Why Waterbury Residents Drive to Hamden
Waterbury has several long-standing coin shops and plenty of pawn shops and gold buyers on East Main, West Main, and Wolcott Street. Most of them weigh your silver and hand you a number based on melt — without checking for rare dates, mint marks, or collector premiums that can be worth many times the metal content. For a jar of common wheat cents that is fine. For a collection that a grandparent spent decades building, it is not.
Those shops are closer to you than we are. We are about 30 minutes down Route 10, in Hamden. But we are a licensed, buy-only coin dealer: we lay your collection out and go through it piece by piece, identify every coin, check dates and mint marks, assess condition, and separate items with numismatic value from those worth melt. We show you the live spot price, walk you through how we calculated each offer, and hand you a written itemized offer to take home. No loans, no collateral, and no pressure to accept.
The drive from Waterbury is simple: I-84 east to I-691 east, then Route 10 south through Cheshire into Hamden and Whitney Avenue to 2285 Whitney Ave. About 22 to 25 miles, 30 to 35 minutes. An alternative is Route 8 south to the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15) east to exit 61, then Whitney Avenue north.
What We Evaluate: Coins, Currency, and Collections
Collections from brass-era families
Waterbury was the brass and clock capital of America — Scovill, Chase Brass, Anaconda American Brass, and Waterbury Clock (which became Timex) employed generations of families. Many collections we see began with a grandparent who worked in those plants and set aside silver dollars and Indian Head cents through the 1930s to 1960s. We go through each piece individually rather than pricing the lot at bulk melt — bring everything in whatever containers you found it in.
Morgan and Peace silver dollars
Morgan dollars (1878–1921) and Peace dollars (1921–1935) show up in more Waterbury estates than almost any other coin. Each contains silver, but certain dates and mint marks — especially Carson City ("CC") — carry large premiums above melt. We examine every dollar for date and mint mark, never just weigh the lot.
Pre-1965 U.S. silver coins
Dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier are 90 percent silver. They are often called "junk silver" but are worth well above face value at current silver prices. Certain dates are rare and add numismatic value on top of the silver content. We sort through every coin individually rather than weighing the lot.
Wheat cents and Indian Head cents
Wheat pennies (1909–1958) and earlier Indian Head cents can be worth more than face value, with certain key dates worth hundreds. A jar of old cents from a Waterbury estate may contain something worth pulling out. Bring the whole jar — do not clean them first.
Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, and Walking Liberty halves
Buffalo nickels (1913–1938), Mercury dimes (1916–1945), and Walking Liberty half dollars (1916–1947) are common in Waterbury collections from the brass era. The dimes and halves contain silver; all three series have dates that carry significant premiums — like the 1916-D Mercury dime or the 1937-D three-legged Buffalo nickel. We check every coin for the date, not just the type.
Proof sets, mint sets, and old paper currency
Uncirculated proof sets and mint sets from the U.S. Mint can carry premiums above their silver content, especially older sets in original packaging. Silver certificates, gold certificates, and pre-Federal Reserve notes can carry collector value well above face value. If you found old paper money in a Waterbury estate, bring it — a bank will only give you face value.
Grading, condition, and why it matters
Condition drives a coin's value — the gap between a coin graded "Good" and one graded "Uncirculated" can be thousands of dollars for the same date and mint mark. We assess condition in front of you and walk you through how it factors into our offer. You do not need to grade anything yourself. And never clean your coins — polishing, dipping, or scrubbing destroys the original surface patina that collectors value, and a cleaned coin can lose 50 to 90 percent of its numismatic value. Bring everything as you found it, even if it looks dirty or tarnished.
The Connecticut 10-day hold
Connecticut law requires licensed dealers to hold non-bullion items for 10 days before reselling. This deters theft and gives law enforcement time to check items against stolen property reports. Your payment is not delayed — you receive your check the same day. The hold only affects when we can resell, not when you get paid. Bullion coins and bars are exempt.
Simple 3-Step Process
Professional evaluation with same-day payment. No obligation.
Bring Your Items
Drive down from Waterbury to 2285 Whitney Ave, Hamden. Bring your coins, currency, jewelry, or estate items as-is — no need to sort or clean anything first.
Free Evaluation
We go through every piece individually in front of you — checking dates, mint marks, condition, and both melt and collector value. We walk you through the math.
Written Offer & Same-Day Payment
Accept the offer and receive payment by check the same day. Or take the written offer home and decide in your own time — no pressure, ever.
Directions from Waterbury
Two routes from Waterbury to our Hamden shop at 2285 Whitney Ave.
Take I-84 east from Waterbury to I-691 east. Exit to Route 10 (Highland Ave / Main St) south through Cheshire into Hamden, which becomes Whitney Avenue. Haven Coin is at 2285 Whitney Ave on your left. About 22 to 25 miles, 30 to 35 minutes.
Take Route 8 south from Waterbury to the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15) east. Continue on Route 15 to exit 61, then turn right onto Whitney Avenue north. Haven Coin is at 2285 Whitney Ave on your right. Slightly longer but may be faster depending on I-84 traffic.
Our Address
2285 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
~30 min from Waterbury
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from Waterbury residents about selling coins.
Is it worth driving from Waterbury to Hamden to sell coins?
For a handful of common silver coins, maybe not. For a full collection, an estate, or anything that might have numismatic value beyond melt, the 30-minute drive down Route 10 is worth it. A licensed buy-only dealer who evaluates every coin individually, shows you the math from the live spot price, and hands you a written offer will typically recover more than the gas money — and you will not get that level of attention at a pawn shop on Wolcott Street.
My grandfather worked at Scovill and saved coins for decades — how do I know what is valuable?
Bring everything as you found it. Many Waterbury collections we see were started by grandparents who worked at Scovill, Chase Brass, Anaconda American Brass, or Waterbury Clock and saved silver dollars, war-era coins, and Indian Head cents through the 1930s to 1960s. We identify each coin, note its date and mint mark, assess condition, and separate pieces with collector value from those worth melt. You do not need to know what anything is — that is our job.
Do you buy whole collections from estates in Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley?
Yes. We evaluate entire estate collections piece by piece, never lumped at bulk melt. If you are clearing a family home in Town Plot, Bunker Hill, Overlook, or anywhere in the Naugatuck Valley, bring everything as-is — no sorting or cleaning required. We can also provide documentation suitable for estate purposes.
What is the 10-day hold and does it apply to my coins?
Connecticut requires licensed precious metals dealers to hold non-bullion items for 10 days before reselling. This holding period is a consumer protection designed to deter theft and give law enforcement time to check items against stolen property reports. Your payment is not delayed — you receive your check the same day you accept the offer. The hold affects when we can resell, not when you get paid. Bullion coins and bars are exempt from the hold entirely.
Should I clean, sort, or roll the coins before bringing them in?
No to all three. Never clean coins before an evaluation — polishing, dipping, or scrubbing destroys the original surface patina and can cut collector value by 50 percent or more. Do not sort or roll them either. Bring everything as you found it, in the same containers, envelopes, albums, or jars. Sorting risks separating information from the coins. We will sort and evaluate everything in front of you.
How is this different from a Waterbury coin shop or pawn shop?
Waterbury has several long-standing coin shops plus many pawn shops and gold buyers on East Main, West Main, and Wolcott Street. A pawn shop or gold buyer typically offers melt value for whatever you bring in, without checking for rare dates, mint marks, or collector premiums. We are a buy-only coin dealer — we evaluate every coin individually for collector value above melt, test in front of you, show the math from the live spot price, and give you a written offer to keep. No loans, no collateral, and no pressure to accept.
Can I get an appraisal without selling?
Yes. Evaluations are free and carry no obligation. Many people from Waterbury come in simply to learn what they have — what each coin is, what it is worth, and whether anything is rare — before deciding whether to sell. You receive a written offer to take home and think about.
Helpful Resources
Everything you need to know before your visit from Waterbury.
Sell Coins in Connecticut
How selling coins works at a licensed CT dealer — evaluation, offer, and same-day payment.
Learn moreSell an Inherited Coin Collection
What to do when you inherit coins — bring them as-is, no need to sort or clean.
Learn moreBook a Free Appraisal
Schedule your free, no-obligation evaluation online. Same-day appointments are often available.
Learn moreWhat to Do With an Inherited Coin Collection
Step-by-step guide for handling a collection from a family member's estate.
Read articleWheat Penny Value Guide
Which wheat pennies are worth the most — key dates, errors, and condition.
Read guideMercury Dime Value Guide
Which Mercury dimes carry premiums — key dates, mint marks, and condition.
Read guideShould You Clean Old Coins?
Why cleaning coins destroys collector value — and what to do instead.
Read article