Hi all - it's been a while since I've been here - just started lurking again. Hope to be more active in the future. Though I've had a coin collection for more than 40 years, most of that time I have not been much of a collector...more of a collector-wanna-be, still kind of a newbie. I'm trying to read all my books and learn more. I've recently retired, so I'm trying to get organized and more educated so I can work on my hobbies, coin collecting being one of them! I do have a question, or a few - hope it doesn't violate any forum rules: For anyone who lives in/frequents/visits the Milwaukee, WI area, do you have a favorite coin dealer that you like to work with? Who? Why do you like them vs others? I'm looking for suggestions. Do you like the inventory? I'm sure some are much larger than others. Prices? The owner/sales people? Conversely, do you have any that you specifically avoid? (Maybe this question is better answered in a DM). There are like 20+ coin dealers in the Milwaukee area, and the only two I've been to are Greater Milwaukee Coin & Jewelry (in Brookfield), and David Derzon Coins (in Milwaukee). I've only been to GMC a few times, and Derzon only once. So, I don't have too much to go on. I know there's another GMC in Waukesha - is that one better/worse than the Brookfield one? How is working with Ken vs Russ? I have to admit, I didn't get much of a warm, fuzzy feeling from Derzon, but I was only there once, and not for very long. What do you know about Paragon Numismatics? Karl's Coins? Gordy's Coins? Oak Creek Currency & Coin? American Coin & Jewelry? Heritage Coin Sales? There are too many to choose from. Any input would be appreciated! TIA.
I intend to stay around! Now that I'm free from 50+ hour work weeks, I should have more time to devote to my hobbies, including coin collecting and reading and contributing to this forum!
For others who may respond: Going to coin shows sound like fun, though a little intimidating. I think I should just go to one or two and walk around, with no intentions of buying very much. I'd need to get a feel for how they work, before being comfortable working the scene Basically, I'm looking for a good, honest, guy/gal who might be willing to chat to a relative newbie and teach me a little as we talked about coins, or who would help me find something decent for my Dansco 7070 Type Set and not rip me off. I would be mostly looking for lower dollar figure US coins (say, mostly $5 - $300 coins). Maybe someone who would give a fair price (I know they have to make a profit, too) on a bunch of my coins that I don't need anymore (say, lower grade silver and about 4,500 Wheaties). Basically, I'd like to find someone that wouldn't be upset if I came in and hung around once in a while to just peruse their coins and chat with them. Someone I could maybe build a relationship with, over time. Not someone who would prefer if I just came in, knew what I wanted, bought it, and got out. I'm not really looking for stacking gold/silver or bullion at this time. The thought did run through my head to look into silver prices, and maybe buy some junk silver coins (low grade Mercs, Washingtons, Walkers, Franklins, etc.). But, I don't think I have enough $$$ to really play that game. Like I mentioned in my post above, I'm just starting to get organized, so I can learn more and get back into coin collecting. Right now, it's more of a hoarding of junk than an organized collection. I have to get rid of the junk and get my little collection to be organized and figure out what I actually want to keep/collect. But, when I'm ready to start buying, I'd love to have a good guy to be my go-to. Ebay is always there, and I'll give that a look also, but it seems like it would be fun to go into a shop and chat with a dealer as I look over his selection of coins, too! Anyway, thanks for reading my long-winded msg! Thanks for any advice!
if you are able to drive, there's a coin show in Madison end of this month I believe. you should be able to find the info about the show on google.
Eric, I'm in West Bend and have never been to any Milwaukee area coin shops. Other than your type set, what kind of coins are you collecting? I get a lot of my questions answered from my coin club here. Have you tried joining the coin club in Milwaukee? The Milwaukee Numismatic Society meets every third Tursday of every month. There is a coin show in Oshkosh on the 19th as well. Hope you can get some of your questions answered. Regards.
What kinds of coins am I collecting? Good question! I'm not really collecting anything at the moment. More like, I have a little hoard of coins from my past. Lots of junk, some a little better. What do I like? Kinda anything that catches my eye. That's been the problem in the past. I have always had shiny object syndrome! My goal once was to collect a set of Morgans by Date and MM. And, a set of Mercury Dimes by Date and MM. I also found a liking for WLHs, Franklins, IHCs, FECs, early copper, Buffs, 2-cent and 3-cent silver. Like I said, shiny object syndrome! I think, going forward, I'm going to sell off a bunch of stuff I don't really want and probably just look for anything that interests me, not necessarily being stuck on completing any particular set. I'm sure it would likely stick to US coins....for now. I have not tried a coin club, yet. Maybe some day. Might be good for me to meet other collectors and learn. Might be even better than my plan to strike a relationship with a coin dealer. Thanks for the idea!
