Is Puerto Rico a coin town?

EagleEye · May 3, 2010 5:06AM

er.... island. Anyway there is a new show in December 10-13 in Pureto Rico.

Any thoughts?

WTCG · May 3, 2010 5:18AM

Dave Schmidt gave me one of those flyers and bourse info, and I'll say it's an intriguing destination for a coin show. Of course you never know until after the show, but I am unfamiliar with any reputation for PR having a strong collector base. It would be smart for the show to advertise aggressively locally, which I'm not sure if they're actually doing that or plan on doing that.

If I go it'll be my first time in San Juan that I won't be leaving town on a cruise ship.

MadMarty · May 3, 2010 5:32AM

I have bought coins from a couple dealers in PR, very heavy on Darkside stuff...

WaterSport · May 3, 2010 5:36AM

I lived on the island for 4 years from 2002- 2006. I never went to a show, as they had none. They do small shows in Malls with stamps, Bennie babies, and as mentioned, a lot of Dark side. Most of the coin dealers sold crap few if ever slabbed coins. I know of one small shop in Old San Juan, worth walking through if you do not have high expectations. If this is a new show, I still would not go.
WS

ziggy29 · May 3, 2010 6:05AM

My dad was stationed in PR in the early 1960s, which is where he got started on coin collecting. At the time they were still widely circulating stuff going back to the late 19th century, including some Barbers, IHCs and V nickels. He managed to pluck all three 1921 Walkers (1921-PDS) from circulation among many other things. He found a lot of Buffs and Mercs as well.

EagleEye · May 3, 2010 9:46AM

You can buy the pre-release shield cents. I doubt the primum has held up, though.

SanctionII · May 3, 2010 9:56AM

If a show is held in Puerto Rico, just make sure you are vigilent going to, attending and leaving the show.

I have heard tell that there is a tradition of piracy in the Caribbean, going back over 500 years.

If Capt. Jack Sparrow, Capt. Barbosa, Will Turner, Elizabeth, Bootstrap Bill Turner, Davy Jones, Calypso and their assorted crews and henchmen show up going "Arrrrrgh", you had better hide your pieces of eight and take flight before you are robbed, beaten and tossed in the drink while hearing your assailants staggering away from you singing:

"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me........."

AnkurJ · May 3, 2010 1:02PM

Some areas are very shady. I hope the show has good security.

COALPORTER · May 3, 2010 1:06PM

I have heard that it is even dangerous to drop a quarter on the sidewalk- you can start a stampeed and riot. Never been there however.

PerryHall · May 3, 2010 10:13PM

<< <i>Some areas are very shady. I hope the show has good security. >>

Agree. Be very vigilant if you are carrying coins or any other valuables for that matter.

WaterSport · May 3, 2010 10:24PM

PR's Crime/murder rate is higher than ANY US city. It’s never reported because its a territory. But the numbers would make Detroit look like Disneyland.

I never met any other collectors for they are scared of getting robbed which is why the clandestine coin shop I referred to in Old San Juan is partly a jewelry and junk shop catering to the cruise line business. No one in there right mind would hang a coin shop shingle out thus they do not exist on the island. I remember searching the phone books and I think there were a few appraisers but they are mostly looking for PR coins.

WS

NeoStar · June 11, 2010 8:44AM

There is a very reputable coin shop in Plaza Las Americas called "El Punto del Coleccionista". They have really nice stuff. There is another store in the same mall but it is not as nice...

ecichlid · June 11, 2010 12:54PM

I have been there and I will be there again in January. Rick, I highly recommend you do not bring coins with you there without the expectation that they will probably get stolen. Please tell me you have not been there before. Because I don't know how you could be asking the question if you have. Theft is rampant there. You will never see so many bars on windows and doors in your entire life. I don't care if you use safes and stay in the safest of establishments.

SUMORADA · June 11, 2010 1:08PM

Is Puerto Rico a coin town?

I don't know the answer to your question, but to answer your title Is Puerto Rico a coin town?..........take a look at how many rolls of 2009 Nickels and Dimes were sold
in the past 6-8 months by 2-3 individuals in PR.....they made a lot of $$$$$.....Nickels up to $40 a roll and Dimes up to $75 a roll...................somebody down there is paying attention...

Barry · June 13, 2010 5:20AM

This Yahoo News story may be of interest.

ubercollector · June 13, 2010 5:38AM

I don't know about coin shops there, but Puerto Rico is a beautiful island. Unfortunately, crime is a big problem there. I had a client bank in downtown San Juan, along a stretch known as Milla de Oro . Our workday usually ended after dark and while waiting for a cab to take us to our hotel, we were instructed to wait in the secured vestibule until the cab arrived. We were told that if we waited on the sidewalk, we would be robbed. Not we "might" be robbed, but we "would" be robbed. So whatever coin shop you choose to visit, be vigilant about your surroundings.

ricko · June 13, 2010 6:09AM

I lived in Puerto Rico for two years. While it is a beautiful island, and very nice people, it is crime ridden.
Theft is a profession there and practiced widely. Stay in brightly lit, commercial areas, or the major hotels. Cheers, RickO

cladking · June 13, 2010 9:07AM

There are a lot of collectors in Puerto Rico.

Stay in San Juan unless you take escorted trips elsewhere.

RobertS · June 14, 2010 10:06PM

Speaking as someone that was born and raised there, you cannot begin to imagine how insulting some of the comments made on this thread are. While Puerto Rico has crime problems, it is no different than going to New York or any other state that is troubled with drugs. To say that being robbed is guaranteed is as ignorant a statement as I have ever seen. Like may places you have your good areas and your bad areas, I have been In the US for 20 years and visit Puerto Rico at least three times a year and have yet to be robbed. That is not to say that it could not happen, but at the end of the day common sense will keep you safe anywhere you go.

Unfortunately San Juan while a tourist trap it is not the safest place to be, the worst projects in Puerto Rico are in San Juan. I think that if people got out of the city and explored the island they would probably have a totally different perspective. I take friends and neighbors with me every time I go and I guarantee you that if they read this thread they would be embarrassed by the ignorance show in some of the posts.

The post regarding the National Guard, they activate them regularly; hell I was in the National Guard for 8 years, part of the reason for doing so it is to keep people employed, unlike the state police the National Guard is paid by the Federal Government. Now I do not want to turn this into a Political debate and I will stop there.

I think that certainly the advice to be cautious is sound advice, personally I would not go there to sell coins and as others have said I would not want to be walking in San Juan with a suitcase full of coins. I am not saying that Puerto Rico is not bad or that there are no problems, I just think that some of the posts make it seem worst than it actually is. Basic things will keep you safe anywhere you go, do not flash allot of money, do not wear expensive jewlery and stay out of the bad areas. I have been considering going there from town to town to buy coins as there is allot of old stuff. You would be surprised about the amount of silver coins and as other mentioned most people like to keep a buffalo or two.

I Would like more information as I would like to attend and for those of you that go, if you allow me to, I can show you a side of Puerto Rico you never seen! Then maybe we can revisit this thread

rodzm · June 14, 2010 10:29PM

<< <i>Speaking as someone that was born and raised there, you cannot begin to imagine how insulting some of the comments made on this thread are. While Puerto Rico has crime problems, it is no different than going to New York or any other state that is troubled with drugs. To say that being robbed is guaranteed is as ignorant a statement as I have ever seen. Like may places you have your good areas and your bad areas, I have been In the US for 20 years and visit Puerto Rico at least three times a year and have yet to be robbed. That is not to say that it could not happen, but at the end of the day common sense will keep you safe anywhere you go.

Unfortunately San Juan while a tourist trap it is not the safest place to be, the worst projects in Puerto Rico are in San Juan. I think that if people got out of the city and explored the island they would probably have a totally different perspective. I take friends and neighbors with me every time I go and I guarantee you that if they read this thread they would be embarrassed by the ignorance show in some of the posts.

The post regarding the National Guard, they activate them regularly; hell I was in the National Guard for 8 years, part of the reason for doing so it is to keep people employed, unlike the state police the National Guard is paid by the Federal Government. Now I do not want to turn this into a Political debate and I will stop there.

I think that certainly the advice to be cautious is sound advice, personally I would not go there to sell coins and as others have said I would not want to be walking in San Juan with a suitcase full of coins; but I have been considering going there from town to town to buy coins as there is allot of old stuff. You would be surprised about the amount of silver coins and as other mentioned most people like to keep a buffalo or two.

I Would like more information as I would like to attend and for those of you that go, if you allow me to, I can show you a side of Puerto Rico you never seen! Then maybe we can revisit this thread

>>

Well said...I was born and raised there as well and although there is lots of crime it is no different than going to another state. One thing that saddens me is that crime seems to be spreading to the parts of the island that were always considered to be safe. I wouldve never thought that Aibonito would have the National Guard all over the place. Bttom line is you have to have street smarts when going there. If you dont know anyone then minimize your trips that would make you a target, and for goodness sake dont walk around san Juan sporting gold on your neck and visible jewelry

RobertS · June 14, 2010 10:36PM

Funny you mentioned about the wearing jewelery, I had edited my post to give a couple pointers and that was one of them lol

TwoSides2aCoin · June 14, 2010 10:39PM

<< <i>I lived in Puerto Rico for two years. While it is a beautiful island, and very nice people, it is crime ridden.
Theft is a profession there and practiced widely. Stay in brightly lit, commercial areas, or the major hotels. Cheers, RickO >>

I've never been to Puerto Rico, but it sounds like you're describing my town.

Is Puerto Rico a coin town?

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