Local Coin Store

Here in NorthEast Missouri we only have one coin store 17 miles away. Nice enough guy but he knows he has no competition so everything is over priced. He's 80 years old and has been running the store for 60 years when he took it over from his parents. I bet a lot of the old coins in the store were bought new from the bank. It is a place to go though. He does keep a lot of modern coins to fill in the blanks. Nothing like the junk silver bowls I here others talk about. It's a small place, but I'm glad to have at least one good store.

We have several coin shops here in the Los Angeles area. The only problem is, they are pretty far apart.
I live in Alhambra, a suburb of LA, and have been going to Alhambra Coin Center for years. They are fair but are always busy so it's rare to get that "one on one" time.
There used to be a very friendly gentleman named Don that owned "The Coin Depot". He moved many years ago and is pretty far for me to drive. He had one of those tiny shops with a bid board where you can just sit with him for hours and talk coins. Ahhhh....the memories. I bought my first coin there at age 12 and got my first bike stolen outside of his store! He is responsible for getting me involved in this wonderful hobby and I won't ever forget it ;-)

Actually the INTERNET has been the death of the local coin shop. I used to love to go and see this nice old guy in Denbiegh, Newport News, VA. He had a wealth of information and would talk your ear off if there wasn't another customer in the shop trying to "Deal". I really miss the old guy; passed away just before my wife did. I have two choices now in a 50 mile areaof SE Virginia; one in Hampton and one in Williamsburg.

I've been tempted to start one up but I know I'd give away the store. I'm a collector and lack the drive to be a dealer. I'd buy everything coming in and never sell anything. Probably wouldn't stay in business long. But then if I could afford the rent, who would care?

San Antonio has several shops, and I'm amazed how different they are. I've talked about a few of them here before.

There's the shop that sounds like yours that isn't always open during his posted hours. It's like a cave in there. Never bought there. Sold a few things. His offers prices were pretty low. ($9 x face for junk silver just a few months ago!)

There's the guy we call the "Coin Nazi." He has a pretty nice inventory. I've bought a few modern things, and he prices according to greysheet. But if he gets tired of you he shouts and throws you out. I haven't gotten the full brunt of that (because I can take a hint and I scoot when he starts getting snippy) but I've heard from people who have.

There's the guy downtown right on the RiverWalk. I've never been in there because parking is too difficult and I know it's such a high-rent district that I can't imagine finding any deals there.

Then there's my favorite shop. It's a bit of a drive, but the guys are very very personable. They have a terrific inventory in a bright, easy to navigate shop. They deal a lot of bullion but also have plenty of collectible coins and currency. Their modern stock is very good as well (bins of State Quarters, binders of modern circulating coins, etc.) They're always friendly and there's usually a steady stream of diverse customers (kids, adults, bullion investors, dealers, jewelry sellers).

It would probably be worth a trip from Austin sometime, they are near 281 and 1604 so it's the side of town closer to you.

Hey guys, don't forget the coin shows in San Antonio, 4 times a year. One of them is coming up on the 28th of August. This August show is a large show.

Waredu: Lone Star Coins on San Pedro (you can google them)

And yes, the coin shows here are quality

Hey Thad, that Rolex would look good on you LOL
One of my local coin shop guys showed me an antique music box from the 1860's they purchased at an estate sale. It was the size of a small piano. He wound it up and played it for me. Wow! It had about 500 of those little pins that played.

I love Riverview coins in Moline, IL. That is where I do a lot of my business and I highly recommend them...Brad and Al are great people. They may take a while to warm up to you if you are a new customer but they gladly answer any questions you have and will help you with anything if there is something in particular you are looking for. Brad knows I collect nice old silver coinage and Kennedy halves so he always shows me his high end halves when he get's one in and I appreciate him very much for that. I've spent a lot of money in that shop over the last ten years or so. And I am not affiliated with them in any way but if you are in Eastern Iowa or Northwest IL I highly advise you look them up!!