Free informal appraisals
Free informal appraisals, across the counter in Lawrence
Put your coins, paper money, gold or silver on the glass and Dean will tell you what he sees. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
A verbal read across the counter, and what it is not
A free informal appraisal at Kansas Coin Connection is exactly what it sounds like. You set your coins, paper money, gold or silver on the glass at 846 Illinois Street, Dean looks them over, and he tells you what he sees: what they are, what condition they are in, and whether anything stands out. It costs nothing, and it does not commit you to anything.
It is also informal, and that word is there on purpose. This is a verbal opinion given across the counter. It is not a written appraisal document, and it is not the kind of paper you would hand to an insurance company or file with an estate. If you need paperwork for either of those, that is a different job, and it is better to say so up front. Call (913) 426-2567 with any questions before you drive in.
For most people a verbal read is what they actually need. Is this worth keeping? Is this the kind of thing a collector wants? Should I sell it, or hold on to it? A person with 40 years as a coin dealer and 50 as a collector can answer those questions in a few minutes, and you walk out knowing more than when you walked in.
The glass counters and paper money cases inside Kansas Coin Connection on Illinois Street in Lawrence
Inherited collections: sort nothing, clean nothing
Many appraisals start with a box from a parent's or grandparent's house. The urge is to tidy up first, and the best thing you can do is resist it. Do not sort the coins into new piles, do not polish or dip anything, and do not take notes out of their envelopes. A collection as found carries information that disappears when it is rearranged, including which pieces were bought together and what the collector thought was worth keeping.
Keep albums, folders and rolls intact. A half-filled album tells Dean what the collector was chasing, and rolls that are still wrapped should stay wrapped. Paper money should stay flat. If the collection includes jewelry or scrap metal, bring that along too, since gold, silver and platinum are all part of the read.
Bring everything in one trip if you can, boxes and all. The shop at 846 Illinois Street is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Monday, Friday and Saturday are by appointment only, so call (913) 426-2567 first and set a time that gives a larger collection the room it needs. Sunday the shop is closed.
After the read: sell, keep, or take your time
Once Dean has gone through what you brought, you have three honest options. You can sell some or all of it to the shop. You can keep it, now that you know what it is. Or you can take a few days to think, talk it over with family and come back. All three are normal outcomes at the counter in Lawrence.
There is no pressure to sell. A free appraisal that turned into a hard sell would not be free in any way that matters. Some visits are about settling a relative's things, and those decisions do not need to be made in an afternoon.
If you do decide to sell, the shop makes its offer in person after the appraisal, and you can compare it however you like. If you decide to keep something, you will at least know how to look after it: away from damp, handled by the edges, and never cleaned. Either way, the appraisal itself is free.
“We've gone here twice when selling some coins my parents owned. On both occasions found them very professional and fair.” Tom M, from the shop's own reviews page.