A precision scale, capsules, a light box for close-ups and a careful shipping routine, for selling coins and small jewelry from one desk.
Built forYou sell coins, and some rings, chains or earrings found at estate sales and coin shows, on eBay and in Whatnot shows, shipping 5 to 30 small but valuable orders a week from a desk. Signed designer jewelry goes to Vestiaire Collective.
Kit total
$241 to $428
Running cost
$26 to $45 a month
Consumables at 18 orders a week
- Orders a week
- 5–30
- Space
- Corner of a room
- Budget
- $300
Why this setup
You sell coins, and some rings, chains or earrings found at estate sales and coin shows, on eBay and in Whatnot shows, shipping 5 to 30 small but valuable orders a week from a desk. Signed designer jewelry goes to Vestiaire Collective.
Coins and jewelry are tiny, and buyers pay for detail: the date, the mint mark, a karat stamp, the wear on a high point. Most of this kit shows those details and keeps your fingers off the surfaces.
The orders fit in a padded envelope, but each one can be worth more than a box of clothes. Weigh everything on a scale that reads to a fraction of a gram, and ship with tracking you can prove.
The kit
Every item, why it’s here and what it typically costs in the US.
500 g precision pocket scale
Card orders often sit a fraction of an ounce from a postage price break. A precise small scale tells you whether a mailer stays in the cheaper weight step.
Typical price$8 to $15
See on Amazon
16-inch photo light box
Matching white-background photos make your listings look like a store. The box folds flat when you need the desk back.
Typical price$18 to $45
See on AmazonPocket LED video light
Clips to a phone mount or sits on the desk to lift the shadow side of a card or a ring. It costs little as a first light and stays useful as fill once you add panels.
Typical price$15 to $30
See on AmazonOverhead phone arm
Card and small-item shows sell on the shot of your hands. An overhead arm holds the phone steady and out of your way while you open packs.
Typical price$20 to $40
See on AmazonPhomemo thermal label printer
Costs less than most thermal printers and fits on a shelf. It prints the same 4 × 6 in labels, so your label stock carries over if you upgrade later.
Typical price$70 to $110
See on AmazonClear stackable 32 qt bins, 4 pack
Mark each bin with a shelf code and record the code against the listing. When an item sells, the code in the listing tells you which bin to open.
Typical price$30 to $55
See on Amazon
Buy this kit
Copy the full list to take shopping, or print it.
Shipping per order
What most orders like these ship by, at today’s published rates. Rates checked October 7, 2026.
eBay Standard EnvelopeUsual$0.82 to $1.40
TrackedUp to 3 ozTracked letter for eBay cards and flat items selling under $20, up to 3 oz.
- USPS Ground Advantage, under 1 lb
$6.93 to $8.95
TrackedUp to 1 lbClothing, cards in a mailer and other small items under 1 lb. Tracked, with $100 insurance included.
- USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box
$12.10 to $14.65
TrackedUp to 70 lbShips small, dense items like coins or boxed rings at one price to any state.
About $64 to $109 a month in shipping at 18 orders a week On most marketplaces the buyer pays shipping; this is the cost when you pay it.
How to lay it out
Where everything goes, so each order moves one way through the room.
- 1
Light box at the center
Set the light box in the middle of the desk with the phone on the overhead arm looking down through the top opening. Both faces of a coin and the inside of a ring band show without shadow.
- 2
Pocket light for angles
Keep the small LED light loose beside the box. A low, raking angle picks out the edge lettering on a coin or the stamp inside a clasp.
- 3
Scale and capsules within reach
The precision scale sits to the right next to the capsules and boxes. Weigh a piece, note the weight in the listing and capsule or box it. It stays sealed until the buyer opens it.
- 4
Locked tub under the desk
Stock lives in a clear tub out of sight, sorted into labeled bags or trays. Only the pieces for today’s listings or show come up onto the desk.
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Handling stock without marking it
Hold coins by the edge, and put each one into a capsule as soon as it’s photographed. A fingerprint on a proof surface can lower what a collector will pay.
Put jewelry on a soft cloth or in its box between photos. Chains tangle on a bare desk, and untangling one live loses viewers.
Kit for this step
Photos and listings
Take the obverse, the reverse and the edge for coins, plus any mint mark close up. For rings, add the inside of the band and a shot on a finger or ring stand for scale.
Put the weight from your scale and the size or diameter in each listing. Buyers of small items want measurements, because a photo can’t show scale.
Kit for this step
Showing coins live on Whatnot
Lay the next few lots in capsules beside the light box before you start. Slide each one under the overhead phone, turn it over on camera and read out the date and weight.
Keep sold pieces in a tray with a slip of paper naming the buyer. Small pieces go missing on a busy desk.
Packing a small valuable order
Capsule or box the item, wrap the box in a little paper so it doesn’t rattle, and seal it in a padded envelope. Avoid writing “coin” or “jewelry” on the outside.
Weigh the finished envelope and choose a tracked service. For high-value pieces, compare signature confirmation, added insurance and USPS Registered Mail against the item’s value, and check what your platform needs as proof of delivery.
Secure storage at home
Keep stock in one tub, in individual bags each marked with a code that matches your listing. Use a hidden or locked spot, away from any shelf visible through a window.
Check whether your homeowners or renters policy covers stock held for selling. Many policies limit business property, so ask your insurer.
Kit for this step
Growing past 20 orders a week
For regular shows, add panels for steady light and a mic for clear sound. Packing stays quick because each order fits one envelope.
Keep a simple log of each tracking number against its order. If a buyer says a package never arrived, you can answer in a minute.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Weighing silver or gold on a kitchen scale gives a rough figure buyers will question, so use a precision pocket scale and quote the reading.
- Handling coins by the face leaves prints, so hold them by the edge and capsule them straight after the photo.
- Shipping a valuable piece without tracking leaves you with no proof of delivery, so pay for a tracked service and keep the number.
- Writing what’s inside on the envelope invites theft, so label it with the address and nothing else.
- Keeping the whole collection on the desk during a show invites mix-ups, so bring out only tonight’s lots.
When to upgrade
At about 15 orders a week, or once you start regular Whatnot shows, add a pair of LED panels so gold and silver keep a steady color on stream. At 25, a clip-on mic keeps your descriptions clear while you lean over the light box.
- 15+ Two LED video panels with stands
- 25+ Clip-on wireless phone mic
Questions
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
What scale do I need for selling coins and jewelry?
A pocket scale that reads in fractions of a gram. Buyers ask for exact weights, especially for silver and gold, and the same scale weighs the finished envelope.
How should I ship a valuable coin in the US?
In a capsule, inside a padded envelope or small box, with a tracked USPS service. For higher values, add signature confirmation or insurance, and check USPS rules and the insurance limits on your label tool before you choose.
Do coins need capsules even for cheaper lots?
A capsule protects the surface and lets the buyer see both sides on camera. For bulk lots of low-value coins, a small bag per lot is enough.
How do I photograph a coin without glare?
Shoot from directly above inside the light box, then add one low side light for detail. Turn the coin a little at a time until the reflection leaves the face.
Can I sell jewelry from the same desk?
Yes. Rings, chains and earrings use the same scale, light box and envelope. Swap the capsule for a small box, and use a presentation box for higher-value pieces.
Should I mention karat stamps in a listing?
Photograph any stamp, such as 14K or 925, up close and describe what you can see. If you aren’t sure what a mark means, say so and let the buyer judge from the photo.
Where should I keep stock between shows?
Out of sight and in one place, with each piece bagged and labeled. Keep a list of what’s in the tub so you notice quickly if something goes missing.
When does Vestiaire Collective beat eBay for jewelry?
For signed designer pieces. Buyers there can choose to have the piece checked by Vestiaire's experts before it reaches them, which makes a high-ticket sale easier. Unsigned rings and chains sell faster on eBay.
Guides
Step-by-step help for the jobs that come next.
More setups
Updated October 8, 2026
