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Coin Adventures in Madrid
MrEureka
Posts: 23,949 ✭✭✭✭✭
I just returned from my latest coin adventure: Madrid!
For those who have not been there, definitely put it on "The List". Madrid has a vibrant coin scene, including at least a dozen coin shops and a few auction houses. The most important stop on the trip is Plaza Mayor, a commercial site with a huge outdoor center courtyard. There are about ten coin and stamp shops located at Plaza Mayor, plus a few more within a two minute walk. Some restaurants and bars as well. Best of all, there's a coin show every Sunday in the courtyard. Some of the stores open on Sunday, so coin show attendees can also visit the shops. It's really a fun scene.
My best "scores" - all rare Spanish proofs and patterns - came from the Cayon auction. Cayon is one of the big names in Spanish numismatics, and they are a pleasure to deal with. Interestingly, the auction also contained a run of US commems, mostly of miserable quality. I couldn't buy a single one of them. The nicest quality coin was a bright white 65+ Texas. Amazingly, it brought over $300!
I was also lucky enough to find myself staying at a hotel right next door to the Casa de la Moneda coin museum. It's by far the largest coin museum I've ever visited. They have some wild things, of course. Most notable was the array of original dies. In the hour and a half I was there, I didn't see another visitor. Sad. Then again, I was there mid week. It must be busier on the weekend.
Anyway, that's it for now. Let me know when you're ready to go. I can PM you some restaurant tips!
For those who have not been there, definitely put it on "The List". Madrid has a vibrant coin scene, including at least a dozen coin shops and a few auction houses. The most important stop on the trip is Plaza Mayor, a commercial site with a huge outdoor center courtyard. There are about ten coin and stamp shops located at Plaza Mayor, plus a few more within a two minute walk. Some restaurants and bars as well. Best of all, there's a coin show every Sunday in the courtyard. Some of the stores open on Sunday, so coin show attendees can also visit the shops. It's really a fun scene.
My best "scores" - all rare Spanish proofs and patterns - came from the Cayon auction. Cayon is one of the big names in Spanish numismatics, and they are a pleasure to deal with. Interestingly, the auction also contained a run of US commems, mostly of miserable quality. I couldn't buy a single one of them. The nicest quality coin was a bright white 65+ Texas. Amazingly, it brought over $300!
I was also lucky enough to find myself staying at a hotel right next door to the Casa de la Moneda coin museum. It's by far the largest coin museum I've ever visited. They have some wild things, of course. Most notable was the array of original dies. In the hour and a half I was there, I didn't see another visitor. Sad. Then again, I was there mid week. It must be busier on the weekend.
Anyway, that's it for now. Let me know when you're ready to go. I can PM you some restaurant tips!
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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Spanish and see the beautiful countryside, and of course the coins shops
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
Barcelona also has about 40 coin shops. I spent there one day this spring, managed to visit 14 coin shops (1/3 of the total), out of which 10 were open. I made some purchases in 3 of them. Some very good pieces, too.
BTW hello everyone, I'm back from my trip to Italy. I hope everything's fine with you all
I'll resume my weekly coins soon.
1-Dammit Boy Oct 14,2003
International Coins
"A work in progress"
Wayne
eBay registered name:
Hard_ Search (buyer/bidder, a small time seller)
e-mail: wayne.whatley@gmail.com