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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,412 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
616 Posts |
Visited my local LCS today and met my ancients guy. He gave me the sad news that he had liquidated all of his ancients except for a few pieces that had sentimental value to him. Over the years I've bought a few pieces from him including 2 of my 12 Caesars.
He explained that aside from me there were only two or three local collectors.
More worrisome, he said that the business for American stuff was falling off. Prices were down on everything except for the very high end stuff. There just wasn't that much demand.
He said the collecting hobbies are full of OWG - old white guys - and there aren't many young people interested in paying $100 for a piece of history anymore. They'd rather spend it on a nice dinner, movie or video game.
His shop does bullion, guns and jewelry so I'll probably stop in to visit to chat, but I was sad to hear this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
You were lucky; I've never had a LCS that stocked anything but overpriced US stuff, bullion, and overpriced world junk.
Still sad news to lose even that one venue :(
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Pillar of the Community
United States
797 Posts |
Its really tough to find a shop with ancients, let alone one who has them for reasonable prices.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The bread and butter of most LCS's is modern NCLT mint product. A problem for me also; my first numismatic love is ancients as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Quote:
there aren't many young people interested in paying $100 for a piece of history anymore. They'd rather spend it on a nice dinner, movie or video game. Unfortunately, it's very true. I don't really know any young collectors outside of CCF. I am, however, optimistic- there's a freshman at my school who's expressed an interest, and I've given him a bit of guidance and told him about CCF. It's unfortunate what's happening to your LCS. I can't say I've had a similar experience, since there were never any near me to begin with. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
The shops I patronize (in a large city an hour's drive away) both do a great deal of buying, and even though ancients are neither's specialty, they don't eschew them, either. The fortunate result of their openmindedness that they regularly have essentially unsearched material for me to go through. I'd hate it if that changed, but the reality is that really a lot of shops nowadays in this country pretty much care to do only bullion & U.S. coinage. It's where the money is, and doesn't require arcane knowledge nor much time spent in educating the customer.
Colligo ergo sum
Edited by Lucky Cuss
04/26/2018 09:13 am
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
It's too bad about your LCS. My guy retired awhile back,I started going to his place in the late 1970's. Fortunately,I still have my 2nd and 3rd favorite shops to go to. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
My LCS occasionally has ancients, but knows little about them. He will over and under price some coins which I guess is good and bad. He also said I'm one of only 2 buyers for ancients. Sad but true.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
The small local dealer is a victim to changing times. There are still plenty of collectors but it's the market place that has changed dramatically.
I have mentioned how when I began the journey into collecting that there simply was no reliable source nearby and I depended on making the hour drive into Boston for a 'Big' Coin Show. Six months savings gone in a single afternoon twice a year !
There were shops in Boston to go to but the shows gave me hours to search through boxes and boxes and boxes of ancients.
Today I sit at home and do the same thing.
No driving
No parking
No tolls to pay
And I get the same near limitless supply of things to peruse.
It's the Walmartization of the retail coin market.
But I still find great deals if I am willing to spend the hours admiring inventories.
Anytime I get the urge
Beats watching reruns of the "Office"
But I do both actually !
So I won't complain too much
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,412 |
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Posted 04/25/2018 11:22 pm
