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Coin hunting in Atlanta and a Dahlonega report
scotty1419
Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭
I just got back from a day trip to Dahlonega yesterday and had a great time! It's a very fun small town up in the mountains and a great mix of history and old town charm. After getting a late morning start the family cruised downtown's touristy shops - there's a Dahlonega General Store with old time candy etc and we went for a great burger at The Porter House (I'd recommend this place!).
I was excited to take the 'mint tour' housed in Georgia's oldest standing courthouse and the Dahlonega set is nicely housed (and guarded). Unfortunately I followed the rules about no photos of the set so I dont have anything to show
. I was speaking with one of the museum operators who mentioned that since the collection is on loan apparently a picture of the set surfaced on the net a while back which greatly peeved the college for some reason (maybe copyright...?).
I think the biggest thing for any collectors to note is that there is nothing in the realm of coin buying opportunities in the area despite all the mint history right there. It was great learning about the area's gold and mines though - if the weather had been nicer I'm sure we would have tried our hand at mining. We met some friends for lunch who live in the area and they told stories of a river dredging operation they run in the summer which sounded very interesting.
As you're driving into town you can make out the golden tower of the college building quite clearly which was the site of the Dahlonega mint back in the day and is visible from downtown. Apparently the area also has numerous wine opportunities in the summer with five operating wineries. The family and I had a lot of fun and hopefully we'll be able to go back up again. It's very beautiful country with some nice mountain views on the drive up.
Over the past week I've also tried to visit a bunch of Atlanta area coin shops while I'm visiting my family with mixed success. I went over to the Buckhead area north of downtown Atlanta a few days ago where three very prominent ones are located but all were appointment only and probably too rich for my blood. A day later I went to a couple local flea markets where I had some luck getting hole fillers for the walker set and a few halves/dimes under spot. Later we went east of the city in what would certainly be called the backwoods to the smallest shop I've ever seen which also shared space with a barber shop! (You could literally hear the clippers going in the background). This was a really neat place with piles of coins of all sorts. In total I picked up 3 early dates in VG-VF for my Walker set and a fair amount of junk silver for between 12-18x face. A very fun/good day!
I was surprised overall that coin shops in Atlanta are very spread out and far between - making visits difficult. However there is a "We buy Gold" setup in every town.
I was excited to take the 'mint tour' housed in Georgia's oldest standing courthouse and the Dahlonega set is nicely housed (and guarded). Unfortunately I followed the rules about no photos of the set so I dont have anything to show
. I was speaking with one of the museum operators who mentioned that since the collection is on loan apparently a picture of the set surfaced on the net a while back which greatly peeved the college for some reason (maybe copyright...?).I think the biggest thing for any collectors to note is that there is nothing in the realm of coin buying opportunities in the area despite all the mint history right there. It was great learning about the area's gold and mines though - if the weather had been nicer I'm sure we would have tried our hand at mining. We met some friends for lunch who live in the area and they told stories of a river dredging operation they run in the summer which sounded very interesting.
As you're driving into town you can make out the golden tower of the college building quite clearly which was the site of the Dahlonega mint back in the day and is visible from downtown. Apparently the area also has numerous wine opportunities in the summer with five operating wineries. The family and I had a lot of fun and hopefully we'll be able to go back up again. It's very beautiful country with some nice mountain views on the drive up.
Over the past week I've also tried to visit a bunch of Atlanta area coin shops while I'm visiting my family with mixed success. I went over to the Buckhead area north of downtown Atlanta a few days ago where three very prominent ones are located but all were appointment only and probably too rich for my blood. A day later I went to a couple local flea markets where I had some luck getting hole fillers for the walker set and a few halves/dimes under spot. Later we went east of the city in what would certainly be called the backwoods to the smallest shop I've ever seen which also shared space with a barber shop! (You could literally hear the clippers going in the background). This was a really neat place with piles of coins of all sorts. In total I picked up 3 early dates in VG-VF for my Walker set and a fair amount of junk silver for between 12-18x face. A very fun/good day!
I was surprised overall that coin shops in Atlanta are very spread out and far between - making visits difficult. However there is a "We buy Gold" setup in every town.
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Dalton Gold & Silver Exchange
706-226-3504
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Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Do they still the tourist do it yourself gold mine. Me and the family where there 25 or 30 years ago
and went there undeer a barn like sturcture and panned for gold and got some neat nuggets. The
history of gold mining there is fantastic to hear about.
<< <i>That would be correct DrBuster! The operator was a very nice helpful guy too. >>
Yeah he's a good guy. Need to get over there actually, been a couple months.
Tiny: yes they still have self panning there and in Helen. Also some gem hunting/mining there as well.
As part of the gold museum visit they have a really nice 20~ min video about the mining history and they did mention the bit about gold specks in the bricks since they were made locally - another very neat fact!
Although if you visit and you're gold-hungry enough, there are plenty of those little souvenir vials available with flaked 24kt gold
Clicky here for some pics of the Dahlonega Museum from my trip.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
<< <i>They do still have 2 mines that you can do your own panning at - I'm hoping if we get to make a 2nd trip I'll have the opportunity for that - and when it's warmer!
As part of the gold museum visit they have a really nice 20~ min video about the mining history and they did mention the bit about gold specks in the bricks since they were made locally - another very neat fact!
Although if you visit and you're gold-hungry enough, there are plenty of those little souvenir vials available with flaked 24kt gold
I was able to see the room with the bricks that you can see the gold. I thought you would really have to look to see them, but it was extremely easy since they where all over.
I went to the mine where the "glory hole" was found. I was successful in panning for gold and left with about .25 cents worth of flakes lol. One fact that I liked was the pureness of Dahlonega gold which is the purest gold ever mined.
<< <i>
I was surprised overall that coin shops in Atlanta are very spread out and far between - making visits difficult. However there is a "We buy Gold" setup in every town.
I have not been able to make it to the barber shop place yet (other side of town, been closed both times).
If you make it to marietta there are two shops within a few miles. One is tiny and shares space with a sports card dealer, but they are nice guys. The other one is much bigger and the lady that owns it is very nice. BUT -- dont park in the lot directly around the corner. Someone else owns it and you'll be spending 125 on boot removal instead of coins
Robinsons Coins in Marietta, right off the square used to be a decent little shop for more modern stuff. From time to time they would get some older stuff in.