Coin shops in Seattle area?

franklin200 · February 25, 2003 1:01PM

I will be visiting Seattle in a few weeks. Anyone know of any good coin dealers in the area. Any help would be appreciated.

Lakesammman · February 25, 2003 1:26PM

Probably the best is at the Seattle Convention Center, 1st floor - very smart owner with good inventory. Closed only on Sundays.

WACoinGuy · February 25, 2003 1:33PM

Yep, that's the main dealer I use for buying coins. You can check out a sample of his inventory at Stamp & Coin Store. Very friendly service and a nice selection to choose from. Everytime I go in, I end up talking to the guy for at least 15 minutes. Heck, he even interests my wife and she's not even in to coins.

Dave99B · February 25, 2003 1:42PM

I agree with everyone else. This the only decent shop left in Seattle.

On the other hand, I find the guy (John) kind of annoying.

Dave

WACoinGuy · February 25, 2003 1:54PM

One other nice thing (in case you didn't know it) -- Washington State doesn't charge sales tax on coin purchases. Definitely a pleasant surprise for me when I moved here from California's 8% tax!

Lakesammman · February 25, 2003 3:40PM

Dave99B

Got a chuckle from your comment. I bought a coin from the shop several years ago on lay-away. He tried to make it more difficult than necessary knowing that I would have to make one more trip to make a payment. His intent was that I would make another purchase.

I am overly busy and it's a major hassle for me to get there. I didn't see the humor. I've spent alot of money since on coins and not one cent has gone to him. So much for short-sighted strategies.

Bottom line still is, if your visiting Seattle, it's the shop to visit.

lincolnSence · February 25, 2003 3:57PM

Thanks guys, I live here and didn't know about this one.

Barry · February 25, 2003 9:34PM

When I was in Seattle last summer, I recall seeing a small coin shop in Pike's Market, downstairs. Didn't see anything that interested me, but may be worth a look if you're there.

Nysoto · February 25, 2003 11:47PM

The Convention Center coin shop has an excellent inventory, but a bit pricey. My favorite is Crown Hill Stamp and Coin in Ballard. I have purchased from them for 20 years, Dan O'Brien is very knowledgeable about all coins (you get a story with each coin purchase!), the grading is fair, and prices seem lower than other local shops, I purchased an early dollar last year from Dan.

Northgate coin occasionally has some nice coins, I have cherry picked some nice bust halves there, but beware of his grading. On the eastside in Kirkland, Hart Rare Coins has some decent coins.

WACoinGuy · February 26, 2003 1:57AM

I vaguely remember seeing the coin shop in Pike's Place once several years ago -- nothing there struck my fancy either. Same with Hart in Kirkland. I haven't been to Crown Hill -- I'll have to stop by and check it out one of these days...

wingedliberty · February 26, 2003 12:20PM

I would private message a member by the name of Clankeye. He lives in that area.

Brian.

DaveG · February 26, 2003 12:51PM

When I was in Seattle a few years ago, I had a great conversation with Gene Henry. I think he rents some space at the shop at 1521 3rd Avenue. The shop isn't that promising-looking, but Gene Henry was very accomodating.

I talked to him about 19th century US gold and he pulled out his inventory and the Grey Sheet and sat and talked with me for about an hour. I looked at all his raw gold and he told me what to look for to see what was (or wasn't) wrong with each coin! It was an incredible education!

At the end of my visits (I went back the next day), I bought two coins at essentially Bid.

It was certainly one of the highlights of my numismatic life, although I have since heard a few mixed comments about him.

I would certainly give him a call at 206-624-1458 to see if he'll be around when you're there.

franklin200 · February 26, 2003 12:56PM

Thanks guys, I think my hotel is only a few blocks away from the convention center so I'll be sure to check it out when I get there. I'll probably end up visiting Pike's market also so I'll try to find that shop as well.

Dave99B · February 26, 2003 2:01PM

The Pike Place shop is kind of a novelty. It's been there for ever. It's filled with comics, old musty newspapers, sports cards, boxing posters, etc, plus a few tired U.S. and foreign coins you wouldn't want to ever own.

It's a funky joint, all crammed into a 6 x 20 foot shop. Worth a visit if you are at the Market.

Dave

Fairlaneman · February 26, 2003 10:05PM

franklin200:

Don't forget "Ivars Fish Bar", if it is still there. Its fairly close to the Market and the Clam Chowder was just great. Its right down on the waterfront. Have not been there for a few years so this comment is from the last experience.

Ken

TJC · April 21, 2005 2:18PM

Pulling this thread off the bench in the hopes that someone can add another possibility to the list of Seattle-area coinshops. The spots mentioned in this thread (and one from August 2003) include:

Pike Place Market: Bit of a novelty. Interesting stop if you're already at the market. (With all due deference to Fairlaneman, if you're in the market, skip Ivar's and go to the Pike Place Bakery. $5 for an apple fritter as big as your head.)

1521 3rd Ave downtown: Looks like coins are a sideline.

Woodbury's in Crossroads in Bellevue: My one attempt to find this place came up short (despite living within spitting distance). I'll try again.

Convention Center: Been there a few times without meeting the owner. Nice place, nice stuff. But when I finally met the owner he gave me the impression that I was inconveniencing him despite being the only one in the store at the time. Maybe I don't give off the 'money' vibe.

Crown Hill Collectibles: I don't think this shop is still around.

Pinnacle Rarities: These guys seem to be looking for investors, not collectors. Either way their customers are in a different tax bracket.

Any other places I should try in the area?
Also, can anyone tell me if the PNNA Convention in Tukwila is worth the trip?

- TJ

DoctorPaper · April 21, 2005 2:35PM

Whenever I travel to a large city, I always try to visit a local coin shop. The shop in the Seatlle Convention Center is one of the best I've found. There's some real depth to the material the owner's got unlike a lot of shops where you wind up looking at 1962 proof sets and 1958D AU Franklins. Picked up the top $1 note (series 1880) at the shop on a trip to Seatlle in 1994, and its $2 sister on a second trip 9 years later. Besides currency, he's got nice 19th century US type coins and some really nice ancients if you prefer the Darkside...

Bochiman · April 21, 2005 4:43PM

<< Pulling this thread off the bench in the hopes that someone can add another possibility to the list of Seattle-area coinshops. The spots mentioned in this thread (and one from August 2003) include:

Woodbury's in Crossroads in Bellevue: My one attempt to find this place came up short (despite living within spitting distance). I'll try again.

Convention Center: Been there a few times without meeting the owner. Nice place, nice stuff. But when I finally met the owner he gave me the impression that I was inconveniencing him despite being the only one in the store at the time. Maybe I don't give off the 'money' vibe.

Crown Hill Collectibles: I don't think this shop is still around.

Pinnacle Rarities: These guys seem to be looking for investors, not collectors. Either way their customers are in a different tax bracket.

Also, can anyone tell me if the PNNA Convention in Tukwila is worth the trip?

- TJ >>

Hey TJ, Russ and some of the other locals may be able to chip in on a few....I will answer what I know on the above....

1) Woodbury's in the crossroads mall rolled up the carpet and is no longer a store (nor a website...they did have one but seldom/never updated it and it sucked) as of about 6-8 months ago. I bought a few things that I didn't want to wait for (supplies) but after buying a few "test" coins from them, never would buy a coin from them. Not exactly the nicest/friendliest/most trustworthy group of people.....Owner/wife openly complained about ebay people (they do sell on ebay still, at least as of a month or two ago) while I was in the shop...and, it was a SMALL shop. They were the stereotypical "ripoff" dealers, imho.

2) Convention Center - I haven't been there yet (been to the convention center for business, never knew there was a coin shop, else I would have gone...maybe I need to go.

3) Crown Hill Collectibles - didn't know they had a storefront....I know they were selling on ebay. Not sure what now though as they haven't had anything for a month or two, at least.

4) Pinnacle - Coinguy1 and Poorguy could answer better than I, but I think you are after a storefront....not what these guys are, I don't think. Have nice things but, as you noted, the price is a little bit high for average collecter (again, imho). This message board does not have the "average" collector for a membership.

5) Yes, That is probably one of 2 that is worth going to. Most aren't unless you are addicted to coins or just want to go.

Ron

Sandhawk · April 21, 2005 5:44PM

Don't forget "Ivars Fish Bar", if it is still there.

It's still there - at least it was 4 days ago !!

Some great seafood !!

Fairlaneman · April 21, 2005 10:15PM

The Convention Center. Is that where the Space Needle is located ?

Ken

tradedollarnut · April 21, 2005 10:48PM

The Convention Center. Is that where the Space Needle is located ?

No - it sits on top of the Freeway.

edited to add: be very careful about buying raw [or second tier holder] coins - it can bite you! A long time ago I bought a DDR 76-CC trade dollar from a certain Seattle dealer without enough of an inspection. Later discovered the fields had been smoothed.

TJC · April 22, 2005 12:05AM

The Convention Center is at 7th and Pike. Right next to I-5.

Yes, I'm definitely looking for a storefront. I need someone I can sit down and talk with. My grandfathers collection was pretty wide-ranging (darkside, bullion, paper, tokens, and all sorts of US.) I need to get a better grasp of what's there, decide what I want to continue collecting, then figure out what to do with the rest. Sure I could just take it all in for an appraisal but what's the fun in that?

Anyway, I'll give the Conventer Center another try. I really liked the place, maybe I just caught the guy on a bad day.

- TJ

Dave99B · April 22, 2005 1:37AM

TJ –

"I really liked the place, maybe I just caught the guy on a bad day..."

No you didn't.

Forget the Coin and Stamp Store (Convention Center). John (the owner) is an odd duck. I would not say he’s a jerk, just very awkward with customers. I used to buy a lot from him when his shop was located in Bellevue. He knows coins, but is not a great communicator. Rita, his assistant is very nice, but she doesn’t know much about coins.

You mentioned that you felt like you were “inconveniencing” him when you were in there? You were! That pretty much sums it up – everyone feels that way. He’s not warm and fuzzy.

He does have a nice inventory though, and can locate tough dates for you.

Dave

TJC · April 22, 2005 3:10AM

Apparently I've moved into the frozen (or rain-soaked) wasteland of coin shops.

Russ · April 22, 2005 3:23AM

I've never tried the Coin and Stamp Store at the convention center. Does he carry any proof and mint sets from the 1960's era? It doesn't matter to me if he's a jerk if there's some cherrypicking to be had.

<< Apparently I've moved into the frozen (or rain-soaked) wasteland of coin shops. >>

Yes, you have - and shows. Most are about six tables piled with stuff that has my two year old fingerprints on it. The PNNA is by far the biggest show for this area at about 100 tables.

Russ, NCNE

streeter · April 22, 2005 3:35AM

If you really want to make friends with the Seattle folks, tell them you are from CAL and just bought a house in town.

Dave99B · April 22, 2005 3:41AM

Russ, I’m sure he does. He has some expensive material, and a lot of type stuff. Tons to Indian cent, large cents, Barber, SLQs, etc. A decent number of dollars. Some raw, some certified. I’m sure he had early proof sets too.

He buys a tremendous about of material in that shop, but wholesales most of it out. That’s what his shop is really all about. It’s not uncommon to be in there on Saturday morning and see three people deep waiting to see him, holding shoeboxes. His phone also rings off the hook with people asking to have a collection appraised (he charges for this service, or at least used to).

Dave

Nysoto · April 22, 2005 5:08AM

Crown Hill Coin is still open in Ballard, stop at Olsen's Scandanavian Foods and get some lutefisk while you are there.

Seattle Coin moved from downtown to North Seattle 6-7 years ago, he buys a lot of estates, proof sets, etc.

Northgate Coin has fairly new owners, two affable brothers bought it, pool table behind the counter. I have sold a lot of bust half dupes to them at better prices than I can get on ebay. They do a lot of business, but not much in quality coins.

All of the local shops have their better coins in safes in the backroom for security reasons.

In Everett, about 20 miles North of Seattle, Accent on Coins has a new owner, not as much selection as when Gene Sanders used to wholesale out of there.

Rel Coin has the same owner since 1961, a crusty old curmudgeon who is fun to talk to.

All of these characters will be at the PNNA along with some respectable national dealers such as Dick Osburn - it will be worth going to.

coinguy1 · April 22, 2005 5:15AM

<< Pinnacle Rarities: These guys seem to be looking for investors, not collectors. Either way their customers are in a different tax bracket. >>

Having had the pleasure to have worked for Pinnacle for 7 years, I can tell you that they work with collectors, much more so than they do with investors. They don't have a store front with coins on display, but they do show coins by appointment.

Russ · April 22, 2005 5:44AM

<< stop at Olsen's Scandanavian Foods and get some lutefisk while you are there. >>

Russ, NCNE

Longacre · April 22, 2005 6:27AM

Does anyone know how far Pinnacle is from Seattle? I visit Seattle occasionally. Although I am probably one of their "collectors" in the lowest tax bracket compared to their other collectors, it would be interesting to see some coins, if they are agreeable to it.

Russ · April 22, 2005 6:33AM

<< Does anyone know how far Pinnacle is from Seattle? >>

About 35 miles south.

Russ, NCNE

Vet · April 22, 2005 6:59AM

The renton coin shop in renton just a few miles from seattle. Steve the owner seems pleasent and knows what he is talking about.

Russ · April 22, 2005 7:52AM

<< The renton coin shop in renton just a few miles from seattle. Steve the owner seems pleasent and knows what he is talking about. >>

I was sorry to seem him buy the place. The previous owner hated slabs, and couldn't recognize a valuable 1960's proof set if it bit him on the butt. Unfortunately, Steve submits to the grading services and pulls the good stuff for himself.

Russ, NCNE

Dave99B · April 22, 2005 8:07AM

1960's proof set's have value?

Dave

FullStepJeffs · April 22, 2005 8:25AM

Okay... hate to hijack... but, anything decent around the army base (Ft Lewis I think) up there in Seattle? I'll be flying in next Satuday (through Seattle) for a month's worth of training before a trip into Iraq for the rest of the year...

Russ... bring all your nickels and come pick me up, will ya? Wonder if they would notice I was AWOL?

Steve

LindeDad · April 22, 2005 8:44AM

What your not going to McChord the quarters are better, and the new BX just opened.
Retired from there quit a while back but still visit for the bennies.

coinkat · April 22, 2005 8:51AM

Russ:

So the real reason finally surfaces as to the need for improvement on the Kennedy Proof pictured in another thread... what would former Seattle Mayor Hanson say about your Lutefisk remark?? Oh the humanity...

edited to add: I know... Mayor Hanson passed away many years ago and he ain't talkin...

Vet · April 22, 2005 10:10AM

<< 

<< The renton coin shop in renton just a few miles from seattle. Steve the owner seems pleasent and knows what he is talking about. >>

I was sorry to seem him buy the place. The previous owner hated slabs, and couldn't recognize a valuable 1960's proof set if it bit him on the butt. Unfortunately, Steve submits to the grading services and pulls the good stuff for himself.

Russ, NCNE >>

I have done a few trades with him worked out well for both of us. I don't get in there that often .

Russ · April 22, 2005 10:15AM

Vet,

I like him. It's just that he's too smart. I prefer my dealers to be blissfully ignorant.

Russ, NCNE

FullStepJeffs · April 22, 2005 3:19PM

<< What your not going to McChord the quarters are better, and the new BX just opened.
Retired from there quit a while back but still visit for the bennies.

>>

Don't I wish I was staying at McChord... I'm going to an Army School so they can teach me the Army way to do convoy security... will be there for a while... with a future deployment into Iraq on the scope.

Steve

Russ · April 23, 2005 3:56AM

<< Don't I wish I was staying at McChord... >>

McChord must be cool. I was born there.

Russ, NCNE

Coin shops in Seattle area?

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