Best Place To Buy Coins

I really like coin shows, since you get to see a lot of different coins that you might not have seen otherwise. That and the fact that dealers discount prices more at major shows.

I look at 2500 different coins a week, all of them square in the center of my collecting preferences. Without leaving my house.

Some of them are being sold by frauds. Others are being sold by people who have no idea what they're selling. If you know the difference, you are a wolf amongst sheep.

For me it's garage/yard and estate sales. I've found my best coins there. Most local shops/dealers are to expensive since they must make enought to cover all expenses. Coin shows are all around but are just to professional and the dealers all stick together with their dumb grey sheet for prices. We have at least 3 shows a month within 12 miles of my house each Month. Then there are the simi and annual big shows around here also. They are educational and fun to just go and look but usually out of my price range. The internet is just to full of scam and con artist and crooks for me. At garage/yard and estate sales and also flea markets I hate ot say it but most people that sell coins just don't know what they have and I've acquired some fantastic coins for a really low price. For example at one flea market I purchased a 3 ring binder full of nickels for $180. There were 128 Buffalo nickels in at least AU and I forgot how many Liberty Head Nickels in at least VG or better. About one page of Jefferson Proofs also. I did mess up though because the same guy also had a similar book of Cents but I ran out of money.

I voted for Coin Show just because of the variety of coins available from a large selection of dealers, but a Coin Shop is just as good.

I have bought most of my coins from ebay. A couple from mints. The PowewrSellers with years of feedback make ebay what it is. With USPS Registered Mail I feel comfortable shipping anything valuable.

I feel if you can regularly visit with 1 or 2 Dealers, as opposed to going into their shops only once or twice a year and show them your interest in the hobby, they will be more willing to treat you fairly and possibly cut you a deal.

Tough question to answer, and a good one too. The best place to buy coins from is really a combination of all of the above. You pay more from a dealer, but have the advantage of establishing a relationship and sometimes getting first shot at new pieces.
Coin shows are cool, but the pieces you want aren't always there and if you can't be there on the first day, it seems all the really neat stuff is already gone or marked up. Gotta pay on the spot, too.
The internet is a great way to find a lot of stuff, but it's also caveat emptor.........especially ebay these days. Still, neat stuff can be found.
Isn't that one of the best part of coin collecting..........the hunt for the next piece?

There are not enough coin shows to allow you to purchase all you want.

I use ebay, Delcampe & coin shops. Once I know the ebay seller I often ask if they have certain coins or if they are able to get them.