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 Replies: 27 / Views: 3,954 |
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Valued Member
United States
366 Posts |
I just moved to Western MA and found that there are tons of antique stores around. A lot of them are small family-run businesses and are not listed in the phone directory. Are there good things to be found in those shops? I'll probably check a few more of the major ones, but all they seem to have are old vases and cooking utensils. Thanks for any suggestions!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Tuff question. Everywhere you go and every similar type of store is different. In my area, as far as my attempts to go to those, all are excessively overpriced, garbage stuff, nothing you would want in your house. There are a few Antique shows in this area also that are so overpriced any one with any knowledge of antiques would either bust out laughing or crying. Many of such stores in my area don't last long either. Many are glorified Pawn shops that buy and sell just stuff. I've tried some in other states and although the merchadise differs, still nothing I'd brag about.
Of course you may find some or lots of them are really worth your time and money pending your location. Nothing to loose by walking in and looking around.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
I was in a antique store today and left with mixed feelings, you'll see why. In one case there was 4 whitman albums, a 1909-1940 approximately 20 cents all common and worn, price was $15. The 2nd was whitman cents 1940- ?, it was full and had just average cents in it, price was $34. The 3rd was Mercury dimes, 22 total in AG-G condition, price was $22. The 4th was Wash. Qtrs, 15 in all and in AG-G condition, price was $26. Now you see what I mean about mixed feelings. $34 for $5-$6 worth of cents, and silver way under spot. I wasn't driving and had left my wallet home by accident and my friend won't buy anything w/o a RedBook present and he does want them. He has to learn to trust people. |
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
Who needs a RedBook to buy silver at 10xface? that should be a no brainer. |
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
651 Posts |
Always check them when you can. You may never know what you might find there.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
Agreed, most of the time overpriced, but once in a while you find a gem.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19944 Posts |
Silver at 10x face? You should be ALL over that! My dealer is paying 14x today....easy flip!
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Valued Member
United States
140 Posts |
I agree with the others 10X face for silver, where do I get in on this, LOL. Only antique shops around here that have coins are crazy on the prices. Last time I was in one most coins were marked at anywhere from 2-4 X RedBook price. I just walked away laughing. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
Antique shops are like boxes of chocolates...You never know what you are going to get. I go into all of them. This week nothin...next week...SHAZAM. Keep going into the regularly and sooner or later, the owner says hey, you collect these and then...     I especially like the co-op's, as they change on a regular basis, and some of the dealers are just dumping their stuff that they don't know much about. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
I would really check them out if you are in Mass. You may run across a great deal. I have looked at what the few that are in my area have to offer and find them to be way over priced here in eastern N.C. I have been to estate auctions that had coins to be sold and they would sell for a premium over Red Book. I would then later see the same guys who bid these up selling them in their booths at the antique mall trying to make a profit. For example, 1000 common date wheat cents for $200, note on the jar they were in stating that no penny in the jar was worth less than $0.20.  You could look and see that they were all 40's and 50's with two or three 30's showing. Another example is thirteen 1921 Peace dollars that sold at an auction that I was at for $22+10% BP and wound up for sale in a booth for $35 each. On the flip side I have scored a few nice mint and proof sets, some pre 1965, in the $5 to $6 dollar range. They do not tend to sell well around here for some reason. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1659 Posts |
I love checking antique shops and pawn shops. I don't go out of my way to do it, but rather when I have a little time to kill and I'm in town anyway. Every once in a while I find a gem (and not just with coins). Most of the time though, their stuff is priced more than I'm willing to pay. Sometimes prices are negotiable though and it never hurts to ask. I was visiting San Diego last year and of course checked out the local shops. In one pawn shop, I found common circulated Franklin halves for $15 each (30X face). I offered spot for them and they turned it down. Their response was that they could sell them for spot at anytime. Needless to say, I walked out with the same amount of money in my pocket as what I walked in with. |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
I once found a 1909-S LWC in a bowl of 25C wheats so, yes. swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
Depends on the shop. There's a local shop near me that has tons of coins, but the store owner is kinda strange when it comes to coins. He thinks that high grade coins are so much more valuable then circulated coins. That is sometimes true but he charges about 20x face for high grade 1964 JFK's and common 1964 dimes and quarters in MS, yet for well worn quarters and dimes, he charges only around 10x, and one day I was able to buy a bunch of silver off him for about 6x face, which included a bunch of dateless SLQ's since they were really worn. I've often thought of telling him the true values of his coins, but I'm afraid he might get annoyed as I am in middle school...lol. I've bought several hundred dollars worth of coins from him, and usually fairly good deals.
Edited by wheatguy
09/04/2010 6:41 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
doesn't middle school just suck? lol
but yes, I agree with most comments, I would definitely want to check in of the antique stores...
just make sure not to buy any overpriced stuff as wheatguy said, if its in a higher grade, it will likely be priced a bit higher than its worth.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
Quote:
doesn't middle school just suck? lol Not to me, if there wasn't any studying or homework involved school would be the best place ever, weird as that sounds.  |
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Replies: 27 / Views: 3,954 |
Posted 09/03/2010 6:07 pm
