Where's A Good Coin Shop In Chicago?

Worst place I've ever been to. Overpriced, lousy service, lots of cleaned coins, etc.

I would stick to the coin shows.

If you visit the store, they're a little stiff inside but extremely knowledgable. If you purchase more than one coin they will cut you a break on the pricing. I've worked in Chicago for 31 years and don't believe all the stories you read about Chicago being dangerous. It's a great city and completely safe. As far as the pricing goes at HJB it's a little high on the US coins but everything is negotiable. They're pretty much retail (numismedia) on their pricing so there should be some room to move. I've gotten nice deals from them. If a coin has been cleaned they'll tell you, just ask. They have an amazing showroom and will let you dig through anything they have. If you walk down Clark street be sure to check out their display windows, they'll have a blue overhang and it's really neat. The showroom is rather small but they have chairs where you can sit down and look through anything they have. They handle everything up to an including six figure coins.

Just be prepared to ask them questions and they'll be most helpful, if you just sit there like a bump on a log they'll pretty much ignore you. Once you get them talking though all is good.

I've been in the area for a long, long time and went to that place a lot. NEVER found a decent price, never found them to be sociable, and usually rather rude. If you can chew them down a bit you'll still be exceptionally over priced. Due to their location they don't really care about you since they get thousands of people walking by their store every day. I once asked why they don't attend any of the numerous coin shows in the area and was told why should we, just full of amateurs.
Remember if your in the Chicago area there are a minimum of 3 coin shows a Month, every Month but in the suburbs. And naturally coming up June 16, 17, 18 is the Greater Chicago Coin and Currency show in Tinley Park, Il.

THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the info! As a true Chicago resident in my humble 20's I dont have a car and bike everywhere. Some of these monthly shows will be a stretch, Tinley Park included. I have seen HJB at a couple of shows but I've never approached them for conversation or to make a purchase. I might drop by this week and get a feel for the place but it sounds like they wont be very happy when I say I want to see all their common date Wheat cents. LOL.

Remember that almost all the coin shows, gun shows, knife shows, computer shows, etc. are NOT in Chicago. They are all in the Suburbs. Not a real lot of dealers of any kind like taking chances actually IN Chicago. There are guards at all the shows even in the Suburbs. And the coin shows are usually in convention centers or hotels so rather in highly populated areas. Most coin stores too are in Suburbs, not actually in Chicago. Although true crime is everywhere, very little actually happens in the Suburbs and when it does, it makes massive news so people will think the Suburbs are just as bad as Chicago.

Tried visiting the downtown shop yesterday (next to Washington on the blue line) and it was indeed an underwhelming experience. Expensive for what's offered and actually the first coin shop where I managed to get completely ignored from the moment I entered to the moment I left.

I was there one time during lunch time. A guy behind the counter that was SUPPOSED to be waiting on me said, sorry, it's lunch time and walked away.