Newbie in Seattle - any advice on dealers, shows, clubs,...?

JDelage · November 2, 2005 10:01AM

All,

I'd be interested in reading any first-hand account of interactions with dealers in Seattle. I'd also like to know of any show in the area I should consider attending.

I have gone to the Crown Hill shop in Ballard, to show the gold my grand father had left me. It was mostly bullion, and all that wasn't was circulated, so the dealer recommended not submit them for grading. He seemed rather nice. Anyone knows him? His shop's really convenient for me.

Russ · November 2, 2005 10:29AM

The Seattle area pretty much blows for shops and shows. There's a show in Kirkland this weekend, but it'll be the same tired material from the same tired dealers.

Russ, NCNE

JDelage · November 2, 2005 10:31AM

Thanks for the encouragement.

WTCG · November 2, 2005 10:40AM

Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. It's finding the right sources that makes it challenging. The PNNA shows are great coin shows for attending.

As for dealers in the area, you can't go wrong with dealing with Pinnacle Rarities (Lakewood, WA), Gene Henry (Seattle, WA) and Art McBride (Sherwood, OR). Be cautioned, however, that Pinnacle Rarities and Gene Henry both do not have a physical shop and meeting with them may be by appointment only.

JDelage · November 2, 2005 10:47AM

<< The PNNA shows are great coin shows for attending. >>

Where can I find more reg. those?

Russ · November 2, 2005 10:58AM

<< Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. >>

Russ, NCNE

Russ · November 2, 2005 11:01AM

<< << The PNNA shows are great coin shows for attending. >>

Where can I find more reg. those? >>

There is no "those". It's only one show, and it's the only decent show we get. It's in April each year.

Click here for a show schedule.

Russ, NCNE

Nysoto · November 2, 2005 11:10AM

JDelage,

Here is a the link to the Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association PNNA there is a local show calendar on the website. The next show of any size is the Boeing show in January, the second largest in the Seattle area.

I have done business with Dan O'Brien of Crown Hill Coin for many years, mostly on the buy side. Lately, the new owners of Northgate Coin have been strong buyers.

Above all, knowledge is power when selling coins to dealers (or buying). Read up as much as possible on grading and prices before you buy or sell.

typo edit

WTCG · November 2, 2005 11:52AM

<< 

<< Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. >>

Russ, NCNE >>

Disagree if you may, but the Pacific Northwest is a great region for me to aquire some nice new material.

DaveG · November 2, 2005 12:01PM

Back in 1998, while on a business trip to Seattle, I spent a couple of very educational hours with Gene Henry. At the time, he seemed to be renting space at an otherwise crappy downtown shop at 1521 3rd Avenue.

He had a fairly large inventory of no-motto Coronet gold coins, both raw and slabbed, that he let me look through (after lending me a copy of the Grey Sheet). After I was done looking, he sat down with me and discussed his raw gold, pointing out a variety of problems. I told him that I was looking for original surfaces and he dissuaded me from purchasing a couple of coins that he couldn't "guarantee" were original. I bought a couple of nice raw no-motto half eagles from him. He also discussed "coin doctoring" honestly and frankly with me.

I don't know if you'd be able to do the same thing with him now, but it was the most worthwhile time I've ever spent in a coin shop!

michael · November 2, 2005 12:07PM

www.pinnacle-rarities.com

they are really close to seattle and on their website listed as per the above they have an article section ND MANY ARTICLES on gold coins collecting and investing in

interesting reading and free

JSsson · November 2, 2005 1:17PM

I keep hearing that Pinnacle Rarities is a good company to work with, although I haven't bought anything from them myself yet.

Fairlaneman · November 2, 2005 1:28PM

<< 

<< 

<< Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. >>

Russ, NCNE >>

Disagree if you may, but the Pacific Northwest is a great region for me to aquire some nice new material. >>

Where ????

"he discussed coin doctoring openly and frankly with me"

Hmmm....

I'm with Russ on this. The Northwest is a vast wasteland for finding coins.

Ken

michael · November 2, 2005 1:28PM

I keep hearing that Pinnacle Rarities is a good company to work with, although I haven't bought anything from them myself yet.

if you contact them ask for todd imhof

WTCG · November 2, 2005 1:55PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. >>

Russ, NCNE >>

Disagree if you may, but the Pacific Northwest is a great region for me to aquire some nice new material. >>

Where ????

"he discussed coin doctoring openly and frankly with me"

Hmmm....

I'm with Russ on this. The Northwest is a vast wasteland for finding coins.

Ken >>

I can't vouch for the smaller shows in the area, but for the times I've attended the PNNA shows and the Spring ANA last year I have returned with enough new purchases that it became difficult to carry it all onto an airplane. I was at the PNNA show last week for about five hours total and I bought enough coins to fill up two double row boxes.

If you think the Northwest is dry on new material, try the Southwestern mountain states.

Russ · November 3, 2005 1:39AM

<< I can't vouch for the smaller shows in the area, but for the times I've attended the PNNA shows and the Spring ANA last year I have returned with enough new purchases that it became difficult to carry it all onto an airplane. >>

The PNNA is once a year, and the ANA is once in a Blue Moon. That is no indication of the availability of material in this area. Try hitting every show and every shop regularly for a few years before making claims that this area "is a great place to find nice coins."

Russ, NCNE

WTCG · November 3, 2005 1:46AM

<< 

<< I can't vouch for the smaller shows in the area, but for the times I've attended the PNNA shows and the Spring ANA last year I have returned with enough new purchases that it became difficult to carry it all onto an airplane. >>

The PNNA is once a year, and the ANA is once in a Blue Moon. That is no indication of the availability of material in this area. Try hitting every show and every shop regularly for a few years before making claims that this area "is a great place to find nice coins."

Russ, NCNE >>

It doesn't matter where you live...you can't expect to find new material at any given coin shop if you visit too often. Give the shops a few weeks for them to "reload" and you'll have more chance of finding material you like. Same concept applies to coin shows that are held once every month.

Fairlaneman · November 3, 2005 1:47AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. >>

Russ, NCNE >>

Disagree if you may, but the Pacific Northwest is a great region for me to aquire some nice new material. >>

Where ????

"he discussed coin doctoring openly and frankly with me"

Hmmm....

I'm with Russ on this. The Northwest is a vast wasteland for finding coins.

Ken >>

I can't vouch for the smaller shows in the area, but for the times I've attended the PNNA shows and the Spring ANA last year I have returned with enough new purchases that it became difficult to carry it all onto an airplane. I was at the PNNA show last week for about five hours total and I bought enough coins to fill up two double row boxes.

If you think the Northwest is dry on new material, try the Southwestern mountain states. >>

The two shows you mentioned bring in dealers from outside of the Northwest and is not a good indication of what is really available in this area. Once in a "Bluemoon" something does show up in this area but not often. I guess it is really a question of what you are looking for. My area of interest has produced about 5 coins in 5 years from the Northwest. At that rate a set could be finished in 78 years if luck was had.

Ken

WTCG · November 3, 2005 1:49AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is a great place to find nice coins that haven't been "recycled" on the convention wholesale circuit. >>

Russ, NCNE >>

Disagree if you may, but the Pacific Northwest is a great region for me to aquire some nice new material. >>

Where ????

"he discussed coin doctoring openly and frankly with me"

Hmmm....

I'm with Russ on this. The Northwest is a vast wasteland for finding coins.

Ken >>

I can't vouch for the smaller shows in the area, but for the times I've attended the PNNA shows and the Spring ANA last year I have returned with enough new purchases that it became difficult to carry it all onto an airplane. I was at the PNNA show last week for about five hours total and I bought enough coins to fill up two double row boxes.

If you think the Northwest is dry on new material, try the Southwestern mountain states. >>

The two shows you mentioned bring in dealers from outside of the Northwest and is not a good indication of what is really available in this area. Once in a "Bluemoon" something does show up in this area but not often. I guess it is really a question of what you are looking for. My area of interest has produced about 5 coins in 5 years from the Northwest. At that rate a set could be finished in 78 years if luck was had.

Ken >>

That was one reason why I started travelling to coin shows outside of my area. You're more likely to find new material you haven't seen once you start looking in a new environment.

Fairlaneman · November 3, 2005 2:43AM

Point taken.

Going into a area where you have not been for a period of time would produce new coins and seem like a hot bed. If I went to just one shop in Santa Rosa, which is in your area, I would be in 7th Heaven. To you though its just the same common every day stuff.

Ken

stman · November 3, 2005 3:35AM

<< If I went to just one shop in Santa Rosa, which is in your area, I would be in 7th Heaven. >>

Yes, and I have no doubt the owner and his staff would make you feel VERY welcome. They would greet you with a smile,
be very courteous, and say thank you for your purchase.

patmcau · November 3, 2005 4:04AM

One of the better shows in the Seattle area is coming up the weekend after next...The Tacoma Coin and Sports Card show is being held November 10th through the 12th at the Tacoma Dome...It is actually a pretty good show for an area that really sux in that department...By the way, I am from Seattle...

USCGCraig · November 3, 2005 4:51AM

I worked for a gentleman named Andy Stagg. He has a shop in Kent called Stagg's. it is on 317 W. Meeker. His number is 253-854-6340 or toll-free 1-800-303-6340. He is open from 10-6 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10-8 Thursdays, 10-4 Friday's, closed Saturdays and open 10-4 Sundays. Don't get there right at 10:00 as he rarely makes it in by then.

Andy is honest as all get out. He has a very strict policy about doing the right thing. He thinks if he inadvertenly screwed someone over that it will come back at him 2-fold. The whole pay it forward complex applies with Andy. He's a strong buyer, will spend time with you and answer any question you have. He works closely with Gene Henry and a few other dealers in the area. He does not do shows as he doesn't work on Saturday's.

I've known Andy for about 5 years. I used to work in his shop part-time when I was stationed in Seattle. He is a gentleman and will not screw you over.

He may have a great selection of type or might not. Just depends as it does with any dealer. He also carries currency and has bullion. He can submit to PCGS, NGC, ANACS and PCI for you. He has a pretty decent selection of foreign coin and paper. He also delves into sports cards. When ti comes to coins, work with Andy. With foreign coins, work with Emery who only works on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for sports cards, work with Georgia. Andy's son Mark is also pretty good but may not give you as much of a deal (if one is warranted).

I encourage you to visit him. Tell him Craig the Coast Guard guy sent you.

There is also a shop in downtown Kirkland that the name is elluding me. Funny guys, have a decent inventory especially Hawaiiana. There is also Carat-Coin up on Everett Mall Way in Everett.

PM me if you have any further questions. I live in Washington DC now and have no financial stake or interest in Stagg's.

Craig

Russ · November 3, 2005 5:14AM

Craig,

In case you didn't know it, Andy has been very ill with cancer. He's improving, but he spends very little time in the shop these days.

Russ, NCNE

USCGCraig · November 3, 2005 5:17AM

Actually Russ, I just saw him back in August and spoke with him about a month and a half ago. He was battling throat cancer but is over that. He's spending more time at the shop but isn't doing the all nighters like he used to. I know that he is still working on getting his strength back.

Newbie in Seattle - any advice on dealers, shows, clubs,...?

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