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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,624 |
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Valued Member
United States
79 Posts |
While I was reading an older thread on here about small antique malls and how they generally aren't as educated about the coins they sell, and often don't negotiate as much and may over-price a bit, I found that by bringing along a little reference guide or app like Coin Pro on my phone, if I sort through a little bit you can pick up some real gems. A couple of my best finds were wrongly attributed small coins that were mixed in with similar lower priced coins.
Of course, for my generally bigger investments, I go to my professional dealer, but you might be suprised with the nice little pennies, nickels, foreign and ancients you can pick up cheap.
Anybody here have a little "honey hole" with good deals they like to go to locally?
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Valued Member
 United States
79 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3276 Posts |
I recently bought some silver dimes from an antique store. Paid something like $240 for what was worth $370 in melt.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
I often see counterfeit Morgans in antique stores, especially the ones that are a co-op of many different dealers and booths.
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Valued Member
 United States
79 Posts |
Quote: I often see counterfeit Morgans in antique stores, especially the ones that are a co-op of many different dealers and booths. Yea, I tend to stick to my coin dealer for silver dollars and similar higher dollar coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
Current market conditions have driven me out of the antique shops (& etc) when it comes to coins.
Counterfeiting has reached a scale where it's a recognized world-wide business and there's less and less left that isn't being counterfeited. When they're counterfeiting 1oz silver bullion coins that cost in the $50 range, just about everything fair game for the counterfeiters.
Because of this, I've retreated into the realm of two long-established, respected local dealers and the biggest mainstream online dealers when it comes to coins. I still hunt for junk sterling at antique shops, flea markets and garage sales, but that's about it. I'm trying to avoid becoming another hapless tungsten stacker.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1177 Posts |
antique shops can be good or very bad for coins, if it's individual dealers, chances are they wont be good, mainly because many antique stores run of employees, meaning the actual seller isn't there, to haggle with
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
I have a display case at the local antique mall where I sell coins(& other stuff). You can't negotiate with me but the mall employees will unlock the case & let you examine the coin in hand. My prices are right around ebay prices. In this mall there are around 50 locked display cases. There are a few other dealers that sell coins. Most of them have no idea how to grade or price anything. I mostly see silver dollars. Some are obvious fakes. Many coins are cleaned, polished, or both. I've seen a bunch of coins with PMD labeled as errors.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
844 Posts |
I live in a small town where the majority of the old buildings are now antique stores and thrift shops. I go through them about twice a year. The best things I find coin-wise and very well priced is books. I do on the other hand have a honey hole that is a jewlery store/buyer-seller of gold and silver/seller of metal detectors/and coins. Admittedly, he only has coins on occasion, but it's usually a big collection he just bought. (he has my cell number on those occasions too). My best buy from there to date is a 1909vdb LWC, and a 1909s LWC that I purchased in a lot of about 100 Wheats. I paid $4.00 both in VF condition.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Passing through a small town some time ago, I found a little out of the way Antique shop. I stopped in to see if they had any coins. They did have an Old Sword sitting in a block of concrete though with a sign that said if you can get it ouy, it's yours. I touched the handle and it jumped out into my hands and started making a noise like high piched singing. Everyone came running over and bowed down to me and I became the King of that town.  Sorry about that. Just saw the movie of King Arthur. So far I've never found a coin in an Antique shop. One place told me they wouldn't even try to have them since they knew nothing about them.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,624 |
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