Inaccurate probate valuations can cause unnecessary HMRC delays to the probate process or increase your inheritance tax burden.
The Britannia Coin Company offers formal probate valuations for coins, banknotes, medals, jewellery, watches, silverware and bullion. Our team of specialists complete probate valuations quickly and accurately, drawing on a wealth of market knowledge.
All fees are refundable if you go on to sell your items to us.
What Is A Probate Valuation?
Probate is the legal process of settling an estate for someone who has died. If you have been appointed an executor or administrator as part of the probate process, you will be responsible for disposing of the deceased person's money and assets in line with their will.
To obtain a grant of probate, you will need to know the estate's total value based on the asset's sale price on the date the person died.
Getting a correct probate valuation means that the estate can be correctly distributed among the beneficiaries and ensures that the correct amount of inheritance tax (if applicable) is paid.
If the deceased's estate included a house, you would need to contact a Chartered Surveyor to determine the value. Similarly, if the estate includes coins or other antiques and collectables, you need to contact a reputable and qualified specialist to provide an informed valuation.
Probate Valuations By Coin Specialists
Our probate valuations are carried out by experts with an in-depth knowledge of the coin market.
The Britannia Coin Company's numismatists (coin experts) and consultants boast a broad range of expertise, covering ancient Roman coins, historic British money, banknotes, modern collectables, military medals and much more.
As institutional members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA), we subscribe to a strict code of ethics that centres on fair and transparent dealing.
When completing a probate valuation, we take into account:
- Previous sales figures - using specialist databases to compare auction results and current retail prices
- Condition - the relative 'grade' of a coin, banknote or medal can significantly affect its value
- Rarity - scarce collectables can have a higher market value, which will be reflected in your valuation
- Errors and variants - a hard-to-spot variation can add hundreds or even thousands of pounds of value to a coin
- Precious metal content - our XRF technology accurately identifies the amount of gold or silver in your coins
As part of Gold-Traders Group, the UK's only Trading Standards Approved precious metal buyer, we can also draw on expertise in valuing other precious metal items, including gold bars, jewellery, watches and silverware. If you are looking for a probate valuation on other antiques and collectables, please contact us: we can usually recommend a trusted valuer.
Expert Probate Valuation Fees
We charge £150 to complete a standard written probate valuation.
When your valuation is completed, you will receive a formal letter designed to fulfil HMRC's requirements.
Our specialists charge a fee for their services because it takes time and in-depth market research to complete an accurate probate valuation.
However, if you subsequently choose to sell your property to us, we will fully refund this fee. We will also refund your £150 if you choose to consign your collection for sale by auction.
How Do You Complete A Probate Valuation?
We can complete probate valuations on your coins in a variety of ways.
- Send us a list - some valuations can be completed from an inventory alone
- Visit our valuation centre - make an appointment and bring your coins to our offices in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
- Arrange a home visit - a member of our team can visit your home or place of business to conduct a preliminary assessment with your valuation confirmed after further desk-based research
We recommend contacting our friendly team to agree on the best way forward.
Probate Valuations vs Insurance Valuations
Probate valuations are different to insurance valuations.
Insurance valuations are based on an item's replacement cost: the amount you would have to pay if you needed to purchase a like-for-like replacement. On the other hand, probate valuations itemise the value you would receive if you sold the same items at auction or to a specialist dealer.
Submitting an insurance valuation instead of a probate valuation could make you liable for unnecessary inheritance tax.
Our experts are pleased to provide insurance valuations for the same price as probate valuations (£150). The process and documentation for insurance valuations differs from probate valuations, so make sure to request the correct service when you get in touch.
How Does The Gold Price Impact Probate?
If your probate valuation includes items made from gold, our experts will take into account the price of gold on the day the owner passed away.
The price of gold rises and falls depending on a range of global political and economic factors. When you are selling gold to a precious metal buyer or coin dealer, they will consider the current gold 'spot' price and deduct a percentage margin for their profit. This means that the sale value of a gold coin or a gold ring may vary day to day and week to week.
Even if the gold price has risen since your family member died, our probate valuations must be based on the sale price on the date of death, as confirmed by a death certificate.
Some gold and silver coins will have a value well above their precious metal price based on their collectability. However, the sale value of collectable coins also fluctuates with market trends. As such, we also estimate the probate value for these items based on the market at the time of death.
Get A Fair Price For Your Inheritance
Once the probate process has been completed, the beneficiaries of the estate may want to sell the items they have inherited. Selling the inheritance may also be necessary to divide up the proceeds fairly.
If you have used our probate valuation service and then choose to sell to us, we will refund your £150 probate fee as part of your final settlement. This payment is made by bank transfer and divided between the relevant parties as required.
We also refund our probate fee if you choose to consign the items we valued to our sister company, RWB Auctions. RWB Auctions accepts coins, medals, banknotes, jewellery, silverware and watches for their regular general and specialist sales. Their low consignment fees (10% of the eventual hammer price) mean you keep more of your profit than with most British auction houses while benefitting from professional photography, cataloguing and marketing services.
