No.  I most certainly do not consider myself a Professional nor do I consider myself a numismatist.  While all numismatists may be coin collectors, not all coin collectors are numismatists. Numismatists often have a deeper understanding and scholarly interest in the history and production of currency.  

There are still coins out there that are new to me.  I am not really all that good at grading.  I don't spend time looking at coins through magnifying glasses.  I can't tell you key dates of Morgan Silver dollars off the top of my head.  

This is a hobby for me.  And I have a few.  I am just your local friendly neighborhood coin collector who sometimes buys coins and sometimes sells coins.

At the moment, no I cannot.  I have not actually visited any coin shops here on Oahu.  I have visited some of the coin shows and met a few people there but I have not developed any connections.

I am aware of one shop that a fellow coin enthusiast had suggested.  They are located in Waterfront plaza.  They are called Hawaiian Islands Stamp and Coins.  This is a 3rd hand recommendation though, so please keep that in mind.

Yes.  I still buy and sell coins.  I'm interested in Hawaii coins especially.  I also have some of my Dad's collection that I am still trying to sell off.

That's a complicated question.  It would really depend on what kind of help.  I would suggest using the Contact Me page and reach out with more details.  It can't hurt to at least have the conversation.

• Would I help you inventory your collection?  Possibly.  I am a hobbyist though, I have a full-time job already.  So you would have to level set expectations accordingly.  Drop me a line and maybe we can work something out.

• Would I purchase your collection from you if you didn't want to go through the effort involved in the How-to section?  Again, possibly.  I am a hobbyist though and I can't really offer you the top dollar you are looking for.

Oh no.  No I most certainly did not.

Hopefully some of the instructions provided can help you learn from mistakes made on my part.  Or at the very least, it has provided you with informed decisions so you can pick and choose which options work best for you.

The how-to is meant to be guidelines, not gospel.  Take from it what you need and discard what makes no sense for your own personal experience.  

Here are two articles I read early on in the process that helped me get some initial understanding of the effort I was about to undertake:

• Jeff Garrett: What to Do with Inherited Coins 

• How to Sell the Coins That I've Inherited 

Coin Collecting Basics:

What’s the best way to start a coin collection?

• Pick a theme: U.S. pennies, world coins, silver bullion, or a historical period.

• Start small and focus on education and enjoyment, not profit.

What is a proof coin?

• A proof is a specially struck coin with a mirror-like finish and high detail, often made for collectors.

What is a key date coin?

• A “key date” is the hardest-to-find (or most valuable) coin in a particular series due to low mintage or high demand.

At some point, you just can't have jars of change lying around the house anymore.

You can bring those coins to a Coinstar, most likely found in your local Safeway.  Deposit the coins into the machine, then you'll get a receipt and you can bring that to Customer Service for a cash return.  Any coins that get rejected by the Coinstar, set them aside and look at them further as there has to be some reason why the machine spit them back out.

My Dad had about 50 lbs of coins in various tin cans and baggies that we just couldn't figure out how to get back to the islands.  We used the Coinstar method for those.

You could also roll the coins and bring them to your local bank.  Check with your bank to see how they prefer to handle the coins.

This is one of those questions that I would send along to a numismatist.  Sometimes it is pretty easy though.  There are certain sites that offer coins rather cheaply.  When you compare the design, you can see that certain features just don't match.  The nose is too big or there is a misspelled word.  Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is..

The by the book response would be to check:

• Weight and diameter

• Design details (compare to known authentic coins)

• Magnetic properties (precious metals are non-magnetic)

Suspect coins could be authenticated by PCGS/NGC but often times that cost money.  You could also try your local coin shop.  Or even try some of the online resources I mentioned in the how-to section.  Reddit is often my go to resource to get additional opinions.

Just thought to address this question up front.

Did I use AI to create this site?  No.  Much of the content is mine.  Did I utilize AI to help?  Yes, most certainly.  There is a lot of material in this site and AI is helpful in that regards.

I am a computer guy first and foremost and whatever it takes to make the job easier.  Hope that doesn't offend anyone.  At least I wanted everyone to be aware of that fact up front.