experience. It will cover the basics as well the more intricate aspects of determining the value of collectible foreign currency.

How Is Value Defined?

First, we should note that the value of collectible foreign currency has nothing to do with foreign currency exchange rates, unless you are collecting coins and paper money that is still in use.

In such a case, you can quickly and easily determine the value against the dollar by using this currency converter. However, this article focuses on determining the value of old coins and paper money that is no longer in use and so the exchange rates are inconsequential.

To get back to the topic at hand, there are four ‘types’ of value for old foreign currency (much like for most other items): 1) the catalog value; 2) the buy price; 3) the retail value; 4) the wholesale value.

The catalog value is the average price most dealers’ would sell an old coin or bill for. It’s called the catalog value because you can find it in standard numismatic catalogs. You can think of it as the average value of old foreign currency.

The buy price is just as the name implies – the price a dealer would be willing to pay you if you were to sell them a coin or a bill.

The retail value is the price a specific dealer would be willing to sell you a coin or a bill for. As with most items, the buy price will be lower than the retail price with the same dealer.

The wholesale value is the price that the dealers use when they trade among themselves or, possibly, the discounted price they would offer a buyer who is buying large quantities of coins or bills.

So, when you are determining the value of old foreign currency, you are essentially determining the catalog value. How much you can sell it for or need to pay for it will depend on the specific dealer, the situation you are in, and potentially your negotiating skills.

The 3 Factors that Affect the Value of Collectible Foreign Currency

Three primary factors affect the value of a collectible coin or a bill. They are rarity, the condition/grade of the coin or bill, and the market conditions, i.e. the demand. Combining these three factors can help you determine the value of old foreign coins and bills.

Rarity

Rarity refers to how easy it is to acquire a coin or a bill. First, it is determined by how many were initially produced and then by how many are still around today. Naturally, the rarer the coin or bill, the higher its value. Precisely for that reason, you should get to know some weird currency facts and learn about the strangest currencies in the world. This can help you figure out if you possess rare and valuable foreign bankotes.

However, since the begging of the 20th century money has been printed en masse all around the world, so just because a coin or a bill is a century or more old, does not make it instantly valuable.

Let’s take German marks printed during the Weimar Republic as an example. While these notes are about a century old, a large amount was printed, and they are relatively easy to obtain today. Consequently, they are not too valuable. Some hold collector value, but these are specific notes, not any and all currency that was printed during that period.

The Condition/Grade

There are multiple scales that are used to determine the condition or grade of a coin or a bill, so the specifics vary. But the principle is always the same – the better the condition the bill or coin is in, the more value it has.

In general, the grade goes from ‘uncirculated’ or ‘mint’ condition to ‘poor’. We should note that uncirculated doesn’t refer to the money not actually being released, but rather refers to the condition of the note – as if it were never in use.

Even small deviations in the condition of a note or a coin can change its value drastically. Grading is one of the most controversial aspects of money collecting, precisely because small details can play such a large role. Even experts have trouble determining the exact grade, but the practice is standardized, even if affected by an individual’s judgment.

If you want to learn more about how to grade coins or paper money, the American Numismatic Association provides a good coin grading guide, while the International Bank Note Society provides a good guide on grading notes.

The Demand

There’s not much to say about the demand that is specific to collecting foreign currency. The market in large part determines the price, so the higher the demand for a specific item, the more money you can get for it. Naturally, the market conditions can change year to year or even location to location.

The Basal Value of Coins

Some coins hold no numismatic value because of their poor condition, but they do still hold some value in this ‘basal state’ – the numismatic term sometimes used instead of poor. The value is based on the amount of gold or silver found in the coin.

You are essentially assessing the amount of precious metal the coin has. Once you determine the composition of the metal and calculate the percentage of gold or silver it contains, you multiply the weight by the percentage. This gives you the amount of precious metal it contains and that gives you the value of the coin.

What to Know Before Searching for Old Currency Value

Before you can start researching the value of your old currencies, there are some things you should find out first. Here’s what you should know.

1. Is the money a generative or a commemorative issue? Certain currency price guides separate currencies into different sections depending on the type of issue.
2. What is the origin country? The bill or coin will most often include the country name in its official language. Keep in mind that if the money is old, the name of the country may have changed over the years.
3. What is the date of the coin or bill? The year when the coin or bill was issued can significantly impact its value.
4. Make sure the coin is legitimate. Unfortunately, there are many cases of counterfeit money, so you should check and make sure that you haven’t been scammed. If you’re dealing with fake foreign coins, you won’t be able to sell it.

When you know all these things, you can move on to looking up the value of your old currency.

Appraising Foreign Currency

From the above, you can conclude that determining the value of foreign currency is not an easy job. If you find coins or bills that are, to the best of your knowledge, rare and seem in good condition, you may wish to consult an appraiser.

But keep in mind that most professional appraisers charge a fee for their services, so it may not be worth the time and money to hire one if you don’t believe the foreign currency you hold has any significant value. You can always do a little digging yourself before consulting a professional.

Tips for Hiring an Appraiser

If you decide to hire an appraiser for valuation of old money, make sure to find one who is experienced and trustworthy. Here are a few tips to help you hire the best person for the job.

• You should always hire a certified appraiser that specializes in the collectibles you want to sell. In this case, you’re looking for someone who specializes in numismatics.
• As we’ve said, an appraiser will charge for their services. Certain appraisers charge a flat fee or an hourly fee. For that price, you’re getting a written report with the value of your coins of bills, the procedure they used to estimate the value and a full description of the object. Our advice is to avoid hiring an appraiser whose fee is a percentage of the item’s value.
• Before hiring an appraiser, contact their office and let them determine if you actually need a full appraisal. They might ask you to send them an image so they can see if their services are necessary. If your currency has minimal value, the appraiser should tell you that it’s not worth paying the fee as you don’t need a full appraisal.

What Kind of Value Estimate Do You Need?

When getting a professional appraisal, you should be aware of the different types of values that are used for different purposes. The main question is: why do you need the appraisal?

• For purchasing old coins and bills, you need the retail value
• For selling old money, you should get a fair-market value.
• For estate tax, you also need the fair-market value of your collectible foreign currency.

Based on your intentions with your old foreign currency coins, you should get the appropriate value estimate.

Buying Modern Foreign Currency

If you wish to buy foreign bills that are still in use, but you predict may become collectible at some point in the future, you can order the foreign currency of your choice online now. At US First Exchange, we deliver clean, crisp notes that you can preserve until they have numismatic value. Browse our website with over 20 exotic currencies, choose your favorite and get foreign currency delivered to your door.