← Back to articles · Hobby & visiting shops ·
What to bring when you sell coins or gold (and what to leave at home)
The metal, the ID, the paperwork if you have it. Not the toothpaste. Not twelve heirs on speakerphone. Not a story that replaces a receipt.
You do not need a briefcase and a lawyer. You need the stuff, and you need to be able to say yes or no.
Bring
- The metal. In something that does not spill on the counter.
- A photo ID. Why.
- Any invoices, grading papers, or “I bought these at this shop in 2019” receipts. Helps on cost basis talk later. Receipts.
- A simple list if the lot is big: eagles, junk face, jewelry, “weird.”
- A second person if that makes you comfortable. One second person. Not a committee.
Do not bring
- A cleaning kit. Don’t.
- A printed eBay listing for a nicer example than yours
- A Red Book with your finger on a retail column. The Red Book is not a buy list.
- Every sibling on FaceTime unless they have already agreed who can accept a bid
Sort if you can
Bullion. Jewelry. Collector candidates. Face-value change. Sorting. If you cannot, we will. You will wait longer.
Call ahead if it is large
Cash in the drawer is not infinite. Call ahead. Weekend pricing is its own thing. After-hours spot.
You can say no
The bid is not a spell. Walk away. Take the metal home. Think. Come back, or do not.
Part of the coin shop counter wiki · visitors & collectors · NumisQ Learn