What's your local store carry?
spoon
Posts: 2,798 ✭✭✭
As many of you already know I'm in Germany. I'll probably be heading back in few months so I'm interested in this question. Also, I ask because I notice a lot of our recent converts seem to be starting out with similar things: world bullion, Mexican or Canadian, etc.
So, what kind of selection does your local store have when it comes to the dark monies? This shouldn't be limited to those in the US, I'd be interested in others' replies as well. And I'm really only looking for info on stores, not shows or the web. (I'm sure this has been done before, but if so it's been a while
)
To start out with myself:
I'm in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemburg (the southeast). There are about 4-5 stores downtown. I only bother with one. It is only German stuff, stopping at Weimar.. well ancients too but I'm ignorant on that count. Nice old guy, decent inventory. Grades and prices fairly, if not they'll negotiate. No junkbox (fleamarkets for those. here a junkbox gives a bad reputation I guess). I still haven't seen a slab in person. All in all, it's quite nice.. though I would love to have more countries than one.
The others in town are about the quality of a back water pawn shop and one is the total opposite with mostly high-end items that are overpriced even in German terms. So for me it's either buy German coins or buy somewhere else
So, what kind of selection does your local store have when it comes to the dark monies? This shouldn't be limited to those in the US, I'd be interested in others' replies as well. And I'm really only looking for info on stores, not shows or the web. (I'm sure this has been done before, but if so it's been a while
)To start out with myself:
I'm in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemburg (the southeast). There are about 4-5 stores downtown. I only bother with one. It is only German stuff, stopping at Weimar.. well ancients too but I'm ignorant on that count. Nice old guy, decent inventory. Grades and prices fairly, if not they'll negotiate. No junkbox (fleamarkets for those. here a junkbox gives a bad reputation I guess). I still haven't seen a slab in person. All in all, it's quite nice.. though I would love to have more countries than one.
The others in town are about the quality of a back water pawn shop and one is the total opposite with mostly high-end items that are overpriced even in German terms. So for me it's either buy German coins or buy somewhere else
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There is one pawn shop in town that carries typically early Canadian stuff and some mint sets.
There is one dealer that is in our local coin club that carries as much Canadian stuff as possible. His darkside material is only to the extent that he can get his hands on. I my earlier quest of "one per country" I have made a few purchases from him. Nowdays it is hard for me to get a new country from anywhere. My wife actually now does more business with him than I do, Maple leaf coins for my birthday or for Christmas. Last year was a set of unc. coins with the new Effigy of the queen.
Ebay name: bhil3
The first store is owned by the Grinch, an unpleasant character with a permanent scowl who acts like you're doing him a favor buying from him. Unfortunately he has an excellent selection which he keeps stored away in an enormous safe. You have to ask for a specific coin and he doesn't like you to request his boxes for browsing. I returned only once after the first experience to reinforce my feelings about him. Spent $80 the first time, $20 the second, I won't be back for a third.
Store number two is owned by Mr. Slick; he's a fast talker who sweeps you off your feet with a mind boggling selection of Lightside and Darkside coins (always from his own personal collection-not for sale) and then steers you towards overpriced, nice-looking, most often cleaned coins. I recently re-assessed my collection and the majority of the purchases I'm no longer pleased with seemed to emanate from his foul den.
Store number three is Andy Hales Stamps and coins. It's run by a benevolent mustachioed gent named Randy and a german expatriate named Ursula. Fair, knowledgable numismatists who have become like family over the last year. You can spend all day there if you wish and they love to talk coins and stamps. Not always the best selection but they have interesting items enough of the time. These are the people who see my money most often.
None of these stores however, have the breadth of selection that would exist in larger cities; I can only dream!
E-bay, this forum, several selected web sites and several regular dealer lists fill out the balance of my sources.
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#1) deals mostly in RCM stuff or Bullion, but I am waiting for an order of 50 lbs. of world coins from them.
#2) deals in very old things(we're talking old) and Canadian and world coins and some nice bargin bins.
#3) Flea Market dealer, who has shady charators working for him, I'm very careful when going to this guy.
#4) Fleamarket Dealer, that has a great selection of world coins, also RCM stuff, ands always gives me a good price break. He gets most of my business.
I have learned the hard way, that if a dealer offers you something that you don't specificaly ask to see, you are most likely going to get burnded. I removed the big "M" from my forehead and stay clear of these deals.
I will be in your neck of the woods, Germany, in mid-April and plan on visiting Keunker, Olding, Moeller, Pater, and any other dealers I can discover. Are there any places in the Northern half of Germany that you can recommend that I visit? I'm into 18th Century or earlier German City View Talers and Karl Goetz medals and patterns. Any advice would be appreciated Spoon. S
karlgoetzmedals.com
secessionistmedals.com
I like your detailed narrative, Laurent
Scott, I'm not personally familiar with much of anything up north. I know the guys you mentioned through their websites and by reputation. But really I can't think of anyone exceptionally special or worth a long trip for even around here
My wantlist & references
Yes auctions would be good too. I will be spending a week in Sweden first to attend a small local auction in Kristianstad and then a fairly large coin faire in Helsingborg (this is where my Swiss CV's came from last year) before heading to Germany. Is there anyway I can get my hands on a copy of that magazine? Send me a PM, let's talk!! S
karlgoetzmedals.com
secessionistmedals.com
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"Everything I have is for sale except for my wife and my dog....and I'm not sure about one of them."
One specializes in rare world coins, various world mint sets and is great for bulk anything, bullion or mixed coins. The other store is mostly Canadian coins and mint sets, but does have paper money and world mint sets. Also has some newfoundland coins to browse through.
store 1) J&M. People there seem to be busy with internet and mail order, and have a bunch of wealthier Asian clients, so their HK material is overpriced. They take numerous precautions, so I've never been able to look at a tray or binder of better stuff, only individual items.
store 2) Overgrades badly. No further comments.
store 3) Friendly chatty guy. Decent variety of stuff, fairly priced and strictly graded.
store 4) Okay guy, I mainly visit to pick out of his junkbox, which is always full.
Fleamarket 1) Little darkside, and usually priced at Krause or slightly more. I usually look with the ocassional purchase
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