| Author |
 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,400 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1219 Posts |
I see a lot of the collecters here mention dealers, coin shows, the Bay, how about antique shops. I don't mean the biggest guy on the block, but the small out of the way rural places. I've picked up some real nice coins at decent prices. Most of the small shops have bowls of cents, nickels, dimes, etc that you can pick thru. A lot of the sliver & gold coins are brought in by the local community not looking to make a fortune, just a few extra bucks. And this is the time the picking is at it's best. X-mas coming up.
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Not a bad idea, and a very lucrative one, as long as the owner doesn't have an inflated idea of the value of his stuff. I ran into that around here, but everything's expensive in New Jersey.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Hey... I did that in a old historical town a while back. The main street is all antique shops. I brought the girlfriend and her daughter to see it on a weekend where they had a festival going on. Horse drawn wagon rides, food, etc.etc.... I'd been there many times before because they had a Native American store there that was pretty neat and I love history.... so pretty cool there. Anyway, we arrive there and the first antique store we go in........ COINS ALL OVER THE PLACE ! Bowls of Indian Heads, huge wooden box of Buffalo nickles, massive binder folders of Morgans, Barbers (all kinds), Merc dimes MY JAW DROPPED ! 90% of the store had antiques, but the front counter section was a smorgesborg of coins ! My girlfriends 3 year old daughter worked her charm on this neat old guy and he let me "sift through" and pick out 50 Indian Heads and 150 Buffalo nickles for $100.00 bill..... He gave us a huge Mickey Mouse teddy bear for her..... he let her sit behind the counter on his lap as other customers came in and help make change as they bought things, let her have free candy..... SO I'm BRINGING HER NEXT TIME I GO THERE !! Ha Ha But yeah,........ he had real fair prices on most everything..... and he wants to sell in bulk ! Alas, just didn't have thousands of dollars with me at the time ! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
I think that's a good place to look so long as you're familiar with the coins, and don't expect the shop to have an expert opinion. I recall one shop who had a selection of cast "ancient Greek" coins who maintained they were real when questioned. But yeah--I keep my eyes open for a buy at those shops...I hope to find something someday!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
I have found that antique shops that do have coins tend to have them overpriced. I actually owned an antique shop several years ago and had a large case dedicated just to coins. That is how I found several of these forums doing research on coins and retail pricing.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
It's a good idea.... but most of them are over-priced like others had said. Pawn shop too..... they usually use the Red Book to price their coin and they overgraded the coins too.... I'm always on the look out for them though..... Any body in California Bay Area? Hope I don't have to compete with our forum members.... hehehe |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
Hey Bruce I visit San Fran regularly its a little out of the bay area but we also have an office in San Luis and a dock in Morrow bay....
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
Hi Richard,
May be we can meet up sometime.... I work in the Bay Area, but travel around California. Next time, when you visit CA, let me know.... If I save enough vacation times and money.... I may visit Houston.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
quote:
Any body in California Bay Area?
I currently live in the area (Marin) There's a lot of antique shops up here...I need to go rummaging! |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
I live in the Ca central valley and can vouch for some good deals in antique stores. Tokens and elongated cents also.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
Hi Kurt,
Marin county/city is not that far either. I drove by those area... one time, I drove into Mill Valley downtown in the early evening.... it seemed very cozy.
The good thing is my work allow me to travel to different places in California, but then I need to find my own time after work to visit those antique stores. So far, I had no luck with them....
Let see who will have their first find....
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Some antique shops, like others said above, do have coins but they tend to be overpriced. Like $5 for a roll of wheats, $5 for a common date worn Mercruy dime, $25 for common date VG Morgan, etc. Only once did I score at an antique shop. Guy had a few silver rounds with old prices on them before the silver climb and he honored the prices- I picked up 5 silver rounds last year for 10%below buillion (including tax). Of course, right after that, he went through all the rest of the coins he had and hiked the prices. Other than that my local antique shops aren't worth it for coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Hi Bruce,
MV is a cozy town, but you'll find most of the antique shops in San Anselmo (rent would be too high in MV). I need to still check, but I guess the place is picked over already by all the retiree collectors. I figure the best bet for real finds is a shop somewhere without a large collector base (urban center) nearby.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
That's probably true. I have to find out.... meaning I have to wake up early on the weekend now... :-(
|
|
Valued Member
United States
439 Posts |
The antique stores around here that have coins are really pricey and I haven't seen anything worth buying to tell you the truth. I looked through what they had several times and then talked to the owner about them. It turns out she is selling the coins for a local guy and she charges one third of whatever they sell for so even if this guy prices them fairly he's still screwed since she just jacks the prices up to cover her third.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2764 Posts |
No surprise, The shop only has some coin, nothing spectacular (you may be lucky if you can cherry pick, if you are good at it) no key mint/date coins.... and all are overpriced - for example, a proof set that's worth $15 (CDN price) was priced at $25 and willing to sell at $20. However, I bought a for half the price because the casing was cracked and a few white spotting on Kennedy half. |
| |
Replies: 17 / Views: 2,400 |
Posted 11/29/2007 11:32 am
