Pacific Northwest Coin Road Trip [27 coin shops] + Visiting Dansco's Offices [March 17 - 22th 2025]
AlbumNerd
Posts: 230 ✭✭✭✭
In early 2024, I went on a crazy four-state road trip and visited 23 coin shops. I wrote an article in CoinWeek about the oddities and interesting observations I noticed along the way. I'm doing it all over again, this time heading towards the Pacific Northwest. I will document my journey and the unique cultures of coin shops around the North and PNW on my Instagram.
As some here may know, I'm a huge Dansco album nerd. That's why I'm excited that on Friday, March 21st, I'll be visiting the Dansco Corporation's Headquarters in Sumas, Washington! The company's owners were kind enough to accept my request to visit and nerd out.
Along with documenting the different cultures of coin shops around the North/PNW, my top goal is to add rare & unique Dansco albums to my collection.
On The Agenda: 3 States, 13 Cities, 27 Coin Shops + A Visit to the Dansco Corporation
Montana
Billings
Bozeman
Butte
Missoula
Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
Post Falls
Washington State
Spokane
- Coin Corner
- A-1 Coin Co.
- Coins Plus, Inc
- Eastern Washington Coin Co.
- American Coin & Vault
- Red Line Coins
Everett
Seattle
Kirkland
Tacoma
Lakewood
Olympia
I can't promise I'll make it to all 27 coin shops, but I would like to invite the community to join me in any way they can.
- Are there any coin shops along my route that you think I should especially visit?
- What would you like me to keep an eye out for and report back?
- What questions would you like me to ask the owners of Dansco?
- Anything else you think I should consider?
It's shaping up to be one heck of a week-long road trip. Wish me luck.
Comments
Looking forward to your reports.
I call shotgun! Sounds like a fun trip, enjoy.
I can’t plan a vacation in one spot… that schedule is making me anxious. But I do look forward to hearing about the Seattle area shops on your list. Way more than I’ve been to in the… 16 years I’ve lived here 😬
Have you talked to anyone at Dansco? I am not sure there is a storefront. There also is a chance of Sumas flooded (have not checked weather lately)
Be wary of the weather when going through the pass when you get near Seattle. I think they are still getting snow.
An interesting undertaking. Are you looking for specific coinage or is this more like a fun/fact finding trip. Regardless enjoy the trip and I also will be following the travelouge.
I've talked with the owners, and they invited me on site. Even though they don't operate a public storefront, they were kind enough to offer a personal tour
The top goal is to find some rare and custom Dansco albums for my collection. I'll also be buying world coins by the poundage and inquiring if an AI coin sorter like my project could be helpful for their operations.
That sounds like so much fun!
Mr_Spud
Bellingham Coin shop!
Not far from Sumas…and RB is also on Whatnot as Topcoin
Odyssey 2 has a LOT of new old stock and used albums (been a minute since i was there) i actually bought 20 or so last time i was there…
Renton Coin Shop would be a good stop, imo
There are others in the area too... @Swampboy @SeattleSlammer @Lakesammman and others would know....
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I can't say it'd be worth your time to be heading into any shops in Seattle with the exception of Seattle Coin Shop.
I'll second @Bochiman's mention of Renton Coin Shop. Great guy to deal with. That'd be a must stop in this neck of the woods.
Hop on I-5 and drive down the Seattle Coin Shop just north of the University. Jesse is the new owner there.
Jump on the 520 Floating Bridge and hit Redmond Rare Coins, easy on easy off I-405.
Just across 405 four minutes away is Bel-Kirk Stamp Coin and Comics.
Then hit the Renton shop on your way to Tacoma.
My best advice.
Have fun
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
In case you don't have an annoying passenger with you, let me get you started... ARE YOU THERE YET????!!!!
Is this being sponsored by National Lampoon? Is your real name Clark Griswold?
You can tell us… just find an excuse not to pick up Aunt Edna.
Seriously… have a fun trip.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I would agree that Steve (owner) is a great guy to deal with and I would also recommend talking with him. One note though is that he has basically shut down his showroom so if you do go see him then don't plan on browsing. He will be more than happy to show you what you are looking for.
There is a metal detector shop next door if you are in to that.
Don't miss the office dealers!!!
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
Should be fun! I’d add Bellevue Rare Coins to your list. They have several stores, including one in Bellevue.
Good luck!
Dave
Update!
Day 1: 8-hour drive to Billings, MT. No coin shops today
After I made my post, a few people reached out and convinced me to spend a few hours at Grunberg Schloss Collectors Cabinet in Ponderay, ID. They also recommended I focus on certain Spokane shops with more coin albums to browse through. With the detour to Ponderay and changing the schedule, I've removed these coin shops on my road trip list.
Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
Post Falls
Washington State
Spokane
Added
Idaho
Ponderay
I also agree that Steve at Renton Coin Shop is an excellent, experienced dealer. He is an excellent grader and pays good prices when buying. He has channels he sells into, including ebay. He doesn't hold much in the shop. He has a couple of assistants that are at the front desk and buzz people in. He is mostly doing buying by appointment.
I don't think he will have any Danscos for you. And I'm pretty sure he will not want a machine that sorts wheat cents. For that your clients should be something more like die hard roll searchers - collectors. Steve's time is much too valuable for that.
Are there any coin shows in the the area while you're there?
None that I could find
Safe travels
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I wanna see the floorboards of your vehicle at the end of your grand tour. 🍔🌮🍩🍟🍫 Safe trip! Peace Roy
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Day 2 Update: Three cities, 344 miles, & five coin shops
The first significant day of my coin-collecting trip was a success! I added the following items to my inventory for about $600. My car is getting quite full, so I may need to visit the post office soon 😅. Below are my thoughts on the various coin shops I visited.
Today’s Haul
I could not resist buying a large set of 36 Mehrig albums for just $100 in total. The dealer who sold them to me acquired them from an older dealer who purchased the albums in the 1950s. I don't know much about Mehrig albums; however, David Lange researched them extensively for his coin album research books. Although I had promised myself I wouldn't add albums from other manufacturers to my collection, this was too good to pass up. Now I will need to buy another bookshelf, lol.
Montana
Billings
Montana Bullion & Coin
Grizzly Gold and Silver
Ardie's Coins
Bozeman
Penny Ranch
Williams Gallery
Butte
JS Coins
I enjoyed meeting all my chats with shop owners and seeing how they market their coin shops. Here’s to tomorrow!
Looks like you were in town yesterday.
This looks like the trip of a lifetime. Can't wait for the movie to come out. Might be just the thing to get me to go back to a theater. James
I think I've sold a bunch of albums to Mark Gruner (Grunberg Schloss). I'll wave as you pass Bellingham on the way to Sumas. So you're not going to cross the border there and check out shops in Vancouver, BC?
Good luck on your trip!
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
I don't have the time to visit Vancouver sadly. But I'm heading to Grunberh Schloss right now!
I lived across the highway from Tacoma Mall coin. She really made a go of it. I lived there 1990’s bet she’s looking a bit older now. Her dad started the shop in Tacoma Mall but she said the rent got too high so they moved to that nearby strip mall and she’s been there ever since. She paid me $400 for my “free” 1995-W ASE. I left there thinking Boy is she a sucker.
Great trip and guide. Thanks for sharing. Good luck and keep safe.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
How's Dale Williams doing in Bozeman these days?
He wasn't in the shop that day sadly
Thanks for your response.
Agree with Bochiman and SwampBoy - Like Jesse at Seattle Coin Shop north of the UW.
Have also stopped recently at Skagit Coins in Burlington to buy/sell - nice people.
Sounds like a fun trip - be safe!
Day 3 Update: Four Cities, 258 Miles, Six Coin Ships, and A Pleasant Surprise
Today's Haul
Montana
Missoula
For a population of 77k, I was surprised that Missoula had four coin shops within 10 minutes of each other.
Treasure Coins
Was closed even though I visited during open business hours
Missoula Gold & Silver
Don’t let the name fool you, this place offers more than bullion. I found a wide selection of US and world coins, medals, and tokens. The world coins are organized by country, and I was able to pick out a bunch to add to my foreign Dansco albums. All the rare coin albums are listed on eBay, but I was able to purchase world coins at a great price.
Grizzly Gold and Silver
The store primarily focused on bullion and Morgan dollars, with only a tiny selection of coin albums and no world coins I could find. They had large bins filled with loose Buffalo Nickels and Indian Head Pennies, which could be a good way to keep children entertained while conducting business. Interestingly enough, they were giving away free miniature American flags on sticks. The store was right across the street from Missoula Gold & Silver Exchange.
Jem Shoppe Jewelers & Rare Coins
This place was more of a jewelry store than a coin shop, although they showcased a limited selection of coins, including Morgan Dollars and contemporary proof sets. There were no coin albums for sale.
Ponderay
Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet
Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet in Ponderay, ID, with a population of less than 2,000, became my favorite stop of day 3. Mark Gruner runs the shop and spent an hour talking with me about all things coin albums. He has a wealth of knowledge on coin albums and knew the owners of manufacturers such as Mehrig and Harco. He even let me go into the back room and see his personal numismatic library with 1000+ books and references.
There was an incredible assortment of coin-collecting supplies, including a massive wall of Whitman folders and Dansco albums/pages. Mark was in the process of bringing out inventory, so there were even more supplies in the back. They're not just a coin shop but a collectibles shop in every sense. I saw guns, ammo, jewelry, gardening supplies, and other knickknacks. They also had a vast collection of US coins and some world silver coins. I was able to stock up on some Dansco inventory at great prices.
Mark was kind enough to let me record a short video about him and his shop.
If you’re in the Ponderay, Spokane, or Coeur d'Alene area, I highly recommend checking this place out. It’s the definition of a hidden gem tucked away in a small town.
Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
DJ's Coins & Collectibles
Forgot to take a photo
The owner, David, pulled out various foreign Dansco albums and a massive selection of Library of Coins albums. I wasn't thrilled that he pulled up eBay sold listings to price the albums at retail prices. I understand they weren’t priced out yet, but I'm always put off when shops pull up eBay in front of me. It gives off a vibe of "How much money can I extract from you." I'm a dealer, so I get it, but it's not a great feeling. I know the Dansco market well enough to know if the albums are ones I could already buy on eBay right now.
Luckily, the rare albums he showed me aren't often available on eBay. I was thrilled to get a custom Dansco Silver Chinese Pandas album; it's the first custom album I've found on this road trip.
Edit: After thinking about it more, I realized it wasn't fair to point out David pulling out Ebay to find comparable prices. It's typical for dealers to do this. I'm striking out this part.
A Nice Surprise
After my initial post about my road trip, I received private messages from a few collectors with insights about their local coin markets. They advised me which coin shops to visit or avoid, including convincing me to take a detour to Grunbergs.
Today, I had the surreal experience of meeting two community members. It's one thing to talk with members online but another to meet them in person. I won't share their names to respect their privacy, but our meeting was memorable. One was a rare coin dealer who shared insights into his multi-million dollar business; the other was a vintage Whitman album collector who shared my passion for tracking rare albums.
Day 4 will be spent mainly in Spokane, with a quick stop in Seattle before heading to Sumas, WA, to visit Dansco's offices. A reminder to post any questions you'd like me to ask the owners of Dansco!
Day 4 stops
Spokane, WA
Eastern Washington
Red Line Coins
Everette, WA
Odyssey-2
Great thread, thanks for the updates.
Very cool write up!
David Floyd (DJ's in Coeur d'Alene, ID) is a good guy! Looking up sold prices on eBay is just trying to see comp figures for similar or like items. (Don't you do the same thing?)
Be thankful he doesn't want MORE than actual selling prices
He's a good guy. He took the time to pull out albums from that backroom. I got albums that i wanted, and it makes sense he need to price out the albums.
My point about pulling up ebay is not on him and more of an observation on how i feel about this aspect of buying in coin shops.
Keep the updates coming.
I had wanted to do such a road trip, especially hitting the more local, small shops that never do shows or online sales, looking for fresh material. Always was a matter of no time. Now, it seems everything is online, mostly eBay, since everyone is connected. Still, it would be fun. If a bust? Saw more of the country and it will have been a business write off.
I do wish during that coin shop video the OP had instead of panning rapidly over the shelves filled with the albums he had slowed it all down so we could see what that shop owner collected.
Good feedback!! I'll make sure to do that next time so collector can see what's in stock
Day 4 Update: One City [Spokane, WA], 384 Miles, Four Coin Shops
After a seven-hour drive, I'm now in Sumas, Washington, to rest before visiting the Dansco offices tomorrow. Today was my most successful trip day so far; I found a rare Republic of Austria Continental Line album at a great price and a custom Dansco (Miscellaneous Silver Coins) for my collection.
Today's Haul
2 x Dansco Albums
4 x Vintage Whitman Bookshelf Albums
2 x Library of coins albums
4 x Vintage Whitman Folders
3 x Dansco Pages
Washington State
Spokane
Eastern Washington Coin Co.
This quaint shop, tucked away in a plaza, displayed mainly US coins. I didn't see any world coins. The owner, John, was friendly, and I got the sense that he was an honest dealer from listening to him chat with other customers. I spoke with him briefly while trying to find some oddball albums.
Coins Plus, Inc
When I arrived at noon on a Thursday, this modern-looking store was crowded; 11 customers were waiting on two busy employees. I had to wait 20 minutes to check out, but I was surprised by what I found: an entire wall covered with Dansco and Vintage Whitman Bookshelf albums and folders. There were over 50 vintage Whitman bookshelf albums, hundreds of Whitman folders, and a shelf full of Danscos. I even found a custom Dansco album!
All the customers were older, and I got the impression that the shop acquires many full albums from older collectors selling their coins. Since not many customers come in to buy albums, the shop has accumulated a ton of albums and folders. This place is a must-stop for coin album collectors.
A-1 Coin Co.
Best shop I visited today. I had excellent service and had a crazy rare Dansco continental line album just sitting there on a shelf. Graham & Ryan run this incredibly friendly shop. Local collectors told me these guys have the best world coins in Spokane, and I could see why. They display a vast selection of world coins and have many more in the back room.
I was excited when I saw they had a red Austria Continental Line album on a bookshelf for $29. Graham heard I was moving to Portland, so he took his time to look up local coin shows and recommended which ones to attend. They don't have a web presence and have only tabled at one show in the last few years. This was indeed a local experience.
Red Line Coins
I was short on time and only had 10 minutes to check out this shop. The owner seemed friendly, and I noticed a lot of vintage Whitman bookshelf albums behind the counter. A local collector recommended this shop, not for its selection of coins but because the owner is approachable and shares his immense knowledge of coins with newer collectors.
Everett
Odyssey-2
I ran out of time to visit this shop, but I will check it out tomorrow.
Really cool stuff so far! My knowledge of local shops has been mostly limited to who sets up at shows in the area, and so far you've posted numerous names I don't recognize. Maybe there are some store visits for me in the offing thanks to this thread!
I wouldn't be living up to my username if I didn't suggest that when you swing by Everett, consider a slight detour off of I-5 at WA-526 (exit 189) to see the largest building in the world (by volume), which happens to be the birthplace of my icon.
And sorry in advance for any I-5 traffic you'll be stuck in. Better you than me. I've served my time this week...
Day 5 Update: Three Cities, 151 Miles, 4 Coin Shops, and a visit to Dansco
This was one of the best days in my numismatic career. Today, I had the privilege of visiting the Dansco Headquarters in Sumas, Washington, and it was everything I was hoping for. I'll write a more detailed write-up when I finish my coin road trip, but I wanted to share some quick highlights from my visit.
Leticia and Steve Bruce were kind enough to welcome me into their office. Even though it was their son's birthday and they were pressed for time, they gave me a full tour of their operations. I saw the entire production process up close. I saw how pages were made, employees putting albums together, gold foils applied to binders, and so much more.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't nerd out. Their office is located in an old grocery store. Former grocery lanes were converted into working tables for employees. The aisles and shelves held THOUSANDS of pages and albums ready for print and production.
Dansco truly is a family-run operation. It has been under the same family control since its founding in 1937. I discovered that the Bruce family founded the company from the very beginning.
There were custom albums hidden everywhere that I could purchase for my collection. One of their sons brought out an old ledger book from the 1960s, and I found a few entries from Ervin J. Felix, the creator of the Continental Line series and precursor of the Supreme Albums!
The family highly values their privacy, so out of respect, I will run the photos I took by them first to see what they are comfortable with sharing. But they said I could share this vintage photo of Paul Bruce [Founder of Dansco] and his early employees from the 1940s.
It was an incredible experience talking with Leticia & Steve and getting to ask many of my questions and questions from the community. I think they were caught off guard at how much I've researched into their company and my extensive collection, lol
They offered to welcome me back in the future to ask more questions. After I get situated in Portland, I'll write a more detailed write-up.
After Dansco, I headed to the Seattle area and dropped by a few coin shops. Below are today's haul and impressions of the four coin shops I visited.
Today's Haul
Spend: A lot
Washington State
Everett
Odyssey-2
Friendly coin shop with knowledgeable staff, including the owner, who provided a valuable book recommendation. Large selection of coin albums, folders, and other collectibles, including a massive display of Whitman bookshelves and vintage blue folders. The store is an interesting hodgepodge of military surplus, guns, ammo, and vintage clothing. It definitely has a collectibles-for-collectors vibe. The owner suggested visiting another coin shop, Coin Market, located down the road.
Lynwood
Coin Market
A quaint shop tucked away in a plaza. I was greeted by a colossal pug staring me down at the door. It felt like he was daring me, lol. Thankfully, he was very friendly and kept following me around the shop. Typical coin shop with a variety of US coins on display. The staff was friendly, and when I said I was an album collector, they took the time to go through their inventory. They didn’t have a large album selection, but I did manage to snag a Dansco #7070 US Type Gold Page for $8!
Seattle
Coin & Stamp Shop
Did not have time to go into Seattle proper, so had to skip
Kirkland
Bel-Kirk Stamps, Coins, & Comics
A family-owned business with a focus on stamps and comics rather than coins. They have a great vintage stamp collection, and I was able to buy two vintage Scott Publications stamp albums. For some reason, a kid was climbing on top of some shelves lol.
I've noticed that some stamp albums feature both the Scott Publications and Dansco names, which makes me wonder if there's a relationship between these two companies. I have a hunch that Scott Publications played a role in creating the Dansco Corporation.
Redmond Rare Coins
This coin shop focuses on bullion and doesn't have an ample supply of coin accessories. They mostly have Morgan and other silver dollars on display. I got to chat with the shop owner, Santo, for a bit. He shared some insights on the inner workings of the bullion market. I wasn’t aware that bullion dealers were working with margins as low as 1%. Given how much bullion can move in a day, it seems highly risky. He also mentioned that they receive many coin albums from collectors, but most are discarded due to mold caused by humidity. When I gave him my business card, he mentioned seeing me in a YouTube interview. That was a pleasant but also shocking surprise.
Tomorrow is my last day on this whirlwind coin road trip. Once things settle down after my move, I'll do an extensive write up and share some reflections with the community.
This is a very enjoyable read. Glad you have added to your collection. Do you have any, or collect them, error type holders? Misprints and the like.
Do the Dansco people know what their stuff has been selling for on Ebay? like the gold type page going for over $100?
This is going to sound facetious but i am not joking. There should be a fund started so this guy could do tours of other parts of the Country. Who knew? Best thread on the site and it isn't about Seated coins. James
Superb post and followup. Bravo!!!!!
Drunner