bluetiger
antiquesville, NY
Male, 58
I have been buying and selling antiques (and some collectibles) for over 30 yrs. started out buying and selling to help pay for college. got a degree in business admin. and worked in managerial positions for 23 yrs. but, during this 23 yr. period I kept my sanity by continuing to sell antiques in my spare time. now that I am semi-retired, I still deal in antiques - it is in my blood. I am knowledgeable in auctioning, estate sales, online sales, direct sales, and appraisals.
depends on the item I am trying to sell. if there is someone locally that I think may be interested in what I have, I will give them a call or text. if it is an item with universal appeal, I will probably use an online auction site to sell it. if it is a fairly generic item (say an old stoneware mixing bowl) i'll probably place it in a booth at an antiques mall, or run it through an auction house with other common items.
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gold and silver coins basically have two values as you indicate in your question. ( the numismatic value and the bullion value.) a common 1921 silver dollar, in circulated condition, may be worth more as scrap depending on the spot silver price on any given day. a rarer date silver dollar in circulated condition however may have a numismatic value that exceeds its scrap value. the key factors in determining value of gold and silver coins are: scarcity, condition, and spot bullion value of the precious metal in question. in my opinion, most people start to accumulate coins for their collectible value. but then, when the price of gold and silver go up dramatically, many collectors will sell their common and poor condition coins for their scrap value. this is why, when gold and silver prices are high, you see all the "we buy your silver and gold" folks come out of the woodwork.
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tough question. people who bought large quantities of star wars items, back in the 70's and early 80's, and stored them away (without opening the packaging) are now making a very tidy profit. in my opinion, first edition character items are as good a bet as anything else for the long term - 20 to 30 years. I have never had a good, quality character item that I could not sell. as an example, I recently bought a large quantity of older smurfs at a yard sale. a couple of my dealer friends thought I was nuts - the Japanese collector that I sold them to paid me 500 times more than I purchased them for.
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You may want to take them to your local antiques mall or antique shop and see if you get any offers.
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There are a few ways to determine if your ornaments have some value. Check the online auction sites. these sites will give you an idea of the fair market value of your items. there are also several good reference books about antique ornaments. if you are looking to sell them quickly, take them to your nearest antiques mall or co-op. the dealers there will be happy to make you an offer if they are of interest. keep in mind that condition, condition, condition is critical to the value of antiques and collectibles.
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Google Antique appraisers for your area and you should be able to find an appraiser. if you are looking to sell them - go to your nearest antiques mall or shop and see if anyone is interested in your items.
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I advise newcomers to the business to start out small. before opening a shop, it may be wise to set up in an antiques mall or co-op. I'm sure that there are some good ones in your area.
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