⭐ ANA · PCGS · NGC · CAC Authorized
Estate and Probate Coin Appraisal in San Jose and the Bay Area
Professional written appraisals for heirs, executors, trust administrators, and attorneys. Recognized by probate courts, insurance companies, and financial institutions across the Bay Area.
- Written Appraisals
- Court-Recognized
- 14+ Years Experience
- We Travel to You
*Appointments available 7 days a week, including evenings.*
Who We Help
Who Needs an Estate or Probate Coin Appraisal?
Heirs & Family Members
If you’ve inherited a coin collection from a parent or grandparent, a professional appraisal helps you understand what you have before making any decisions. Many inherited collections contain coins that look ordinary but carry significant numismatic value — Morgan silver dollars, Peace dollars, pre-1933 gold coins, and proof sets.
Especially common in Bay Area families across San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and Palo Alto — collections passed down from the 1920s through the 1970s.
Estate Executors & Personal Representatives
As an executor in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, or San Francisco County, you must file an Inventory and Appraisal (Form DE-160) with the probate court within four months of appointment.
Probate Code Section 8904 recognizes coin collections as “unique, artistic, unusual, or special items” — meaning you can elect an independent numismatic expert instead of a general probate referee, resulting in a far more accurate valuation.
Estate Attorneys & Trust Administrators
Collector demand fluctuates. Key dates and high-grade coins tend to hold or increase in value over time. Common dates follow silver prices more closely.
We base our offers on real-time market data, recent auction results, and current dealer pricing.
For attorneys: call (415) 952-6467 directly. We offer professional courtesy scheduling and can meet at your office, the estate property, or our Mountain View location.
The Legal Framework
How Coin Appraisals Work in Bay Area Probate
Probate requires that all estate assets be inventoried and appraised at their fair market value as of the date of death. For most assets, this appraisal is handled by a probate referee appointed by the court. Each county (Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, San Francisco) has its own designated probate referees.
Coin collections are different. Because they are specialized items, Probate Code Section 8904 allows the personal representative to choose an independent expert instead of the probate referee. This election is made by noting it on the Inventory and Appraisal form (DE-160) before submitting it to the probate referee.
Why does this matter? Probate referees are generalists. They appraise real estate, stocks, and personal property. A coin collection requires specific numismatic knowledge to accurately assess condition, rarity, and market demand. A 1893-S Morgan dollar in AU condition could be worth several thousand dollars, but it takes a trained numismatist to distinguish it from a common-date Morgan worth $30. In a single collection, that kind of gap can add up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Our team includes experts who evaluate coins using the same grading standards as PCGS and NGC. We assess each coin based on date, mintmark, condition, rarity, and current dealer and auction pricing.
Appraisal Services
Types of Appraisals We Provide
01
Fair Market Value Appraisals
The standard required for probate filings, estate tax reporting, and equitable distribution among heirs. Establishes what each coin would sell for in the current marketplace between a willing buyer and seller.
02
Insurance Appraisals
Establishes the replacement cost of a collection — typically higher than fair market value because it reflects what it would cost to replace each coin at current retail prices. Used to set appropriate coverage levels.
03
Divorce & Asset Division Appraisals
When a coin collection is part of a marital estate, an accurate appraisal provides the neutral, documented valuation needed for equitable division. We provide clear, detailed reports that attorneys and mediators can use in settlement discussions.
04
Donation & Tax Purpose Appraisals
If you’re donating a coin collection to a museum, educational institution, or charity, you may need a written appraisal for IRS reporting. We provide the documentation needed to support your tax deduction claim.
What We Appraise in Estate Collections
Estate collections often contain a mix of items. We evaluate everything numismatic in a single appointment — no need to coordinate multiple specialists.
Among the most common inherited coins in Bay Area estates. Value varies widely — some worth $30, others $3,000+. S-mintmark Morgans are especially prevalent in local collections.
Gold Eagles, Double Eagles, and smaller denominations. Carry both metal value and significant numismatic premium.
Bags or rolls of pre-1964 quarters, dimes, and half dollars. Valued by weight and silver content, with individual pieces checked for key dates.
Common in collections from the 1960s and 1970s. Most have modest value, but certain years and varieties can be significant.
International collections from Asia, Europe, and Latin America — frequently seen in Bay Area estates given the region's diverse population.
Gorham, Tiffany, Reed & Barton, Wallace, Towle. Evaluated by weight, purity, pattern, and condition.
US and foreign banknotes, large-size notes, silver certificates, and obsolete currency. Each note individually assessed.
Estate gold pieces evaluated for metal content, maker, period, and collector interest where applicable.
How the Appraisal Process Works
Four clear steps. No obligation to sell at any point.
Call (415) 952-6467, text photos, or submit our online appraisal form. Tell us what you have and the reason — probate, estate, insurance. We'll assess scope and schedule an appointment.
Visit our Mountain View location or we come to you — homes, attorney offices, banks, anywhere in the Bay Area. Every coin examined individually: date, mintmark, condition, and current market value.
Detailed, itemized written appraisal documenting every piece — description, grade, and fair market value. Signed and ready for your probate filing, insurance claim, or legal proceeding.
Once you have the appraisal, you decide what to do next. If you want to sell, we make a fair offer. If you want to keep or distribute the collection, you have the documentation. No obligation to sell, ever.
Why Bay Area Families and Attorneys Choose Us
Our credentials mean your appraisal is backed by the most recognized standards in numismatics. Accepted by courts, insurance companies, and financial institutions.
We do not bulk estimate. Every coin is examined and priced individually — exactly what probate courts and attorneys require for a valid, defensible appraisal.
For estate collections, we travel to any location — estate properties, attorney offices, bank vaults. No need to transport valuable items across town.
Appointments 7 days a week, including evenings (8 PM, 9 PM, 10 PM). We work around your schedule and court deadlines. Priority scheduling for urgent probate situations.
Coins, silverware, gold jewelry, paper currency — we evaluate it all in a single visit. No need to coordinate multiple specialists.
The appraisal is for your information and documentation. You decide what happens next. We never pressure anyone to sell their collection.
Area's We Serve
Trusted by Bay Area Families from San Jose to San Francisco
Based in Mountain View, we serve families, executors, and attorneys across the entire Bay Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the size of the collection. A small collection (under 50 coins) can often be appraised in a single appointment of 1 to 2 hours. Larger collections with hundreds of coins may require multiple sessions. We will give you a time estimate after our initial review of what you have.
We provide complimentary evaluations for clients considering selling their collection. For formal written appraisals needed specifically for probate court filing, insurance documentation, or legal proceedings, fees are based on the size and complexity of the collection. Contact us for a quote based on your specific situation.
Not necessarily. If your goal is simply to sell, a formal written appraisal is not required. We can provide a free evaluation and make an offer directly. A formal appraisal is typically needed when the valuation will be used for legal, tax, or insurance purposes. Learn more about selling your inherited coin collection.
Yes. Under Probate Code Section 8904, coin collections qualify as specialized personal property that can be appraised by an independent expert instead of the court-appointed probate referee. This applies in Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Alameda County, San Francisco County, and all other counties. The executor makes this election by noting it on the Inventory and Appraisal form (DE-160) before delivering it to the probate referee.
A probate referee is a generalist appraiser appointed by the State Controller's Office. They appraise all types of estate assets, from real estate to stocks to personal property. An independent expert, like a professional numismatist, has specialized knowledge of coin grading, rarity, and market values. For a coin collection, an independent expert will typically provide a more accurate and detailed valuation. The Santa Clara County Superior Court recognizes coin collections as items that qualify for independent expert appraisal.
We typically schedule appointments within a few days. For urgent probate situations with court deadlines, we offer priority scheduling. Call (415) 952-6467 and let us know your timeline.
Yes. If you decide to sell after receiving the appraisal, we make a fair offer based on current market values. We buy all types of US and foreign coins, silverware, gold jewelry, and paper currency. There is never any obligation to sell.
We appraise all of it. Estate collections in the Bay Area frequently include sterling silverware (Gorham, Tiffany, Reed & Barton, Wallace), gold jewelry, and paper currency alongside coins. We evaluate everything in a single appointment so you do not need to coordinate with multiple specialists.
Absolutely. We regularly conduct appraisals at attorney offices, bank vaults, estate properties, and other secure locations throughout San Jose, the South Bay, and the wider Bay Area. We bring our equipment and handle everything on site.
Get Your Estate Collection Appraised
Whether you’re an heir, executor, attorney, or trust administrator in the Bay Area, we’re here to help you understand and document the value of a coin collection.
· Open 7 days a week · Evening appointments available ·