Any good coin shops in Santa Clara or Mountain View California

JapanJohn · August 30, 2007 7:45AM

Looks like I'm headed east (for me) again.

John

57loaded · August 30, 2007 7:50AM

there are quite a few in the San Jose to Palo Alto area which is just expanding your parameters a wee bit on the peninsula.

first time there?

JapanJohn · August 30, 2007 7:58AM

First time in that general area. Going to a few other places as well but not familiar with this area. Any and all help appreciated.

John

anoldgoat · August 30, 2007 8:14AM

I lived in Mtn View for five years and never found one there. I only know of one in San Jose, on Meridian. One in Sunnyvale has a better selection. It's off of Mathilda in the town & Country center near Washington.

Mike

JSsson · August 30, 2007 8:21AM

I can't think of a coin shop in Santa Clara or Mountain View, but forum member "WTCG" has his office in Mountain View so you can probably see if you can stop by although he does not have a storefront coin store.

There are coin shops in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Fremont, and San Jose. Even though they are actual shops, whether you find anything to buy from the shops is kind of up to you. The shop on Meridian Avenue in San Jose as previously mentioned is notorious for having a tempermental owner who will often refuse to show visitors any coins. The shop Palo Alto, although may have nice coins, has an owner and store manager (his son in law) who is known for lowballing and ripping off the uninformed public. The shop in Sunnyvale is known for having a storekeeper who can't seem to maintain his posted store hours. Once you arrive in the area try looking in the yellow pages as there are others scattered throughout the area.

dogwood · August 30, 2007 8:29AM

San Jose Coin shop on Meridian is NO FUN. Half mile east on Lincoln Ave in lovely Willow Glen is Falcone's. It's a preatty decent shop. Take a walk along the Ave for an hour afterward. There's another, around the corner, Vic's, but don't bother. Mac's in Sunnyvale as noted. The really nice one is on the Mt View border with Palo Alto in the Town and Country across from Stanford on El Camino. Welcome.

JSsson · August 30, 2007 8:32AM

<< San Jose Coin shop on Meridian is NO FUN. Half mile east on Lincoln Ave in lovely Willow Glen is Falcone's. It's a preatty decent shop. Take a walk along the Ave for an hour afterward. There's another, around the corner, Vic's, but don't bother. Mac's in Sunnyvale as noted. The really nice one is on the Mt View border with Palo Alto in the Town and Country across from Stanford on El Camino. Welcome. >>

The shop in the Town and Country Village is the one I was referring to. Although they have some nice coins, I do not like the way they rip off the public when they try to sell coins. They are known for offering pennies on the dollar for coins and paper currency.

SFDukie · August 30, 2007 12:34PM

John
You asked about SV and the peninsula-but in SF proper, Witter coins on Market st is great. Old time dealer with a great inventory,and worth a detour.
Don

Resplandor · August 30, 2007 12:39PM

Had to laugh when I saw this tread """The shop in Sunnyvale is known for having a storekeeper who can't seem to maintain his posted store hours.""" the same thing happened to me when I tried to go there my first time(s), I ended up making four trips until I finally found it Open and all for nothing, the owner (the one with a very rough voice) has a horrible attitude and will try to rip you off as soon as you let down your guard. I saw him yelling at a guy who was just asking him a simple question about fake coins and totally refused to do business with another guy who wanted to purchase gold coins for down the road profit. He tends to get easily agitated and will ignore you if you aren't bringing him big bucks. Don't waste your time in this shop try finding another one in the yellow pages or go to Falcone over in the willow glen neighborhood Sal tends to be a very nice lad who will go out of his way to make you happy. Let us know how it went.

blu62vette · August 30, 2007 12:43PM

Can you time your trip around the santa clara show?

Cladiator · August 30, 2007 1:00PM

In all honesty the south bay is severly lacking in the quality coin dealership category.

SkyMan · August 30, 2007 1:21PM

<< In all honesty the south bay is severly lacking in the quality coin dealership category. >>

There are some, but really, I find that the two I frequent the most (predominantly for browsing): The Coin Broker (that's the one in the Town and Country shopping center in Palo Alto), and Mish Intl. (in Menlo Park), have quite high prices for what they are selling. I can find coins for much less when I hit a show or via some of the dealers I know from outside the area.

droopyd · August 30, 2007 2:41PM

<< The shop in the Town and Country Village is the one I was referring to. Although they have some nice coins, I do not like the way they rip off the public when they try to sell coins. They are known for offering pennies on the dollar for coins and paper currency. >>

They gave me fair prices on a few things I sold them, but that was a dozen or so years ago....

eyoung429 · August 30, 2007 2:45PM

While you are out there, drop Carl Wohlforth a line and he will be able to help you as well. I have purchased many coins from him in the past and I can't say enough good things about him.

Hit Mac's up....if they aren't doing a show, they have an abundance of floor material and if you catch him early enough....he may bring a few trays in from the back.

Stay clear of the Meridian store and try and hit Falcone's

You also have the option of hitting up some of the other Forum members in the area...there are a LOT of them.

kiyote · August 30, 2007 3:20PM

<< 

<< San Jose Coin shop on Meridian is NO FUN. Half mile east on Lincoln Ave in lovely Willow Glen is Falcone's. It's a preatty decent shop. Take a walk along the Ave for an hour afterward. There's another, around the corner, Vic's, but don't bother. Mac's in Sunnyvale as noted. The really nice one is on the Mt View border with Palo Alto in the Town and Country across from Stanford on El Camino. Welcome. >>

The shop in the Town and Country Village is the one I was referring to. Although they have some nice coins, I do not like the way they rip off the public when they try to sell coins. They are known for offering pennies on the dollar for coins and paper currency. >>

I saw a lady walk into that one with a gold panda she found on the street. She had no idea what she had. The owner gave her $650.00 for it.

Deal with Dale there and you won't have an issue. He's the owner, and the only guy I'll deal with.

WTCG · August 30, 2007 3:36PM

I am located in Mountain View, but I do not operate a shop. Feel free to contact me when you are in the area. Most of the coin shops in the South Bay have been named and detailed by the previous posts. The descriptions of the shops and their operators' demeanors are fairly accurate. I will also add that there are several shops on the Peninsula although whether or not they are worth visiting is worthy of discussion.

WTCG · August 30, 2007 3:38PM

<< 

<< 

<< San Jose Coin shop on Meridian is NO FUN. Half mile east on Lincoln Ave in lovely Willow Glen is Falcone's. It's a preatty decent shop. Take a walk along the Ave for an hour afterward. There's another, around the corner, Vic's, but don't bother. Mac's in Sunnyvale as noted. The really nice one is on the Mt View border with Palo Alto in the Town and Country across from Stanford on El Camino. Welcome. >>

The shop in the Town and Country Village is the one I was referring to. Although they have some nice coins, I do not like the way they rip off the public when they try to sell coins. They are known for offering pennies on the dollar for coins and paper currency. >>

I saw a lady walk into that one with a gold panda she found on the street. She had no idea what she had. The owner gave her $650.00 for it.

Deal with Dale there and you won't have an issue. He's the owner, and the only guy I'll deal with. >>

I don't think he's referring to Mac's Coins although they are also located at a Town and Country Village. Speaking of Mac's, Dale is NOT the owner of Mac's Coins in Sunnyvale. He operates the store but he does not own the store.

kiyote · August 30, 2007 9:39PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< San Jose Coin shop on Meridian is NO FUN. Half mile east on Lincoln Ave in lovely Willow Glen is Falcone's. It's a preatty decent shop. Take a walk along the Ave for an hour afterward. There's another, around the corner, Vic's, but don't bother. Mac's in Sunnyvale as noted. The really nice one is on the Mt View border with Palo Alto in the Town and Country across from Stanford on El Camino. Welcome. >>

The shop in the Town and Country Village is the one I was referring to. Although they have some nice coins, I do not like the way they rip off the public when they try to sell coins. They are known for offering pennies on the dollar for coins and paper currency. >>

I saw a lady walk into that one with a gold panda she found on the street. She had no idea what she had. The owner gave her $650.00 for it.

Deal with Dale there and you won't have an issue. He's the owner, and the only guy I'll deal with. >>

I don't think he's referring to Mac's Coins although they are also located at a Town and Country Village. Speaking of Mac's, Dale is NOT the owner of Mac's Coins in Sunnyvale. He operates the store but he does not own the store. >>

Mac's actually moved about half a block away, but yes, that's who I meant. Mac's is absolutely worth a visit...

57loaded · August 31, 2007 1:35AM

<< I lived in Mtn View for five years and never found one there. I only know of one in San Jose, on Meridian. One in Sunnyvale has a better selection. It's off of Mathilda in the town & Country center near Washington.

Mike >>

I know those both.

The one in the Town and Country shopping center moved a few blocks NW just this past month. PM if you want directions when you get there.

57loaded · August 31, 2007 1:38AM

<< 

<< 

<< San Jose Coin shop on Meridian is NO FUN. Half mile east on Lincoln Ave in lovely Willow Glen is Falcone's. It's a preatty decent shop. Take a walk along the Ave for an hour afterward. There's another, around the corner, Vic's, but don't bother. Mac's in Sunnyvale as noted. The really nice one is on the Mt View border with Palo Alto in the Town and Country across from Stanford on El Camino. Welcome. >>

The shop in the Town and Country Village is the one I was referring to. Although they have some nice coins, I do not like the way they rip off the public when they try to sell coins. They are known for offering pennies on the dollar for coins and paper currency. >>

I saw a lady walk into that one with a gold panda she found on the street. She had no idea what she had. The owner gave her $650.00 for it.

Deal with Dale there and you won't have an issue. He's the owner, and the only guy I'll deal with. >>

And he hands out Ikes for change! (at least he did for me)...the TYPE I and II Rossie proofs I gave away here a few weeks ago were from his shop.

sorry for repeating what other posters have said, i guess i just had a cent to add....LOL

Rarity · August 31, 2007 4:03AM

Thanks guys for the information. I didn't know that Falcone coin exist on Lincoln ave.

San Jose Coin shop on Meridian used to be located at the old Town Center on Steven Creeks/Winchester which is Santana Row shopping area today. The owner seems to have a bit of temper but still a decent guy in my opinion. I used to buy raw gold coins, modern commems gold coins in OGP, proof sets, uncut sheets and plastic currency envelops from him. But since the day of the internet and Ebay, I haven't stopped by his shop. His prices were about right for a retailer. The only time I thought I was ripped off was when I paid $455 for "a $5 uncut sheet of 32 subjects and 30 high quality clear plastic currency envelops". This happened in late 1999.

MAC's coin in Sunnyvale is where I bought a few coin books, holders, gold bullions and sold many of my GSA CC dollars and proof sets. I believe Mac had already been retiring (a friendly looking old man with white hair) and the shop is now run by his son or son-in-law.

There also was a "Gold Mine" coin shop on Bascom Ave which used to have lots of nice original uncirculated morgan dollars.

Any good coin shops in Santa Clara or Mountain View California

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