What I like best about collecting is getting a bag of random coins and sorting through them. I think just going on ebay and buying the missing ones it cheating to me. How can I buy silver coins without paying a premium?
Garage sales where people are selling things they know nothing about and are just happy to get rid of it. I wouldn't bet on Craigslist, you get better deals on eBay. As for flea markets, well, my only advice is to just avoid them altogether.
Advice I have given before - an advert in the local paper. You can pick up bucket loads of assorted coinage and spend hours sorting out the wheat from the chaff. I have had some spectacular finds this way. You can also try house-clearance auctions - but you have to be lucky not to be competing with coin dealers who know the full worth of an auction lot.
what kind of silver coins? most dealers i go to sell 90% for melt, rarely ever a premium. sometimes it has been around the block other times uncirculated.
So you can buy from dealers at 90% melt value? I am having to pay $2.25 to $2.50 for common mercury dimes and over $30 for morgan or peace dollars. Do you go to local dealers?
no, they sell 90% silver coins for their melt value, i do not pay 90% of the silver price. and lately 2.25/2.50 has been the price for a silver dime. as for silver dollars, they contain more silver then four quarters. plus they are more desirable so demand a premium. i usually see one to three dollars over spot for silver dollars. keep in mind though because the price drops doesn't mean you can just go to a coin store and buy it for that cheap. the dealers do not magically have the new price in their stuff, i wait a few days after a drop then go and see if they have anything at the new price. and yes i go to local dealers
I know you were joking, but it is not too funny here at the moment. A collector living only a few miles from me experienced that on the 21st December. Two youths pushed their way into his home and stole his lifetime collection of Coins, Stamps and collectables. Needless to say he is devastated. So if anyone, particularly in the UK, is approached by youths offering old coins at unrealistically cheap prices in the next few weeks - let the police know. I doubt he will have the heart to collect again, but I am sure he would like to see them caught and punished.
It was meant to be funny - probably not in the best taste though. Sorry to hear about your fellow collector - I'd think that robbery would at least get the full attention of the police. Hopefully most/all can be recovered.
