Local Coin Shops, Coin Shows, Auctions, Etc

There is one LCS in my area that also buys and sells jewelry. I find their prices are high and selection is limited. But I buy some supplies like plastic pages. I also buy large copper pennies and foreign coins from their junk bin. ebay and other auction sites are my go to place for inexpensive coins.

I live in the sticks, but Tucson is only an hour's drive. There're several excellent coin shops there, of which I mainly patronize two with national reputations. I get all kinds of coins from both, including ancients, plus some non-numismatic things like watches, sterling spoons, and so forth. One big advantage to shopping locally is that in Arizona, there's no sale s tax on coins, currency, and bullion. Another benefit is on account of the personal relationships hence developed, I get to cherrypick a lot of material they purchase.

The coin club puts on a show twice a year. There used to be some other shows as well, but they've gone away at this point. I always attend, and on occasion have scored some great items for next to nothing.

For ancients, I've used Vcoins vendors with a high degree of satisfaction. But I've slowly transitioned to counting on the aforementioned shops as my main source for such.

I find ebay to be excellent for supplies like Airtites and currency sleeves, but I haven't utilized ebay for coins per se (other than elongateds} for several years now.

Swap meets and flea markets have been for me pretty much of a wasteland for coins and currency. Lots of fakes with much of the genuine material being ridiculously overpriced, mostly on account of sellers at such venues often having a complete disregard for condition.

Yard and estate sales on the other hand can be treasure troves, but in most instances you'll have to ask. Often what's then brought out and put in front of you will turn out to be so much trash, but occasionally some pretty amazing things sqirreled away over the years will be offered up, often on the cheap.