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 Replies: 22 / Views: 3,459 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5849 Posts |
Just got back from a week-long trip to Washington DC with the family where we primarily saw the typical tourist sites (the various monuments, the museums, the National Zoo, etc.) Unlike last year's trip to NYC, I didn't have the chance to visit any coin or pawn shops. However, we did get to see some very interesting things at the National Museum of American History and the U.S. Mint was just down the street from our hotel... From the National Museum of American History (sorry, these pictures are my only souvenirs):      [And yes, that's my son, the budding numismatist] And at the mint, I managed to get something a little more substantial than mere pictures:   [I was going to just get the 1-ounce proof, but the guy at the counter said I would save $50 by getting all four. Plus, the price of gold was going up dramatically that day and I figured I'd better strike before things got repriced.] Yeah, yeah -- the pandas were cute and it was cool seeing the Space Shuttle Discovery and everything, but these were the real highlights of my vacation... |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
What great photos! And such a handsome YN!
That is one fantastic boxed set you picked up.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
Wow, great pics! And beautiful boxed set!! I'm going to have to take a trip down there!
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Barry where did you go in DC exactly? I'm not far from there and was unaware they had any mint stores in the area?
Great pics as well and beautiful set
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5849 Posts |
We were staying in a hotel just a few blocks from the National Mall. I think the address was 900 10th Street. And I think it was actually the main office of the U.S. Mint and not simply a store. They just happened to have a sales counter in the lobby. We were walking buy and I saw the U.S. Mint sign on the door and figured it wouldn't hurt to take a peek in -- I was half expecting a guard to tell us to leave, but then I saw the sales counter...
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Thats great to know. Must be something fairly new that they added that. Ill have to go down and check it out sometime. Any chance you caught a peek at the store hours? Thanks for the info
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5849 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
I didn't even knew that there's a US Mint department store, and I used to live less than an hour from DC. I practically grew up around the area, did you and the family get the chance to visit the Air and Space museum? Nice pick up on the AGE set, is it 2011 or 2012? PS: I knew barry you had something to do with the prices of PM raising this past week.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5849 Posts |
We not only visited the main Air and Space museum, we also went out to Dulles Airport and visited the Udvar-Hazy Space Center where they have the space shuttle Discovery, the Concorde and the SR-71 Blackbird (among many others) on display.
The AGE set is 2012.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
When you buy at the mint store like that did they charge you sales tax?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5849 Posts |
Nope, no tax. Which is surprising, given the fact that DC has 6% sales tax, 10% meal tax and 14.5% hotel room tax...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1231 Posts |
The mint also has a booth at Union Station on the main floor.
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Valued Member
United States
50 Posts |
That is like a dream vacation for me. Very nice pics.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Barry thanks for the info. The 0 percent tax is shocking considering the usual price of things in dc. I may have to stop ordering anything from the mint and just go check out the store from time to time
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5849 Posts |
I think the lack of sales tax has to do with it being considered bullion and therefore an investment. You might have to pay tax on other things, like proof sets or medallions.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
That could be it, I wonder if they just have a special exception being a government agency. Either way thatd be great to be able to pick up bullion ASEs with no shipping and tax
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Replies: 22 / Views: 3,459 |
Posted 08/25/2012 9:19 pm
