Estate, Probate & Trust Appraisals
Equitable distribution among heirs, probate documentation and trust reporting — each coin individually appraised.
Estate appraisalsJoel J. Forman · Accredited Senior Appraiser, American Society of Appraisers
Independent Numismatic Appraisals — Clients with Coins? Now What?
A professional, independent appraisal gives your coin collection a documented, defensible value for estate settlement, insurance, charitable donations, loans or court. Joel J. Forman performs every appraisal on-site, where your collection lives — you never lose possession of a single coin.
Credentials you can verify
A specialist's appraisal, not a dealer's guess
Joel J. Forman is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) with a specialty in numismatics — tested, accredited and independent.
ASA Accreditation
Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in numismatics — certified after exams in ethics, valuation theory, USPAP and numismatics.
Life Member, ANA
Life Member of the American Numismatic Association and the Numismatic Association of Southern California.
Published Authority
Author of Holocaust Numismatics (Simon Wiesenthal Center Annual) and many articles in Coin World.
Museum Advisor
Numismatic Advisor to the Simon Wiesenthal Center of Holocaust Studies and the Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles.
Appraisal services
Every appraisal has a job to do
Each engagement starts with a written contract and ends with a report your attorney, accountant, insurer or charity can rely on.
Insurance Appraisals
Scheduling-grade documentation of value, with periodic updates so your coverage keeps pace with the market.
Insurance appraisalsCharitable Donation Appraisals
Appraisal reports prepared for the tax documentation required when a numismatic collection is donated to charity.
Donation appraisalsExpert Witness & Litigation
Independent expert-witness services in court, plus appraisal reports built to stand up to scrutiny.
Expert witness servicesHow the Process Works
Contract, on-site inspection, research and valuation, written report — a transparent, four-step process.
See the four stepsAppraiser vs. Coin Dealer
A dealer buys low and sells high. An independent appraiser works only for you — and never for a percentage of value.
Read the FAQ
Why independence matters
An appraiser who represents you
Coin dealers are only interested in one thing: buying low and selling high. A professional, independent numismatic appraiser represents the client — with scholarly expertise, a written contract and a report you can hand to a third party.
Joel J. Forman appraises collections for estate settlement, insurance, donations and litigation, and works directly with your lawyer or accountant when the situation requires it.
Review the QualificationsWhat independence means for you
- Fees are fixed by written contract — never a percentage of your collection's value.
- The appraisal is performed at your location; you keep possession of every coin.
- Written reports can be delivered to lawyers, insurers, charities and courts.
- Appraisals follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
- Periodic appraisal updates keep insured collections properly covered.
The process
From first call to finished report
Clear terms, on-site work and a written deliverable — here is how a professional appraisal unfolds.
Written contract
Scope, fee and terms are agreed in writing before any work begins — compensation is never tied to collection value.
On-site inspection
Every coin is examined where the collection is kept: your home, office, bank or storage facility.
Research & valuation
Each item is attributed, graded and valued against current numismatic market knowledge.
Written report
A comprehensive report suitable for heirs, attorneys, insurers, charities and third parties.
Frequently asked
Common questions, answered plainly
The questions clients ask most — from what a numismatist is to how the appraiser is compensated. The complete FAQ covers every stage of the engagement.
Read all questionsWho is a typical client?
Heirs distributing a collection under a will or trust, donors who need an appraisal for the IRS, and owners using a collection as loan collateral.
Where is the appraisal performed?
Always where the collection is located — the client never loses possession or control of the collection.
How is the appraiser compensated?
By a written contract with all terms spelled out — never as a percentage of the collection's value.
What do the appraisals represent?
The estimated value of the client's numismatic collection at a given moment in time.
About the appraiser
Joel J. Forman, Accredited Senior Appraiser
Three graduate-level degrees in valuation science and computer science, decades of numismatic scholarship, and a practice built around estates, trusts and litigation.
Education & credentials
Masters of Science in Valuation Science (MVS), Masters of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) and a B.A. in Mathematics — plus four personal-property valuation courses from the American Society of Appraisers.
Full qualificationsExperience
Numismatic Advisor to the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance; expert witness; specialist in estate, trust, conservatorship, probate and insurance appraisals.
How he worksPast clients & engagements include
Sotheby's
Wells Fargo Bank
Northern Trust Bank
Sanwa Bank
Merrill Lynch
Technical Advisory Service For Attorneys (TASA)
Coldwell Banker Concierge Service
Law firms & insurance companies
For collectors beyond coins
Preserving value across fine collectibles
The same principles that protect a rare coin collection — authenticity, documented grading, and an independent valuation — apply to luxury timepieces as well. Collectors who also collect watches often look to replica watches to see how closely the best examples match the originals in finish and movement before spending on an authentic piece.
A handful of high-end brands dominate the market — Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille. Whether you are buying to wear or to hold as an asset, verifying authenticity before purchase saves far more than the price of a second opinion.
Clients with coins? Now what?
Start with a conversation. Appraisals are performed on-site throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.