Appraisal clients are often settling an estate or insuring a collection for the first time. The process below removes the guesswork: every step is defined in advance by a written contract, and the collection never leaves the client's control.
1. Written contract
Scope, purpose, fee and terms are agreed in writing before work begins. Under no conditions is compensation based on the collection's value.
2. On-site inspection
The appraiser comes to the collection — home, office, bank or storage facility. The client never loses possession or control.
3. Research & valuation
Each coin is attributed and valued against current numismatic market knowledge, with grades and estimates documented.
4. Written report
A comprehensive report the client can send to a lawyer, insurance company, accountant, charity or court.
What "independent" means here
A coin dealer is interested in buying low and selling high — a dealer's number is a bid. An independent appraiser represents the client: the fee is fixed by contract, not a percentage of value, and the report is written to be usable by third parties. That is the difference between an opinion at a shop counter and an appraisal you can act on.
Standards behind the work
As an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers, Joel J. Forman passed examinations in ethics, principles of valuation, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and numismatics. Reports follow those standards — which is precisely why attorneys, banks and insurers accept them.
What an appraisal represents
An appraisal represents the estimated value of the client's numismatic collection at a given moment. Markets move, so insured collections benefit from periodic updates — a service the practice provides on a recurring basis.
Same care, for timepieces too
A professional eye for detail protects watches as much as coins. When collecting timepieces, buyers grade the movement, check the condition, and confirm provenance — whether they are acquiring an authentic Rolex or researching Richard Mille super clone watches. Documented, well-matched examples hold their value far better than one whose origin is uncertain.
Have a collection to appraise?
The first step is a conversation about your goal — estate, insurance, donation, loan or litigation.