What Is Your Collection Worth Today?

A-Coin & Stamp’s Bill Hatchett helps families uncover value, history and opportunity

As America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026, many families are reflecting on the stories, traditions and heirlooms that connect generations. For some, those treasures are found in photographs and family records. For others, they may be tucked away in a drawer, stored in a safe deposit box or quietly waiting to be rediscovered in a collection that has not been examined in years.

At A-Coin & Stamp Gallery, owner Bill Hatchett believes there has never been a better time to take a closer look.

For decades, Hatchett has helped collectors, families and estate representatives identify and evaluate coins, currency, precious metals and historical collectibles. What often begins as a simple question about value turns into something more meaningful – a connection to family history and America’s past.

Not everything of value announces itself.

Some of the most meaningful and valuable pieces that pass across the counter arrive quietly – stored in envelopes, inherited through family lines or rediscovered during periods of transition. At first glance, they may seem ordinary. With the right perspective, however, they often reveal something more.

Over the years, A-Coin & Stamp has handled remarkable finds tied to family histories stretching back generations. Among the most fascinating are pieces of currency that many people once considered little more than souvenirs.

“There was a lot printed, and when the South lost, the notes were not worth anything,” said Hatchett. “As years have passed, people started saving them … they went from nothing to something.”

Today, Confederate notes, early American bank notes and other historic currency can command significant premiums when rarity, condition and collector demand align. Jacksonville offers a unique chapter in that story. Before the establishment of the Federal Reserve, local, regional and national banks issued their own currency, creating notes that continue to attract collectors more than a century later.

“Jacksonville had a lot of banks … national banks and private banks,” shared Hatchett. “There are a lot of those notes floating around.”

One memorable discovery involved a note that remained in the same family for generations.

“This note had been in the family over 100 years,” recalled Hatchett. “We paid almost $10,000 for it … and it was a $10 bill.”

Stories like that are more common than many people realize. Old currency was often tucked away in boxes, framed on walls or passed among family members with little thought to its future value.

Many collections also include gold coins, silver dollars and historic American issues that have quietly appreciated over time. Understanding what you own provides clarity and confidence, whether the goal is to keep a collection, pass it to the next generation or consider selling.

“Most people don’t realize what they’re holding until they take a closer look,” he said.

As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, Hatchett encourages families to revisit collections that may have been sitting untouched for years. Whether it is a Morgan silver dollar, gold coins, Confederate currency, historic Jacksonville bank notes or an inherited collection whose origins have been forgotten, a professional evaluation can reveal both value and history.

Every item tells a story. Some stories uncover unexpected financial value. Others preserve family history and connect generations.

“Collectors are looking for these notes,” he said. “And we are too … and I pay more!”

For families preparing to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, there may be no better time to rediscover the pieces of history tucked away in your home.