Get bids from several coin shops (not pawn shops, mind you). They will try to impress you with their knowledge by telling you features, weights, values, etc. Listen carefully and make meticulous notes after you leave the store. Look up things they discussed afterwards and compare notes. Some of what you will be told will be valuable truth, some baloney, and some straight out lies.

As for banks, most banks deal with face value. If you have gold coins, there could be value in the coin itself. Your banker, however, may have some suggestions on who to see for the bars. Sometimes, but not always, if they give you a list of choices saying that they can’t steer you to just any one, take special note of the first one that they name, or the last one, or one they emphasize or speak with a little emphasis.

Again, and this is important, not the pawn shops, a regular jeweler (probably not big chain stores) will likely give you far more value than the pawn shops. Far more.