Sell Gold and Silver in Longs, SC

JP Ford Coin & Currency is a family-owned coin shop in Longs, South Carolina, that buys gold and silver coins, bullion, jewelry, sterling and scrap from sellers across the Myrtle Beach area. Because we are coin dealers, we check every coin for collector value before we treat it as metal.

  • Coins checked for collector value first
  • Bullion priced against the live market
  • No obligation to sell
Book an Appraisal Or call us 843-399-7296

Walk-ins are welcome. Booking simply holds a set time so you do not wait your turn.

What We Buy

  • U.S. silver coins

    90% silver dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 and earlier, Morgan and Peace silver dollars, 40% silver Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970, and 35% silver wartime nickels. Rolls, bags, jars and loose coins are all fine.

  • Gold coins

    U.S. gold coins from before 1933, modern American Gold Eagles and Buffaloes, and other government-issued gold coins. Many older U.S. gold coins carry collector value above their gold content, so each one is identified individually.

  • Bullion bars, rounds and Eagles

    Gold and silver bars and rounds, American Silver Eagles, Gold Eagles and other sovereign bullion coins. Bullion is priced against the live metal market at the time you sell.

  • Foreign gold and silver

    World gold and silver coins and bars, including pieces brought home from travel or military service. Some are bullion, some are collectible, and a few are both.

  • Gold and silver jewelry

    Rings, chains, bracelets, class rings, wedding bands and earrings, whether they are wearable or broken, tangled or missing stones. Single earrings and odd pieces are worth bringing.

  • Sterling and scrap

    Sterling silver flatware and holloware, scrap gold, and other gold and silver items. Sterling is usually stamped “Sterling” or “925”.
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How Gold and Silver Are Valued

For metal, value starts with three things: weight, purity and the current market price. Purity, also called fineness, is the share of the item that is actually gold or silver. A 14K gold ring is 58.3% gold, 10K is 41.7% and 18K is 75%. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver. Pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars are 90% silver.

Weight multiplied by purity gives the item's precious-metal content, and that content multiplied by today's spot price gives its melt value. You can watch the live gold and silver prices, and work out the melt value of common U.S. silver coins, on our live metal prices page.

Melt value is a reference point, not a purchase price. What a dealer pays for metal also reflects refining costs, current demand and the quantity involved. For coins, there is one more factor, and it is the one that matters most.

When a Coin Is Worth More Than Its Metal

A coin's date, mint mark, variety, condition and certification can give it numismatic value, meaning what collectors will pay for that particular coin, above its gold or silver content. A common, worn Morgan dollar trades close to its silver value. A scarce date or mint mark, or the same coin in exceptional condition, can be worth many times more.

The same is true of older U.S. gold. Two coins with identical gold content can be worth very different amounts depending on which mint struck them and how well they have survived.

That is why we identify every coin before anything is treated as metal. Recognizing a coin that should not be sold at melt is the part of this work a coin shop does every day. Most silver coins are worth close to melt, and we will say so plainly, but it is worth knowing before you sell rather than after.

How Selling Gold and Silver Works

From the moment you walk in to a decision, here is what happens.

  1. Bring It In As It Is

    There is no need to sort coins from jewelry, separate gold from silver, or clean anything. Please do not clean coins: cleaning can permanently reduce their collector value. Walk in during business hours, or book a time so we are ready for you.

  2. Coins Are Identified First

    We go through the coins at the table with you and set aside anything with collector value, so that nothing scarce ends up priced as metal.

  3. Metal Items Are Tested and Weighed

    Jewelry, sterling, scrap and bullion are checked for metal content and weighed, and we explain what each piece is as we go. Bullion is priced against the live market, which you can check on your own phone while you sit there.

  4. You Decide

    We make an offer and explain how we reached it. You can sell everything, sell some and keep the rest, or take it all home. If you accept, you are paid the same day.

Book an Appraisal

Selling More Than Gold and Silver?

Gold and silver often turn up alongside a larger coin or currency collection. Our Sell to Us page covers everything we buy, including paper money, certified coins and complete collections. If the metal came from a relative's estate, our estate coin appraisals page explains how we help families work through an inherited collection.

JP Ford Coin & Currency is run by Walter and Joe Ford from our showroom in Longs. Read more about us.

Gold and Silver Questions

What people ask us most before selling gold and silver.

What do the karat stamps on gold jewelry mean?

The karat stamp shows how much of the piece is pure gold. 10K is 41.7% gold, 14K is 58.3% and 18K is 75%. European pieces are often stamped with a three-digit number instead, such as 417, 585 or 750, which means the same thing. A stamp is a useful starting point, but JP Ford Coin & Currency still checks the metal before making an offer.

How can I tell if silverware is sterling or silver-plated?

Sterling silver flatware and holloware is usually stamped “Sterling” or “925”. Silver-plated pieces are often marked “EP”, “EPNS” or “Silverplate”, and contain only a thin layer of silver. If you are not sure what you have, bring it to our Longs, SC shop and we will tell you.

Is a gold coin always worth more than the gold it contains?

Not always. Modern bullion coins such as American Gold Eagles are valued mainly on their gold content. Older U.S. gold coins, particularly those from before 1933, can carry collector value above their gold content depending on date, mint mark and condition. Each coin needs to be identified individually to know which applies.

Do you buy gold and silver bars and rounds?

Yes. JP Ford Coin & Currency buys gold and silver bars and rounds, as well as sovereign bullion coins such as American Silver Eagles and Gold Eagles. Bullion is priced against the live metal market at the time you sell.

Can I sell part of what I bring and keep the rest?

Yes. After JP Ford Coin & Currency goes through what you brought, you can sell all of it, sell only certain pieces, or keep everything. Many people sell scrap jewelry and keep coins or pieces with sentimental value.

Have a question about a particular piece? Call the shop and we will walk through it with you.

Find Out What Your Gold and Silver Are Worth

Bring your gold and silver to our Longs showroom. We will identify the coins, check the metal, and explain an offer you can accept or decline. There is never any obligation to sell.

Book an AppraisalCall (843) 399-7296

Visit Our Longs Showroom

82 Cloverleaf Drive, Unit 104
Longs, SC 29568
Get directions

843-399-7296

Hours

Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM