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 Replies: 54 / Views: 6,021 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
767 Posts |
Hi. I have never bought a coin anywhere except online. It's just too easy, and I imagine the variety online vs that of a shop or show is astronomical. There was a coin show about 30 minutes from my house a couple of weeks ago. I thought about going, but I'd already selected a few coins I wanted on ebay, and a 30 mile drive in my 13mpg truck... ugghh! The only times I've ever visited my lcs is to sell, not buy. They have their inventory listed on their website, and I've never seen anything of much interest. They have a 2/5 star rating on google by the way. Never have seen much need to go in there and "browse". It's a bit of an uncomfortable environment. Am I missing anything? You thinks? If so what? Camaraderie?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
1078 Posts |
I've seen some coin shops go digital recently. The online market is defiently booming.
However, as coins are phyiscal objects I prefer to see, look, feel and hold the coin prior to buying, in shops or on shows. I can't feel safe buying coins over the internet simply because I don't know exactly what I'm getting before it's in my mailbox, fake or not. As such, I stick to shops or shows. Besides, a little social interaction is always nice, especially with other, interested people.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
You're missing the chance to hold coins in your hand to see what they look like, and the chance to learn directly from people who know more about coins than you do.
Learning to grade from images is very, very difficult because it's a separate and additional skill from grading in-hand. Doable, but rather like learning to drive an airplane and driving a car with those skills.
Take every chance you can get to look at coins, especially in person. And yes, form that friendship with the dealer. The really nice coins usually get saved for the dealer's best customers and never see the public eye.
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Pillar of the Community
1153 Posts |
I went to my first coin show as an adult over this past weekend, it was definitely a good experience. I also primarily purchase on ebay, but I do visit my LCS from time to time when I am looking for items I know they have. The coin show I attended was mostly graded coins, which my are not in my current interest or budget. They did have alot of interesting items, but again most what I saw in cases were way out of my price range. I didn't talk to many vendors, but did listen to alot of them talk to others. Overall, it was an interesting experience and I will be going to another show next month. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
 IMHO try not to buy too many coins online. yes it's convenient and easy but it's also easy to receive inferior coins from some online dealers. they can show you all the photos you want but when you get it it's a different story. I believe LCS or better yet local coin shows is the way to go. not only can you see and hold a coin, but you can bargain with the dealers ( at shows )for a better price than what they want.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I think on line is OK for coins up to about $100 in value. The value risk of buying a fake coin is then limited to $100.
If you wish to buy at higher than that price level, my take is that you have to know the reputation of the seller very well. That can happen, if an established dealer with an excellent reputation deecides to offer some of his stock on line.
One of the main problems with buying on line is that you don't have a chance to examine 'in hand' what you are considering to buy, before making a decision.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
I've collected coins since 1968 and I've never bought a coin online... I buy at shows, and occasionally at a coin shop a friend of mine owns. Best to buy in person and definitely more fun. I've made many lifelong friends at coin shows. And, the shows are an absolute blast!
Edited by 1893S
03/18/2015 7:16 pm
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12263 Posts |
The opportunity to examine a large variety of coins in hand at a coin show beats browsing online images IMHO.
Personally, I almost never buy expensive coins via online sources (even if graded). Before I spend $100s or more on a coin, I want to be able to hold it and inspect it with my own eyes.
I go to 20+ coin shows a year, and sometimes travel hundreds of miles each way. To me, it's worth it to make sure the coins I add to my collection are ones that I know I will always be happy with.
I would encourage you to go to local coin shows whenever you have the opportunity.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
I went to a coin show in Reno, when I stationed near there years ago. It was a gun/coin show... let me tell ya the guns were plenty, the coins were few... I bought about 8 Morgans, that were basically the same price as in the store. It was fun, looking around and seeing everything. I'd say it's worth it, if it isn't too expensive to get in.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
There are plenty of collectors who plan vacations around coin shows. Not everybody is that lucky but it's certainly worth planning a long day if you live within a few hours of a major show. The experience can't be duplicated, and it gives the visitor a new respect for the breadth of numismatics. Unfortunately, it also lets you see the truly nice stuff, defined as "the stuff nicer than you can afford." That can be a downer.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
767 Posts |
Quote:
I've collected coins since 1968... Truthfully, with no disrespect intended of course, I think this is a big part of what we're seeing here. I've been collecting coins since 2014, and I was on a computer by the time I was in the 6th grade. I don't see the big deal about seeing the coin "in hand". The sellers I buy from take excellent photographs, are completely honest, and very knowledgeable. I will see the coin in hand just as I have seen many coins in hand anyway... When they arrive in my mailbox. This seems alot like the transition from film to digital photography. Nobody thought digital photographs could ever compare quality-wise to film. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
767 Posts |
Here's a coin. Does anyone really need to hold it? Touch it? Poke it? Smell it? Or whatever to get a better idea of what it is?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
Yeah, but you're missing out on a lot of fun and meeting people who have the same hobby. Coin shows are just plain fun.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1949 Posts |
Quote:
I've been collecting coins since 2014, and I was on a computer by the time I was in the 6th grade.
I don't see the big deal about seeing the coin "in hand". The sellers I buy from take excellent photographs, are completely honest, and very knowledgeable. I tend to be one of the younger guys at the coin shows I go to, and before I started going, I thought much the same, that I had a good eye for judging coins from photos online and that was good enough... Buying at shows has turned out to be one of the best experiences in numismatics for me. Yeah, you can ogle rare coins online and see just about anything you do a google image search for, but going to shows and getting to see them in person, far and away a better experience... Plus, if you get in good with a few dealers, you get to see the stuff they are holding onto! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2850 Posts |
Coin shows here are always over priced. I tend to buy online as well; It's easier and I get better deals. I do have a good relation with my LCS though. I think it is most beneficial to be in good with your LCS because they begin to know what you like and can look for things that you might need.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
767 Posts |
Quote:
Buying at shows has turned out to be one of the best experiences in numismatics for me. Yeah, you can ogle rare coins online and see just about anything you do a google image search for, but going to shows and getting to see them in person, far and away a better experience... Plus, if you get in good with a few dealers, you get to see the stuff they are holding onto! hmmm... Well, I just applied for membership at the coin club in my city. There are meetings twice a month. I'm waiting to hear back from them. Perhaps if I am accepted there, attending those meetings will get me out of my numismatic shell. |
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Replies: 54 / Views: 6,021 |
Posted 03/18/2015 5:04 pm
