Why Madison Residents Make the Thirty-Minute Drive
Madison has jewelers along the Boston Post Road, and coin buyers in Guilford and Clinton are a short drive away. We are not going to tell you they do not exist. What brings Madison families 30 minutes up I-95 and I-91 to our Hamden counter is the evaluation itself. As a licensed Connecticut buy-only dealer, we run no retail floor and have no incentive to underquote a coin we might one day resell. The figure on your written offer is the figure we stand behind.
Each coin is laid out on the counter and graded individually while you observe. For bullion pieces, we pull live spot pricing, weigh the coin, and show you the arithmetic. For numismatic coins, the date, mint mark, and condition are pinned down and checked against the same pricing references we use at resale. You watch every step and take home a written offer with no obligation to decide on the spot.
Connecticut law requires payment by check, and you receive your check the same day you accept our offer. The evaluation is always free, whether you sell or not.
Coins We Evaluate from Madison Collections
Inherited collections and estate coins
Madison’s affluent, retiree-heavy households — from the Green to the shoreline along Fence Creek — regularly yield collections assembled across three or four generations. Estates surface with silver dollars in original bank wrappers, wheat cents in coffee cans, and proof sets still in their Mint boxes. We price every piece on its own merits, never as a bulk lot.
Colonial and early U.S. coins
Colonial and early U.S. pieces turn up less often here than in Guilford, but they do appear — half cents, large cents, and the occasional Spanish real pulled from an older shoreline home. These demand specialized references and a practiced eye to identify and grade. If you have something old and are not certain it is even a coin, bring it along.
Morgan and Peace silver dollars
Morgan Dollars (1878–1921) and Peace Dollars (1921–1935) are a staple of Madison estates. Value turns on date, mint mark, and condition — a common-date 1881-S in circulated grade trades near silver content, while a key-date uncirculated piece can run into four or five figures. We identify each dollar on the counter.
Pre-1965 silver coins
U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90 percent silver. We weigh the lot, pull the live spot price, and walk through the math. A handful of dates carry numismatic value above silver — we single those out rather than pricing the whole batch at melt.
Wheat and Indian Head cents
Lincoln wheat cents (1909–1958) and Indian Head cents (1859–1909) come out of Madison estates with some regularity. Most wheat cents trade in bulk, but key dates such as the 1909-S VDB and 1914-D can be worth many multiples of face. We check every cent for key dates and varieties before quoting.
Mercury dimes and Walking Liberty halves
Mercury dimes (1916–1945) and Walking Liberty halves (1916–1947) carry a genuine collector following. The 1916-D Mercury dime and 1916 Walking Liberty half are key dates worth far more than their silver content. We pin down the date and mint mark, grade, and price each one accordingly.
Proof and mint sets
Sealed proof and mint sets are common in Madison collections, many purchased by parents and grandparents over the years. Value depends on the year, set type, and whether the coins retain their original toning. We open each set, confirm what is inside, and price against current market levels.
Paper currency
We also evaluate U.S. paper currency — silver certificates, Federal Reserve notes, large-size currency, and star notes. Condition and series year drive value. Bring any paper alongside your coins and we will look at it together.
World coins from family
Madison’s seasonal residents and well-traveled households mean we see European, Canadian, and South American coins brought back by family. Some carry silver or gold; others hold collectible value in their home market. We identify country, denomination, metal, and condition, then price each accordingly.
Grading and condition
A coin’s grade — its condition on a 70-point scale — is the single biggest factor in numismatic value after rarity. We grade each coin on the counter while you observe, and explain what the grade means. The gap between Fine-12 and MS-63 can be dramatic.
Do not clean your coins
Leave your coins exactly as you found them. Polishing or dipping strips away the surface toning collectors prize, and a cleaned coin is worth less — sometimes dramatically less. This is especially critical for early U.S. copper, where original color is paramount. Bring them as-is.
Whole-collection evaluation
If you have inherited or built up a collection — silver dollars, proof sets, foreign pieces, old cents — bring all of it. We sort by category, grade each coin, and price individually. You see the full breakdown and carry home a written offer.
The 10-day hold
Connecticut requires a 10-day hold on certain non-bullion items — a consumer protection giving you time to reconsider. The hold governs when we can resell, not when you get paid. Bullion is exempt. You receive your check the same day.
What We Buy
Coins
Gold coins, silver coins, key dates, Morgan Dollars, colonial coppers, pre-1933 U.S. gold, and full collections.
Gold Jewelry
10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K gold rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, and estate jewelry at fair market value.
Bullion
Gold and silver bars, rounds, and bullion coins at current spot with a transparent margin.
Sterling Silver
Silver flatware, holloware, tea sets, candlesticks, and decorative silver at melt value.
Estate Collections
Full inherited collections evaluated coin by coin — never lumped at bulk melt. Each piece gets individual attention.
Questions from Madison Residents
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from Madison sellers.
Getting to Haven Coin from Madison
Two easy routes from Madison to our Hamden location at 2285 Whitney Ave.
Via I-95 north to I-91 north — Take I-95 north to I-91 north, then exit 10 for Whitney Avenue in Hamden. Haven Coin is at 2285 Whitney Ave. About 30 minutes. On-site parking.
Via Route 1 (Boston Post Road) — Take Route 1 north through Guilford and Branford to Whitney Avenue in Hamden. A straightforward shoreline route with fewer highway miles. About 30 minutes. On-site parking.
Helpful Resources for Madison Sellers
Everything you need to know before your visit.
Sell Coins in Connecticut
What Connecticut law requires, how to prepare your collection, and what to expect at an evaluation.
Learn moreSelling Inherited Coins
A guide for executors and family members navigating an inherited coin collection in Connecticut.
Learn moreAppraisals
Professional written appraisals for insurance, estate settlement, and equitable distribution.
Learn moreWhat to Do with an Inherited Coin Collection
Practical steps for sorting, evaluating, and selling coins inherited from a family member.
Read guideSilver Dollar Value Guide
What Morgan and Peace dollars are worth by date, mint mark, and condition — from common to key.
Read guideWalking Liberty Half Dollar Value
How Walking Liberty halves are valued by date, mint mark, and grade — including the key 1916.
Read guideShould You Clean Old Coins?
Why cleaning coins reduces their value, and what to do instead before bringing them to a dealer.
Read guide