Hicks Coins specializes in genuinely rare US coins, key dates, condition rarities, and PCGS/NGC slabs that move the needle. ANA & PNG-member expertise across the DMV.
Rarity in numismatics breaks into three distinct categories, and the smartest sellers understand which one their coin belongs to. Date rarity applies to coins with low original mintage, the 1893-S Morgan dollar (100,000 minted), the 1916-D Mercury dime (264,000 minted), the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent (484,000 minted). These are scarce in any condition. Condition rarity applies to common-date coins that survive in extraordinary grade, a 1921 Morgan in MS-67 is wildly more valuable than the same coin in MS-63, even though tens of millions were minted. Variety rarity applies to die varieties most dealers miss: VAMs on Morgan dollars, doubled dies on Lincoln cents, the 1942/41 Mercury overdate, 1955 doubled die Lincoln.
A general coin shop tends to pay one price per series regardless of which kind of rarity you have. A specialized rare coin dealer recognizes the difference, and pays accordingly.
Coins encapsulated by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) are the foundation of the modern rare coin market. They trade at standardized, dealer-discoverable prices, PCGS Price Guide, NGC Price Guide, recent Heritage and Stack’s Bowers auction results, and the dealer-to-dealer Coin Dealer Newsletter. As a working rare coin dealer, I know these reference points cold and can give you a quote rooted in the actual market, not in guesswork or "what I feel like paying today."
For raw (un-slabbed) rare coins, the value question is more nuanced: would it grade higher than its appearance suggests? Should it be submitted to PCGS or NGC before sale? A rare coin dealer worth his salt walks you through both options before you sell anything important. More on numismatic appraisal.
This is not a complete list, just the headline categories where I’m an aggressive buyer.
1909-S VDB, 1909-S, 1914-D, 1922 Plain, 1931-S, 1955 Doubled Die. Honest-grade examples are always worth a look.
1913-S Type II, 1914/3, 1918/7-D, 1937-D 3-Legged, key date examples in problem-free condition.
1916-D, 1921, 1921-D, 1942/41, 1942/41-D. Full Bands designations dramatically increase value.
1893-S, 1894-P, 1895-P (proof only), 1895-O, 1895-S, 1903-O, 1904-S. Plus high-grade common dates and CC mint marks.
1878-CC, 1879-1883 proofs, the 1885 (only 5 known), and high-grade business strikes.
Carson City gold, low-mintage Saint-Gaudens dates (1907 High Relief, 1920-S, 1921, 1927-D, 1929+), Indian Head gold key dates.
Capped Bust halves with desirable Overton marriages, early Bust dollars, Liberty Seated coinage with originality.
Massachusetts silver, Continental dollars, 1792 patterns, early federal copper. Anything pre-1800 deserves a serious look.
Top-pop PCGS & NGC certified coins for collectors building competitive PCGS Set Registry or NGC Registry sets.
When a single coin in a collection might be worth $20,000, $50,000, or more, the evaluation isn’t a quick eyeball job at a counter. It takes series-specific knowledge, familiarity with the relevant population reports and auction comps, and the time to look at the coin under the right light with the right reference material.
That kind of careful work is what a specialist brings, knowing which holders trade at premiums, which dates carry condition rarity, which die varieties are worth attributing, and which coins are candidates for resubmission. Active participation at FUN, the ANA World’s Fair of Money, and Whitman Baltimore keeps that knowledge current.
Learn About Selling Rare CoinsText photos of the slab label and obverse/reverse to (703) 862-7796 and I’ll quote you within the hour during business times.