Effective August 21, 2026 · Hudson Valley Numismatics, Inc.
Welcome to hvcoins.com (the “Website”). These Terms of Use (this “Agreement”) form a legally binding agreement between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity (“you”), and Hudson Valley Numismatics, Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”), concerning your access to and use of the Website and any appraisal services we provide (together, the “Services”).
By accessing or using the Website or the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement. If you do not agree, you are not permitted to use the Website or the Services and should discontinue use immediately.
1. Description of Services
The Website provides formal and informal numismatic evaluation, grading consultation, and appraisal opinions for historical coins, paper currency, bullion, jewelry, and related collectibles (the “Items”). Appraisals may be conducted digitally from photographs and descriptions you submit (“Digital Appraisals”) or by physical examination (“In-Person Appraisals”).
2. Types of Appraisal and Intended Use
Not every appraisal answers the same question, and the same item can carry meaningfully different values depending on which question is being asked. The most common bases of value are:
- Insurance or replacement value — What it would cost to replace the item with one of like kind and quality at retail. This is typically the highest figure, and it is used for scheduling items on an insurance policy.
- Fair market value — The price at which the item would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither under compulsion and both reasonably informed. This basis is generally used for estate settlement, equitable distribution, charitable donation, and tax purposes.
- Dealer wholesale, cash marketable, or liquidation value — What a dealer would pay in an immediate cash transaction. This is typically the lowest figure, and it is the relevant one when you intend to sell promptly.
Because these figures can differ substantially for the very same item, we rely on you to tell us the purpose of the appraisal and what you intend to do with the item. Tell us your goal — insuring it, settling an estate, donating it, or selling it — and we will help you decide which basis of value best meets your needs, and we will state on the appraisal which basis we used.
A valuation prepared on one basis should not be read, quoted, or relied upon as a valuation on another basis.
3. Appraisal Disclaimers and the Nature of Valuations
By requesting an appraisal, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
- Opinions of value only — Any price, value, value range, grade, or numismatic assessment we provide is a professional opinion. Numismatics is a subjective discipline, and different experts, grading services (such as PCGS or NGC), and dealers may reach different conclusions about the condition, authenticity, and market value of the same item.
- No guarantee or warranty — We do not guarantee, warrant, or represent that any item appraised will sell for the stated valuation in the open market, at auction, or in a private transaction.
- Market fluidity — Precious metals and rare coin markets are volatile and change constantly. A valuation reflects market conditions at the time the appraisal is given and is subject to change without notice. We are under no obligation to update a previous appraisal to reflect later market movement.
- Digital appraisal limitations — Digital Appraisals rest solely on the images and descriptions you provide. Photographs can obscure defects, cleaning, alterations, environmental damage, or artificial toning, and cannot convey weight, edge lettering, or magnetic properties. Digital Appraisals are therefore conditional and inherently less precise than In-Person Appraisals.
- Authenticity — Unless expressly stated in a signed, formal written contract, an appraisal is not a guarantee of authenticity.
4. Appraisal Records
We keep a copy of each appraisal on file for one year from the date it is issued, so that we can answer questions, supply a duplicate copy, or issue a revision if new information about the item comes to light. After one year we are under no obligation to retain it.
We treat the findings of an appraisal as confidential to you. We do not report those findings to third parties — including federal, state, or local authorities such as the Internal Revenue Service or law enforcement agencies — without your express request, except where we are legally compelled to comply with a valid warrant, subpoena, or court order. Our Privacy Policy sets this out in full.
5. No Investment, Financial, Legal, or Tax Advice
The information, estimates, commentary, and appraisals provided through this Website do not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Rare coins and bullion can be speculative assets. You assume all risk for any buying, selling, or trading decision you make based on information obtained from this Website. We recommend consulting a certified financial advisor, attorney, or tax professional before making substantial financial decisions.
6. Your Representations and Obligations
By using the Website or submitting items for appraisal, you represent and warrant that:
- You are the legal owner of the items submitted, or an authorized agent acting with the explicit consent of the legal owner.
- All photographs, historical background, provenance, and descriptions you provide are accurate, truthful, and unaltered to the best of your knowledge.
- You will not upload images or content that infringe the intellectual property, privacy, or contractual rights of any third party.
- You are at least 18 years of age, or have the consent of a parent or guardian to use this Website.
7. Intellectual Property Rights
Unless otherwise indicated, the Website and its source code, databases, functionality, software, design, text, photographs, graphics, and appraisal report layouts (the “Content”) are owned by or licensed to us and are protected by copyright, trademark, and trade dress law. Appraisal reports issued to you are for your personal, non-commercial use — for example, insurance documentation or estate planning — and may not be resold, repackaged, or publicly displayed for commercial marketing purposes without our prior written consent.
8. Limitation of Liability
In no event will we, or our directors, employees, or agents, be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, consequential, exemplary, incidental, special, or punitive damages — including lost profits, lost revenue, or loss of data — arising out of your use of the Website, the Services, or any appraisal opinion we provide, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Our total liability to you for any cause whatsoever will at all times be limited to the amount, if any, that you paid us for the specific service giving rise to the claim.
9. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Hudson Valley Numismatics, Inc. and its affiliates, officers, agents, partners, and employees from and against any loss, damage, liability, claim, or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party arising out of: (1) the items or descriptions you submit; (2) your use of the Services; (3) your breach of this Agreement; or (4) any harmful act toward another user of the Website.
10. Changes to These Terms
We may modify this Agreement at any time and for any reason. Changes take effect when posted, and we will indicate them by updating the effective date above. Your continued use of the Website after a change constitutes acceptance of it.
11. Contact Information
To resolve a complaint or to request further information about the Services, please contact us:
Hudson Valley Numismatics, Inc.
8 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706
Telephone: 914-649-3317
Email: hudsoncoins@aol.com
See also our Privacy Policy.