Silicon Valley Coins is an online rare coin dealership run by John, a former U.S. Navy Commander who spent 24 years in service before turning a childhood coin collecting habit into a full-time business in 2002.
The company operates without a physical storefront, selling certified U.S. and world coins through its website, direct client relationships, and coin shows. Inventory ranges from sub-$300 type coins to five and six-figure rarities, with a stated focus on eye appeal and originality rather than rarity or price alone.
Key Takeaways
- Silicon Valley Coins sells only PCGS, NGC, ANACS, or CACG certified coins, with CAC-verified pieces making up a large share of current listings.
- The global coin collecting market generated an estimated $18.1 billion in transactions in 2024, with the United States accounting for roughly $6 billion of that total.
- Listed inventory on the site spans from around $195 to over $16,000, with past sales reaching into six figures, reflecting the wide price range typical of small independent dealers.
Who Runs Silicon Valley Coins
John has been a collector since age nine and a licensed dealer since 2002. His numismatic career runs alongside, and now after, a Navy career where he worked as a meteorologist, physical oceanographer, and climatologist before retiring as a Commander.
That background shows up in how he talks about the business: methodical, data-oriented, and skeptical of hype. He holds Life Membership #5949 with the American Numismatic Association and operates as an authorized dealer for both PCGS and NGC, the two largest third-party grading services in the country.
He is also affiliated with CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation) and the Liberty Coin Club.
The decision to skip a brick-and-mortar shop was deliberate. John has said publicly that he believes a physical storefront adds overhead that gets passed to customers without adding much value to the transaction itself.
For a one-person dealership specializing in mid-to-high-end coins, that model keeps margins workable while letting him spend more time sourcing inventory at shows and through private deals.
What the Site Sells
The current online inventory covers a broad range of U.S. numismatic material: early gold coins, Morgan and Peace silver dollars, commemorative half dollars, proof sets, colonial and territorial issues, and select world coins like Mexican reales and pillar dollars.
Nearly every listed coin carries third-party certification, and a large portion also carries a CAC or CACG sticker, which signals the coin was reviewed a second time for quality within its assigned grade.
A sample of recent listings shows the spread in price point:
| Coin | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1932-S 25c | CACG VF35 | $195.00 |
| 1899-O Morgan Dollar | PCGS MS64 CAC | $225.00 |
| 1942 10c Proof | NGC PF65 CAC | $275.00 |
| 1858-O Half Dollar | PCGS AU58 CAC | $1,500.00 |
| 1837 Half Dime | PCGS MS65 CAC | $3,600.00 |
| 1888 $20 Liberty | PCGS MS63 CAC | $16,000.00 |
Several sold listings on the site have cleared well above that range, including an 1877 $3 gold piece that sold for $92,500 and an 1909-O half eagle that sold for $15,000. That spread, from under $200 to nearly six figures, is typical of a dealer who buys across the full spectrum of the market rather than specializing in one series or price tier.
Why Certification Matters Here
Every coin on the site lists its grading service and grade directly in the title, a practice that matters more than it might seem. PCGS and NGC dominate third-party grading in the United States, and coins without their holders (often called “raw” coins) typically sell for less because buyers cannot verify authenticity or condition without an in-hand inspection.
Counterfeiting remains one of the persistent problems in the numismatic trade, and rigorous grading and authentication services exist largely because of it. A dealer who sources and sells only certified coins is signaling that buyers won’t need to take his word alone on what they’re getting.
CAC stickers add a second layer on top of that. The company was founded by well-known numismatist John Albanese to re-review coins already graded by PCGS or NGC and flag those that are strong for the grade, meaning they sit at the high end of what that number represents.
Coins with CAC approval have historically traded at a premium in the secondary market compared to otherwise identical coins without the sticker, because buyers treat the second opinion as a form of quality control.
The Broader Market Silicon Valley Coins Operates In
Rare coins have moved from a niche hobby into something closer to an alternative asset class over the past several years. Industry estimates put total global coin market transactions at $18.1 billion in 2024, with the U.S. share around $6 billion.
Separate market research puts total coin collection asset value, including holdings by private collectors, institutions, and dealers, in the range of $300 billion when long-term holdings are factored in alongside active trading volume.
Growth projections vary by research firm, but most point in the same direction. Transparency Market Research projects the global coin collection market growing at roughly 8.5% annually through 2034. Maximize Market Research puts the 2025 to 2032 growth rate closer to 10.5%.
None of these numbers are guarantees of future returns, and coin values can move against a collector just as easily as they can move in their favor. But they do explain why a growing number of buyers treat numismatics as a store of value alongside precious metals and other tangible assets, not just a hobby.
For a small independent dealer like Silicon Valley Coins, this broader trend shapes daily business in a few concrete ways:
- More first-time buyers are entering the market through online research rather than local coin shops, which rewards dealers with a clear, searchable web presence.
- Demand for quality within a grade, not just the grade number itself, has pushed CAC-verified coins toward a larger share of total listings across the trade.
- Auction houses and online dealers increasingly compete for the same inventory, which has tightened supply on well-preserved coins in the $500 to $5,000 range where many collectors are active.
What to Know Before Buying
Buyers working with any online coin dealer, including Silicon Valley Coins, should confirm a few basics before purchasing. Check that the grading service listed (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, or CACG) is one of the recognized major services, since third-tier grading companies use looser standards.
Compare the asking price against recent auction results for the same coin, grade, and variety using resources like PCGS CoinFacts or Heritage Auctions’ archives. Ask about the dealer’s return policy, especially for higher-value purchases, and confirm whether shipping insurance is included.
For a one-person operation without a storefront, direct phone or email contact before a large purchase is also a reasonable step, since it gives buyers a chance to ask specific questions about a coin’s history or condition beyond what a listing photo shows.
Conclusion
Silicon Valley Coins is a small, certification-focused dealership built around one dealer’s four-decade collecting background and two-decade professional track record.
Its inventory and pricing sit squarely inside a numismatic market that generated an estimated $18.1 billion in global transactions in 2024 and continues to draw new buyers toward quality-graded, third-party certified coins.
