While you can sell most things on eBay, quite a few things are banned or restricted. If you try to sell any of these things, eBay will remove your auction and all bids will be void. Here is eBay’s full list of topics dealing with prohibited or questionable items. All but a couple are clickable links (on the eBay website), and a complete statement of eBay’s policies is outlined with examples given. You should click the link related to your item and read carefully before preparing and posting your listing.

Adult Material
Alcohol (also see Wine)
Animals and Wildlife Products
Art
Artifacts
Catalytic Converters and Test Pipes
Cellphone (Wireless) Service Contracts
Charity or Fundraising Listings
Clothing, Used
Coins
Contracts
Cosmetics, Used
Counterfeit Currency and Stamps
Credit Cards
Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
Drugs, Describing Drugs or Drug-like Substances
Electronics Equipment
Electronics Surveillance Equipment
Embargoed Goods and Prohibited Countries
Event Tickets
Firearms, Weapons, and Knives
Food
Gift Cards
Government and Transit Documents
Government and Transit Uniforms
Government IDs and Licenses
Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Items
Human Parts and Remains
Importation of Goods into the United States
International Trading
Items Encouraging Illegal Activity
Lockpicking Devices
Lottery Tickets
Mailing Lists and Personal Information
Manufacturers’ Coupons
Mature Audiences
Medical Devices
Multi-level Marketing, Pyramid and Matrix Programs
OEM Software
Offensive Material
Pesticides
Plants (See Weeds and Seeds)
Police-Related Items
Political Memorabilia
Postage Meters
Prescription Drugs
Prohibited Services
Real Estate
Recalled Items
Slot Machines
Stamps
Stocks and Other Securities
Stolen Property and Property with Removed Serial Numbers
Surveillance Equipment
Teacher’s Edition Textbooks
Tobacco
Transit and Shipping-Related Items
Travel
Weeds and Seeds
Wine (also see Alcohol)

Most of this is very obvious - of course you can’t sell illegal things like drugs, pyramid schemes or stolen goods. Almost everything that is on the list is there because there is law against selling it or for buyer protection, you must follow certain guidelines.

Check the full list at eBay to see whether the item is banned entirely or there are just a few restrictions.

NOTE: After this entry was posted, eBay added Digital Downloads to its list of banned items. This means ebooks, designs, digital images, fonts delivered via download, web templates, eBay seller templates and a host of other items. Please keep that in mind as you are reading materials about selling on eBay. Refer to the post of March 27 for more information.

Because our interest here is in Stamps and Coins, here are the expanded policies in those areas:

Selling Stamps on eBay

Most countries strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit stamps, as well as equipment designed to make counterfeit stamps. Therefore, these types of items may not be listed on eBay.

eBay does not permit the sale of stamps that are fraudulent or improperly described. Sellers who knowingly fail to disclose information about the authenticity of a stamp, alterations to the stamp, or other information that might have a material impact on the stamp’s value may be reported to the American Philatelic Society.

If the stamp is a forgery, fake, reproduction or facsimile:

• It must be clearly and indelibly marked as such.
• A clear image of this mark must be included.
• It must be clearly stated in the title and/or description.

If unsure of the origin or authenticity of the stamp, please state this clearly in the listing. Do not sell an item “As Is” regarding its authenticity.

Helpful guidelines for stamps sellers:

• Read the Code of Conduct for Selling Stamps on eBay.
• Include all relevant information that is known about the stamp, for example its origin, date of issue, and condition.
• Include a clear image of the actual stamp that is being offered for sale.
• Include all information concerning any alterations that may have been made to the stamp.
• Specifically identify every individual stamp listed to avoid misunderstandings about the nature of the items.
• Members seeking advice or information from other stamps enthusiasts, visit eBay’s Stamps Chat Board.

Laws on counterfeit stamps

U.S. federal laws strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit stamps, as well as equipment designed to make these illegal products. U.S. law also protects stamps from counterfeiters. Therefore, these counterfeit items may not be listed on eBay. Sellers should be compliant with all federal, state, and local laws while listing stamps on eBay. A few examples of the actual U.S. counterfeiting laws are listed below:

• Counterfeit stamps
• Counterfeiting equipment

eBay strives to maintain a marketplace that is safe for both buyers and sellers of stamps, and has worked with the American Philatelic Society, the largest nonprofit society in the world for philatelists (stamp collectors), to develop these guidelines and policies designed to protect and promote a safe trading experience for eBay members.

Selling Coins on eBay

eBay does not permit the sale of coins or paper money that are fraudulent or improperly described. Most countries strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit currency, as well as equipment designed to make counterfeit currency. Accordingly, sellers are not permitted to list these types of items on eBay.

Sellers who fail to disclose information about the authenticity of coins or paper money, alterations to coins or paper money, or other information which may have a material impact on the coin or paper money value may be reported to the American Numismatic Association (ANA).

Please see the “Some Examples” section below on detailed requirements for listing Certified Coins, Raw/Uncertified Coins, Replica Coins and Replica Paper Currency.

Certified Coins

When listing a certified coin, the coin must be certified by one of the following authorized grading companies:

• Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)
• Numismatic Conservation Services (NCS)
• Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
• Independent Coin Grading (ICG)
• ANACS

In addition, listings for certified coins:

• Must be assigned the appropriate grading attributes in each listing. Sellers must select the appropriate grading attributes within the Sell Your Item form, including “Grading Company,” “Grade” and “Serial Number” provided with that grading.
• The listing must include an image of the item, showing the coin in its graded holder, front and back.

If the coin listed is not certified by one of the above authorized grading companies, the coin is considered raw/uncertified and is subject to additional requirements for their sale.

Raw and Uncertified Coins

A raw or uncertified coin is defined as any coin not graded by one of the authorized grading companies. Sellers are permitted to list these items on eBay under the following conditions:

• A numeric grade is not included in the title of the listing, such as MS-65, VF-25, etc. A numeric grade may only be included in the description of the listing.
• The grading company or price guide is not referenced in the title or description.
• A dollar value (even if personal opinion) is not included in the title or description.

Replica Coins and Paper Currency

The sale of replica coins and paper currency is regulated by U.S. federal law. Accordingly, the sale of such items is permitted on eBay as long as the following requirements are met:

Replica Coins

• Any “reproduction,” “replica,” or “copy” coin (U.S. or foreign) must be plainly and permanently marked with the word COPY.
• The listing must include an image of the coin reflecting the appropriate markings. Images that are dark, out of focus, doctored or otherwise deemed misleading are not permitted. Stock photos are also not permitted.
• The listing must clearly state that it is a “reproduction,” “replica” or “copy” in both the title and description.

Replica Paper Currency

• Black and white paper currency reproduction may only be listed if they are less than 75% or greater than 150% of the size of the original item being reproduced.
• Color paper currency reproductions may be listed if they are one-sided and less than 75% or greater than 150% of the size of the original item being reproduced.
• The listing must include an image of the paper currency. Images that are dark, out of focus, doctors or otherwise deemed misleading are not permitted. Stock photos are also not permitted.

Guidelines for coins and paper money sellers:

• Read the Code of Conduct for Selling Coins and Paper Money on eBay.
• Include all relevant information that is known about the coins or paper money; for example their origin, date of issue, and condition.
• Include a clear picture of the actual coin or paper money item that is being offered for sale.
• Include all information concerning any alterations that may have been made to the coins or paper money.
• Specifically identify every individual coin or paper money item listed to avoid misunderstandings about the nature of the items.
• If unsure of the origin or authenticity of the coins or paper money, please state this clearly in the listing.
• If members would like advice or information from other coins or paper money enthusiasts, visit eBay’s Coins and Paper Money Chat Board.

Laws on counterfeit coins or paper money

U.S. federal laws strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit coins or paper money, as well as equipment designed to make these illegal products. U.S. law also protects coins or paper money from counterfeiters. Therefore, these counterfeit items may not be listed on eBay. Sellers should be compliant with all federal, state, and local laws while listing coins or paper money on eBay. A few examples of the actual U.S. counterfeiting laws are listed below:

• Counterfeit coins
• Counterfeit paper money
• Counterfeiting equipment

eBay strives to maintain a marketplace that is safe for both buyers and sellers of numismatic material (such as coins or paper money), and has worked with the American Numismatic Association (ANA), the largest nonprofit society in the world for numismatists (coins and paper money collectors), to develop guidelines and policies designed to protect eBay members.

Counterfeit Currency and Stamps

Most countries strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit currency and stamps as well as equipment designed to make these illegal products. Therefore, these types of items may not be listed on eBay.

Replica coins may be listed as long as they are clearly marked “reproduction,” “replica,” or “copy”.

All forged stamps, facsimiles, and reproductions may be listed but need to be clearly and indelibly marked as such on either the front or back of the stamp.

• Replica Coins. Replica coins are regulated by U.S. federal law, which eBay insists its users follow. Any “reproduction,” “replica,” or “copy” coin (U.S. or foreign) must be plainly and permanently marked with the word COPY. This law, part of the Hobby Protection Act, protects collectors against fraud or confusion. If you’re listing items in this area, protect yourself by reading the act.
• Replica Paper Currency. Replica currency is regulated by U.S. federal law. Black and white paper currency reproductions may be listed if they are less than 75% or greater than 150% of the size of the original item being reproduced. Color paper currency productions may be listed if they are one-sided and less than 75% or greater than 150% of the size of the original item being reproduced.
• U.S. federal laws strictly prohibit the sale of counterfeit stamps, as well as equipment designed to make these illegal products. U.S. law also protects stamps from counterfeiters. Therefore, these counterfeit items may not be listed on eBay. Sellers should be compliant with all federal, state, and local laws while listing stamps on eBay.

Really, buying and selling on eBay can sometimes feel more complicated than it really is, thanks to all the rules surrounding it - not to mention the jargon. But it is best to spend a little time reading and learning before you begin posting.

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