There are still dealers who hate the internet and do things the old fashioned way. Probably the optimal way to buy then was relying on a real expert in person or on the other end of a phone.
I collected coins from change on my paper route...then, for a while, there was a coin counter at JJ Newberry's department store here in town...Then I joined the Navy... picked up some coins from ports we hit....Then life took over...jobs, kids etc..... then living in other countries and states.... picking up coins from random shows and shops.... Then ebay for a while, when it was fun.... Then lots of shows in WA state.... Now...antique shops....BST...... and forum members....Cheers, RickO
In the mid-1960s, there was a coin boom. The 1950D Jefferson was the holy grail for kid collectors (nobody I knew ever found one in circulation). My nearest B & M was in a small city about an hour away, my dad would take me every now & then. It was worth the trip just to get a copy of Coin World, which was on newsprint, folded tabloid size, with two very thick sections. The second section was mostly classified ads. It wasn't available in any newsstand closer than the distant coin shop, an issue would last me a few weeks looking and re-looking at all the ads and reading the articles. I once saved up & ordered a $5 Indian "Brilliant Uncirculated" (of course) for $23.95. Who knows, it was probably AU, but it put me at the top of the heap among the kid collectors in my town.
I've seen in some remarks here & in other posts references to looking at/for coins in antique shops. Are they usually good spots to look, or do they tend to be over-priced/graded compared to coin shops? Or can you find good deals if they "price-and-forget" them, and don't bother checking trends to re-price in a timely fashion? Just curious as to what everyone thinks.
We had at least 3 shows a month within 100 mile radius. It was so much fun meeting and seeing old friends and seeing so many various collections. Learning occurred at each event. Did not take long to learn who was the local talent and most knowledgeable. At every show collectors would bring their collections to show off and possibly sell. With the advent of the internet there is not 1 show a year within a 200 mile radius. While it is far more profitable than before, it is a lot less enjoyable than then. The lower graded coins seem to sit in people's inventory a long time. Much higher quality coins are now available to all. Still love the hobby.
Jim
@DBSTrader2 said:
I've seen in some remarks here & in other posts references to looking at/for coins in antique shops. Are they usually good spots to look, or do they tend to be over-priced/graded compared to coin shops? Or can you find good deals if they "price-and-forget" them, and don't bother checking trends to re-price in a timely fashion? Just curious as to what everyone thinks.
It's a crap shoot. Most of the time you find heavily circulated coins that are WAAAAAY over priced. But I've actually found a few nice items that were underpriced. But overall, most antique shops do not have any coins.
1c = good for snapping across any public school classroom, like a rocket, using only my thumb and middle finger.
5c = if I could somehow hustle five of these in one day I could beat Street Fighter II no problem with 1 token
10c = these things were too small not to lose...and I always wondered why 10c was smaller than 5c?
25c = these were the coins to own if you were a Boss as a kid...roll up $10 worth before a big fight after school.
50c = these were nostalgic and pretty much acquired in banks by somebody's grandma & then dispersed from there.
100c = these were either a huge ugly coin or a small ugly coin...I always traded mine for quarters as a kid.
Comments
For me, the internet sped up the collecting process. Information traveled much quicker and to a much wider audience.
As a kid, I couldn't afford to buy much at the local coin shop. A big purchase was a set of unc 1955 dimes for a couple of bucks.
So we used to look thru bags of coins from the parking meters in Racine Wisconsin. Cheap fun and we mostly filled Whitman penny and nickel holders.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
There are still dealers who hate the internet and do things the old fashioned way. Probably the optimal way to buy then was relying on a real expert in person or on the other end of a phone.
I collected coins from change on my paper route...then, for a while, there was a coin counter at JJ Newberry's department store here in town...Then I joined the Navy... picked up some coins from ports we hit....Then life took over...jobs, kids etc..... then living in other countries and states.... picking up coins from random shows and shops.... Then ebay for a while, when it was fun.... Then lots of shows in WA state.... Now...antique shops....BST...... and forum members....Cheers, RickO
In the mid-1960s, there was a coin boom. The 1950D Jefferson was the holy grail for kid collectors (nobody I knew ever found one in circulation). My nearest B & M was in a small city about an hour away, my dad would take me every now & then. It was worth the trip just to get a copy of Coin World, which was on newsprint, folded tabloid size, with two very thick sections. The second section was mostly classified ads. It wasn't available in any newsstand closer than the distant coin shop, an issue would last me a few weeks looking and re-looking at all the ads and reading the articles. I once saved up & ordered a $5 Indian "Brilliant Uncirculated" (of course) for $23.95. Who knows, it was probably AU, but it put me at the top of the heap among the kid collectors in my town.
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins, justindan, doubleeagle07
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't no optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me. . . . . . .
one of the more interesting reads of the week, thanks for sharing.
I've seen in some remarks here & in other posts references to looking at/for coins in antique shops. Are they usually good spots to look, or do they tend to be over-priced/graded compared to coin shops? Or can you find good deals if they "price-and-forget" them, and don't bother checking trends to re-price in a timely fashion? Just curious as to what everyone thinks.
going through tubes at coin shops and picking the one I liked best and sitting around and waiting for the orders from coin world to roll in.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
We had at least 3 shows a month within 100 mile radius. It was so much fun meeting and seeing old friends and seeing so many various collections. Learning occurred at each event. Did not take long to learn who was the local talent and most knowledgeable. At every show collectors would bring their collections to show off and possibly sell. With the advent of the internet there is not 1 show a year within a 200 mile radius. While it is far more profitable than before, it is a lot less enjoyable than then. The lower graded coins seem to sit in people's inventory a long time. Much higher quality coins are now available to all. Still love the hobby.
Jim
It's a crap shoot. Most of the time you find heavily circulated coins that are WAAAAAY over priced. But I've actually found a few nice items that were underpriced. But overall, most antique shops do not have any coins.
...Born in 1980, for me, it was like this:
1c = good for snapping across any public school classroom, like a rocket, using only my thumb and middle finger.
5c = if I could somehow hustle five of these in one day I could beat Street Fighter II no problem with 1 token
10c = these things were too small not to lose...and I always wondered why 10c was smaller than 5c?
25c = these were the coins to own if you were a Boss as a kid...roll up $10 worth before a big fight after school.
50c = these were nostalgic and pretty much acquired in banks by somebody's grandma & then dispersed from there.
100c = these were either a huge ugly coin or a small ugly coin...I always traded mine for quarters as a kid.
That's all I got before 1994
What did you get AFTER 1994?
...the internet
I can remember hitching up my mule ( Sal ) and riding into town to see the local dealer. He always had some great coins to sell.