A numismatic appraisal is not one service but several. The value of the same collection can be stated differently — and legitimately so — depending on whether the report is destined for a probate court, an insurance company, the IRS or a judge. Joel J. Forman begins every engagement with a written contract that defines the purpose, scope and fee before any work begins.
Choose the service that matches your situation:
Estate, Probate & Trust Appraisals
Equitable distribution among heirs, probate and trust administration, conservatorships. Each coin individually appraised so heirs can allocate the collection fairly.
Estate, probate & trustInsurance Appraisals
Scheduling-grade documentation for insuring a collection, plus periodic appraisal updates so coverage keeps pace with the numismatic market.
Insurance appraisalsCharitable Donation Appraisals
When a collection will be donated to an established charity, IRS regulations require an appraisal for tax purposes — prepared to share with your accountant.
Donation appraisalsExpert Witness & Litigation Support
Independent expert-witness services in court, and appraisal reports written to stand up to scrutiny in disputes.
Expert witness servicesAlso available
- Loan & collateral valuations — when a coin collection will serve as collateral for a loan.
- Grading guidance — recommending which coins, if any, should be sent to a professional grading service, especially for rare or uncirculated pieces.
- Auction placement — working with the client to secure a reputable auction house when a collection will eventually be sold.
- Appraisal updates — periodic revaluations, particularly important for insured collections.
- Estate-planning collaboration — assisting the client's lawyer and/or accountant when required.
Not sure which appraisal you need?
Call to describe your situation — the right scope will be proposed in writing before any work begins.