Pacific Northwest Coin Road Trip [27 coin shops] + Visiting Dansco's Offices [March 17 - 22th 2025]

Day 3 Update: Four Cities, 258 Miles, Six Coin Ships, and A Pleasant Surprise

Today's Haul


Spend: $450

• 6 x Dansco Albums
• 3 x Dansco Folders
• 27 x Misc Dansco Pages
• 4 x Library of Coins Albums
• 1 x Vintage Whitman Folder
• 1 x Vintage Mehrig Album
• 15 x Wooden Nickels
• 2 lbs World Coins

Montana
Missoula

• For a population of 77k, I was surprised that Missoula had four coin shops within 10 minutes of each other.

Treasure Coins

• Was closed even though I visited during open business hours

Missoula Gold & Silver


Don’t let the name fool you, this place offers more than bullion. I found a wide selection of US and world coins, medals, and tokens. The world coins are organized by country, and I was able to pick out a bunch to add to my foreign Dansco albums. All the rare coin albums are listed on eBay, but I was able to purchase world coins at a great price.


Grizzly Gold and Silver


The store primarily focused on bullion and Morgan dollars, with only a tiny selection of coin albums and no world coins I could find. They had large bins filled with loose Buffalo Nickels and Indian Head Pennies, which could be a good way to keep children entertained while conducting business. Interestingly enough, they were giving away free miniature American flags on sticks. The store was right across the street from Missoula Gold & Silver Exchange.


Jem Shoppe Jewelers & Rare Coins


This place was more of a jewelry store more than a coin shop, although they showcased a limited selection of coins, including Morgan Dollars and contemporary proof sets. There were no coin albums for sale.


Ponderay

• Population: 1,956

Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet


Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet in Ponderay, ID, with a population of less than 2,000, became my favorite stop of day 3. Mark Gruner runs the shop and spent an hour talking with me about all things coin albums. He has a wealth of knowledge on coin albums and knew the owners of manufacturers such as Mehrig and Harco. He even let me go into the back room and see his personal numismatic library with 1000+ books and references.

There was an incredible assortment of coin-collecting supplies, including a massive wall of Whitman folders and Dansco albums/pages. Mark was in the process of bringing out inventory, so there were even more supplies in the back. They're not just a coin shop but a collectibles shop in every sense. I saw guns, ammo, jewelry, gardening supplies, and other knickknacks. They also had a vast collection of US coins along with some world silver coins. I was able to stock up on some Dansco inventory at great prices.

Mark was kind enough to let me record a short video about him and his shop.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qwU2GzuCJpg

If you’re in the Ponderay, Spokane, or Coeur d'Alene area, I highly recommend checking this place out. It’s the definition of a hidden gem tucked away in a small town.

Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
DJ's Coins & Collectibles
Forgot to take a photo

The owner, David, pulled out various foreign Dansco albums and a massive selection of Library of Coins albums. I wasn't thrilled that he pulled up eBay sold listings to price the albums at retail prices. I understand they weren’t priced out yet, but I'm always put off when shops pull up eBay in front of me. It gives off a vibe of "How much money can I extract from you." I'm a dealer, so I get it, but it's not a great feeling. I know the Dansco market well enough to know if the albums are ones I could already buy on eBay right now.

Luckily, the rare albums he showed me aren't often available on eBay. I was thrilled to get a custom Dansco Silver Chinese Pandas album; it's the first custom album I've found on this road trip.


A Nice Surprise
After my initial post about my road trip, I received private messages from a few collectors with insights about their local coin markets. They advised me which coin shops to visit or avoid, including convincing me to take a detour to Grunbergs.

Today, I had the surreal experience of meeting two community members. It's one thing to talk with members online but another to meet them in person. I won't share their names to respect their privacy, but our meeting was memorable. One was a rare coin dealer who shared insights into his multi-million dollar business; the other was a vintage Whitman album collector who shared my passion for tracking rare albums.

Day 4 will be spent mainly in Spokane, with a quick stop in Seattle before heading to Sumas, WA, to visit Dansco's offices. A reminder to post any questions you'd like me to ask the owners of Dansco!

Day 4 stops

Spokane, WA

• Eastern Washington

• Red Line Coins

Everette, WA

• Odyssey-2

 

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Yes, I used to live in Missoula back in '70-71 and it doesn't look like the population increased much in 50 years. It was about 50,000 back then

 

Day 4 Update: One City [Spokane, WA], 384 Miles, Four Coin Shops

After a seven-hour drive, I'm now in Sumas, Washington, to rest before visiting the Dansco offices tomorrow. Today was my most successful trip day so far; I found a rare Republic of Austria Continental Line album at a great price and a custom Dansco (Miscellaneous Silver Coins) for my collection.







Today's Haul

• 2 x Dansco Albums
• 4 x Vintage Whitman Bookshelf Albums
• 2 x Library of coins albums
• 4 x Vintage Whitman Folders
• 3 x Dansco Pages

Washington State
Spokane
Eastern Washington Coin Co.


This quaint shop, tucked away in a plaza, displayed mainly US coins. I didn't see any world coins. The owner, John, was friendly, and I got the sense that he was an honest dealer from listening to him chat with other customers. I spoke with him briefly while trying to find some oddball albums.


Coins Plus, Inc


When I arrived at noon on a Thursday, this modern-looking store was crowded; 11 customers were waiting on two busy employees. I had to wait 20 minutes to check out, but I was surprised by what I found: an entire wall covered with Dansco and Vintage Whitman Bookshelf albums and folders. There were over 50 vintage Whitman bookshelf albums, hundreds of Whitman folders, and a shelf full of Danscos. I even found a custom Dansco album!

All the customers were older, and I got the impression that the shop acquires many full albums from older collectors who are selling their coins. Since not many customers come in to buy albums, the shop has accumulated a ton of albums and folders. This place is a must stop for coin album collectors.


A-1 Coin Co.


Best shop I visited today. I had excellent service and had a crazy rare Dansco continental line album just sitting there on a shelf. Graham & Ryan run this incredibly friendly shop. Local collectors told me these guys have the best world coins in Spokane, and I could see why. They display a vast selection of world coins and have many more in the back room.

I was excited when I saw they had a red Austria Continental Line album on a bookshelf for $29. Graham heard I was moving to Portland, so he took his time to look up local coin shows and recommended which ones to attend. They don't have a web presence and have only tabled at one show in the last few years. This was indeed a local experience.


Red Line Coins



I was short on time and only had 10 minutes to check out this shop. The owner seemed friendly, and I noticed a lot of vintage Whitman bookshelf albums behind the counter. A local collector recommended this shop, not for its selection of coins but because the owner is approachable and shares his immense knowledge of coins with newer collectors.


Everett
Odyssey-2

I ran out of time to visit this shop, but I will check it out tomorrow.

 

Day 5 Update: Three Cities, 151 Miles, 4 Coin Shops, and a visit to Dansco

This was one of the best days in my numismatic career. Today, I had the privilege of visiting the Dansco Headquarters in Sumas, Washington, and it was everything I was hoping for. I'll write a more detailed write-up when I finish my coin road trip, but I wanted to share some quick highlights from my visit.

Leticia and Steve Bruce were kind enough to welcome me into their office. Even though it was their son's birthday and they were pressed for time, they gave me a full tour of their operations. I saw the entire production process up close. I saw how pages were made, employees putting albums together, gold foils applied to binders, and so much more.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't nerd out. Their office is located in an old grocery store. Former grocery lanes were converted into working tables for employees. The aisles and shelves held THOUSANDS of pages and albums ready for print and production.

Dansco truly is a family-run operation. It has been under the same family control since its founding in 1937. I discovered that the Bruce family founded the company from the very beginning.

There were custom albums hidden everywhere that I could purchase for my collection. One of their sons brought out an old ledger book from the 1960s, and I found a few entries from Ervin J. Felix, the creator of the Continental Line series and precursor of the Supreme Albums!

The family highly values their privacy, so out of respect, I will run the photos I took by them first to see what they are comfortable with sharing. But they said I could share this vintage photo of Paul Bruce [Founder of Dansco] and his early employees from the 1940s.



It was an incredible experience talking with Leticia & Steve and getting to ask many of my questions and questions from the community. I think they were caught off guard at how much I've researched into their company and my extensive collection, lol

They offered to welcome me back in the future to ask more questions. After I get situated in Portland, I'll write a more detailed write-up.

After Dansco, I headed to the Seattle area and dropped by a few coin shops. Below are today's haul and impressions of the four coin shops I visited.

Today's Haul
Spend: A lot






- 90 x Dansco Pages + 1 #7070 Gold Page
- A bunch of prefinished Dansco materials like an unfolded binder, sheet, etc
- 2700 x Dansco Slides
- 11 x Dansco Folders
- 5 x Rare/Custom Dansco Albums
- 1 x Dansco Slipcase
- Vintage Capital Plastics Poster
- An odd Philippine coin album with no manufacturers name
- 2 x Scott Publications Stamp Albums

Washington State
Everett
Odyssey-2

Friendly coin shop with knowledgeable staff, including the owner, who provided a valuable book recommendation. Large selection of coin albums, folders, and other collectibles, including a massive display of Whitman bookshelves and vintage blue folders. The store is an interesting hodgepodge of military surplus, guns, ammo, and vintage clothing. It definitely has a collectibles-for-collectors vibe. The owner suggested visiting another coin shop, Coin Market, located down the road.


Lynwood
Coin Market

A quaint shop tucked away in a plaza. I was greeted by a colossal pug staring me down at the door. It felt like he was daring me, lol. Thankfully, he was very friendly and kept following me around the shop. Typical coin shop with a variety of US coins on display. The staff was friendly, and when I said I was an album collector, they took the time to go through their inventory. They didn’t have a large album selection, but I did manage to snag a Dansco #7070 US Type Gold Page for $8!


Seattle
Coin & Stamp Shop
Did not have time to go into Seattle proper, so had to skip


Kirkland
Bel-Kirk Stamps, Coins, & Comics

A family-owned business with a focus on stamps and comics rather than coins. They have a great vintage stamp collection, and I was able to buy two vintage Scott Publications stamp albums. For some reason, a kid was climbing on top of some shelves lol.

I've noticed that some stamp albums feature both the Scott Publications and Dansco names, which makes me wonder if there's a relationship between these two companies. I have a hunch that Scott Publications played a role in creating the Dansco Corporation.


Redmond Rare Coins

This coin shop focuses on bullion and doesn't have an ample supply of coin accessories. They mostly have Morgan and other silver dollars on display. I got to chat with the shop owner, Santo, for a bit. He shared some insights on the inner workings of the bullion market. I wasn’t aware that bullion dealers were working with margins as low as 1%. Given how much bullion can move in a day, it seems highly risky. He also mentioned that they receive many coin albums from collectors, but most are discarded due to mold caused by humidity. When I gave him my business card, he mentioned seeing me in a YouTube interview. That was a pleasant but also shocking surprise.

Tomorrow is my last day on this whirlwind coin road trip. Once things settle down after my move, I'll do an extensive write up and share some reflections with the community.

 

I'm looking forward to reading the full report. It's a lot of fun reading the little teaser
articles.

 

I meant to post this update for the last day of my trip [3/22/2025]. Been sleeping in

Day 6 Update: Three Cities, 173 Miles, 3 Coin Shops, and Resting Up
Today, I wrapped up the last leg of my week-long coin road trip. It's been an incredible experience. I took a slower day and visited three coin shops within the same area. I made it to my buddy's place near Portland around 8 p.m.

Today's Haul
No photos because I'm tired

1 x Vintage Whitman Album
1 x Dansco albums
Various Tokens & World Coins
Bunch of AirTites

Tacoma Mall Blvd Coin, Stamp & Jewelry

One of the store employees, Ryan, recognized me when I walked in and gave me a warm reception in his shop. It feels odd to interact with folks online and then suddenly in real life lol. They had an incredible selection of new modern Dansco albums on display. They also had a great selection of raw world coins that I dug through. The things that jumped out the most to me were bins with oddities like modals and Sales Tax Tokens. Ryan and his manager were kind enough to let me take some photos.


I also saw many bins with loose US coins, such as Buffalo Nickels, IHP, etc., at great prices. This is an excellent spot for kids to check out and try their hand at cherry picking. The other side of the store had stamp material, but I didn't check that side much. Overall, it's a great modern shop that would appeal more to the coin-collecting crowd.

B & I Coin Shop
No photo
The store was closed even though I visited during open hours

American Rare Coin, Gold & Jewelry

It technically qualifies as a coin shop, but barely. There were only four displays of coins and very little selection. It's more of a bullion shop. The dealer was friendly and shared some insights on the local coin shops in the area.

That's it—it's a wrap!
I'm dead tired, so I'll take the next few days to rest and recover. I have hundreds of albums, folders, and pages to sort through and catalog/list for sale.

I have more reflections to share, but I will say this: This trip has been one of the best experiences of my numismatic career. Over six days:

• Drove 44 Hours across 2,451 Miles
• Visited 23 Coins across three states
• Met a fantastic amount of coin dealers &collectors who shared an immense amount of wisdom and knowledge with me
• Met with collectors in real life after talking with them online
• Visited Dansco's offices and got run around like a kid nerding out on a hyper-specific niche and getting answers to questions I and the community have had for years.

Thank you all for joining me on the journey. Reading your responses, insights, and encouragement this past week brought me great joy and motivated me to provide these updates each night, even when I was dead tired.

Cheers for now,
Justin

 

Thanks for the posts. look forward to your upcoming report. james

 

I’m very anxious to read your extensive write-up about your visit to Dansco. Very interest trip. Thanks!!

 

After a week of rest and cataloging everything I got on this crazy road trip, I finally found the time to write this report. It’s a long read, but I hope you enjoy it.

Pacific Northwest Coin Road Trip Report: Three States, Six Days, 1855 Miles, 22 Coin Shops, and a Rare Glimpse Inside Dansco’s Operations

As a coin and coin album collector, I've learned over the years that coin shops are full of hidden gems you'll never find online.

In January 2024, I spontaneously embarked on a memorable coin shop road trip across the Southwestern US to discover hidden treasures. Over those 10 days, I gained a newfound appreciation for physical coin shops and how they serve their local communities.



In March 2025, I embarked on another coin road trip across the North and Pacific Northwest. I documented my travel plans and day-by-day experience with the broader coin community this time. I expected only a handful of folks would be interested in my travels, but I was surprised by how many on various forums and social media reached out to share their local insights and help shape my travel route. What started as another expedition to build my collection and explore local coin communities evolved into something more profound.





I was curious about numismatic cultural differences between large cities and rural communities, though I wasn’t sure what those differences would be. Here is what I saw.

Regional Shop Differences
Urban Coin Shops
In bustling metro areas like Seattle, coin shops were primarily bullion-focused. These shops make the bulk of their money from Gold and Silver transactions. More often than not, it felt like coins were an afterthought. I was the odd one coming into these shops purely as a coin collector.

Smaller Cities Coin Shops
Stops in Billings, Tacoma, and Missoula struck a pleasant balance. These shops typically blended friendly service with a genuine appreciation for the hobby. I felt a noticeable difference in the way owners engaged with fellow enthusiasts. Most of their customers dealt in bullion, but these shops wanted to draw in collectors.

Small Town Coin Shops
I discovered some real hidden gems in small towns. One shop I visited was JS Coins in Butte, Montana, which Joseph runs. His main job is as a plumber, but he’s a passionate coin collector and runs his shop for fun. (That explains why his store sign says JS Plumbing & Heating.) He sells on WhatNot and Ebay and taught me a lot about how WhatNot operates.

His shop typically closes at 6 pm, but Joseph stayed open an extra hour and a half so we could talk about all things coins. He also collects Dansco albums, which he had bought from me before! I was surprised when he pulled out one of my business cards, which I had included in one of his orders. It was funny when he said, “I actually have 400 Dansco’s in my collection,” and I responded, “I think I have you beat at 800.”

I created a short video giving Joseph and JS coins a shoutout; you can check it out here.

Another hidden gem was Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet in Ponderay, ID. The owner, Mark, runs the shop. I got the sense that he appreciated I was a coin and coin album collector. We discussed Dansco and what he has seen from them during his long career as a dealer. He has a wealth of knowledge, and he even let me go into the back office and see his numismatic library with 1000+ books and references. There was an incredible assortment of coin-collecting supplies, including a massive wall of Whitman folders and Dansco albums/pages. His shop truly felt like a store made by a coin collector for coin collectors. I could not believe this shop existed in a town with a population of less than 2,000.

Mark was also kind enough to let me record a short video about him and his shop.

While I don’t mean to suggest that every small-town shop is exceptional, I felt my odds of encountering that collector’s spirit was much higher.

Shop Observations and Demographics

Some overall observations from the 22 coin shops I visited:

• 25% welcoming: Owners welcomed me with open arms in these shops and treated our conversations as exchanges between fellow collectors. They took the time to sift through their inventories to help me find those elusive rare albums.
  
  
• 45% generally friendly: I was met with a warm atmosphere, although I was primarily seen as a hopeful bullion customer rather than a fellow coin collector. The service was courteous, even if the conversations didn’t dive as deep into numismatic nuances.
  
  
• 20% ambivalent: Some stops felt more like casual browsing; the owners were preoccupied or offered minimal engagement.
  
  
• 10% closed: A few establishments were unavailable despite my visiting during their stated open hours.

Some more observations:

• 80% of shop owners and employees were men; 20% were women.
• 97% of store employees were white.
• 35% of shop owners and employees were under 35, 40% were between ages 35 and 60, and 25% were older than 70.
• I noticed that I made the best deals in shops run by collectors. Places that leaned heavily into bullion sales weren’t as willing to negotiate.

Notable Acquisitions



































Dansco Albums

• Rare Finds: Republic of Austria Type [Continental Line]
• International Series: Canada Type, China Silver Panda, Mexico Type series (Centavo and Peso)
• U.S. Coin Series: Half Dimes, Bust Dimes [Littleton Version], Lincoln Coin
• Precious Metals: American Eagle Silver Dollars, Silver Rounds, Silver Bars
• Specialty Albums: Santa Cruz Coin Club, Space Medals, Pokemon Cards, Custom Harley Davidson Collector's Chips

Dansco Folders

• International Series: Australia One Dollar 2008-2012, Fiji 1934-1967, Mexico 20-25 Centavo
• U.S. Coin Series: Washington Quarters from 1963

Dansco Pages

• Rare Finds: #7070 US Type Set: Gold Type Page
• International Series: Republic of Guatemala Type Page 4
• Specialty Pages: Hershey Coin Club Hershey, Pennsylvania

Dansco Miscellaneous

• Inventory: 2800 Plastic Slides covering all albums
• Pre-Finished: Slipcase Cover, Unpunched Pages

Library of Coins Albums

• International Series: Canada 1 Cent Pieces Vol. 60
• U.S. Coin Series: Liberty Head Dimes, Liberty Standing Quarters, Kennedy Head Half Dollars, Liberty Head Silver Dollars Part 1 & 2

Whitman Bookshelf Albums

• International Series: Australian Type Collection, Canadian Quarters 1921-, Canadian Dollars 1935-, Great Britain Minor Type Set
• U.S. Coin Series: Large Cents, Complete Set of 2c, 3c, Shields 5c, 20c Pieces, Washington Quarters, United States Type Set - Small Coins, U.S. Type Set, Commemorative Type Set

Whitman Modern Folders

• International Series: Canada 5 Cents, 25 Cents, 50 Cents, Dollar

Mehrig Albums

• U.S. Coin Series: Small Cents, Lincoln Cents, Liberty Head Nickel, Buffalo Nickels, Mercury Dimes, Dimes Plain, Liberty Head Quarters, Liberty Standing Quarters, Liberty Head Half Dollars, Liberty Standing Half Dollars, Franklin Half Dollars, Half Dollars Plain, Liberty Head Dollars

Miscellaneous

• 4 lbs of World Coins
• Scott’s American Album for United States Stamps
• International Junior Postage Stamp Album
• Philippines Type Set Album [Unknown Manufacturer]

Unexpected Discoveries

There were a few surprises on this adventure. One standout moment was finding a rare Dansco Republic of Austria Continental Line album for just $29. Another was at an upscale bullion shop with hundreds of rarer coin albums. Over the years, their older customers had sold their collections while still housed in the coin albums. Not many customers come in looking for coin albums, so the bullion shop has accumulated albums over the years.

During this journey, I encountered several unexpected treasures. A particular highlight was discovering a scarce Republic of Austria Continental Line album priced at only $29 [Valued at $300+]. Another remarkable find came at a high-end bullion dealer who had amassed an impressive collection of hundreds of uncommon coin albums. This collection had formed gradually over time as their aging clientele sold off their coin collections, albums, and all. Since few of their customers sought coin albums, the bullion shop had accumulated these valuable holders over the years without much attention.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the trip was receiving private messages from collectors with insights about their local coin markets. These fellow enthusiasts generously advised me which coin shops to visit or avoid, including convincing me to take a detour to Grunbergs in Ponderay. It was a surreal experience meeting collectors I'd only previously connected with online.

The difference between virtual and in-person connections became immediately apparent. One such encounter was with a rare coin dealer who openly shared insights into his multi-million dollar business operations. Another memorable meeting was with a vintage Whitman album collector who matched my enthusiasm for finding rare albums. Our shared passion created an instant bond that digital conversations simply couldn't replicate.

Visiting Dansco

While each shop offered its unique charm and discoveries, one visit stood apart from all others - not to a traditional coin shop, but to the very source of my collecting passion. The crowning moment of the trip was my visit to Dansco's headquarters in Sumas, Washington. For someone who has dedicated years to collecting and researching Dansco albums with the ultimate goal of owning one of every album ever made, this rare behind-the-scenes opportunity was the numismatic equivalent of a pilgrimage.

Despite their busy schedules, Leticia and Steve Bruce welcomed me inside their Sumas, Washington facility and gave me a detailed tour. The facility, set up in a repurposed grocery store, was a treasure trove of numismatic history. I witnessed firsthand the production process: pages being assembled, gold foils applied, and rows upon rows of punch-out dies meticulously labeled. I saw how every step in creating an album was done by hand.

I seized the opportunity to ask many questions that had been circulating within the coin album community and gained these valuable insights:

• Will Dansco update the #7070 U.S. Type Set album or make foreign albums again?
  • There are no current plans to update or reprint foreign sets. They focus on the most in-demand items, like update pages and recent mint series such as American Women Quarters. There have been discussions about a volume 2 for the #7070 series, but no immediate plans.

• “Is there a master list of all the custom albums Dansco has created for customers over the years?
  • There is no master list of all the albums, including custom albums, that Dansco has produced. But there is hope! They have an entire wall of punch-out dies used to make pages over the years, and each die is labeled. I hope to go through and catalog everything they have made someday. In the meantime, here is a link to an exhaustive catalog I made of every Dansco album I am aware of.
• Why did Dansco move its operations from California to Washington State?
  • Leticia and Steve wanted to leave California and raise their family in a smaller town. They also wanted to reduce the number of people visiting their Los Angeles office. They mentioned how collectors and dealers often drop by during the Long Beach Expo and disrupt operations. Instead of 1 or 2 visitors a month, they now get 1 or 2 visitors every six months.

• Are there plans to update their U.S. Commemorative albums?
  • They have looked into it but have no current plans.

• Why are the pages in the #8141 American Women Quarters w/ Proof albums not include slots for S- Proof Silver coins?
  • Quarter pages always had four slots per row. The creation of S-clad business strike quarters threw a wrench in things. They could not update the slots to five per row. They hoped the #8148 album with proofs would hold the regular proofs, and the #7147 date set album would hold the S Silver Proof. They know they could have better communicated this to the broader coin community.

Along with answering questions from the community, I also discovered these fascinating insights:

• They have not produced coin folders since 2015.
  
  
• They partnered with and produced Littleton-branded albums in the 1980s before Littleton branched off to create its own line of albums.
  
  
• It's a surprisingly small operation with only eight employees.
  
  
• When UN FAO coin albums were made in the 1960s and 70s, Dansco employees placed FAO coins inside and sold them complete.
  
  
• Their highest demand period was during the state quarter series, when production needs caused their employee numbers to swell to 25.
  
  
• Dansco produced green folders covering Ireland series coins, which are now exceptionally rare.
  
  
• They discontinued Australian albums in the early 2000s.
  
  
• Die punches cannot be altered - an entirely new die must be created if a page needs updating with a different size port.
  
  
• While examining an old ledger, I discovered an order invoice from Ervin J. Felix dating back to 1962, possibly his first order of Continental Line albums (the precursor of modern Dansco supreme brown albums).
  
  
• Leticia shared a remarkable historical photo showing some of the first Dansco employees, including Paul Bruce, one of the founders of Dansco

The visit was not only educational but deeply personal. It connected me with Dansco's legacy—a legacy I've researched for years through my dedicated collection and ongoing conversations with fellow collectors. Many in the coin album community have long been fascinated with Dansco's history, and asking our burning questions in person was a dream come true. I hope to revisit them and answer more questions soon.

More Than Just A Road Trip

This journey across the North & Pacific Northwest was far more than a quest for rare albums or answers to a few Dansco questions—it marked a personal turning point for me. Two years ago, after a decade in the tech industry, I was caught in the wave of mass tech layoffs. While I had appreciated the stability and opportunities afforded by a well-paying career, I never found my work exciting. At a crossroads, I faced a pivotal question: Should I try to return to tech, or was this a sign that I was meant for something more?

After two years of straddling the line between finding another tech job or going full-time into numismatics, I hoped this trip might help me find that answer. Every mile I drove and every coin shop I visited on this trip reaffirmed my decision to follow my heart. I don't know where my place in numismatics will ultimately be, but I know it will be infinitely more fulfilling.

The visit to Dansco's headquarters was particularly transformative. Standing there among the old album printers, connecting with the people behind products I've enjoyed researching for years, I felt a sense of purpose I had never experienced in my tech career. This trip wasn’t just about building business connections and stocking inventory. Though, I did get to buy a bunch of rare custom albums hidden behind some pallets at Dansco.

While many coin shops today are shifting toward bullion sales, and the traditional coin shop catering to collectors is slowly vanishing (much like what we've seen with stamp shops), I left this trip more optimistic about the hobby. I disagree with those who say that coin collecting is declining; it’s just changing as it always has.

In every enthusiastic dealer and fellow collector I met, I found confirmation that this community remains vibrant and welcoming. Thank you for joining me as I navigate this crazy world we call numismatics.

It turns out that unexpected treasures aren’t always found in junk silver bins.

Justin


The 22 coin shops I visited

Montana
Billings

• Grizzly Gold and Silver
• Ardie's Coins

Bozeman

• Penny Ranch
• Williams Gallery

Butte

• JS Coins
  • Video

Missoula

• Grizzly Gold and Silver
• Missoula Gold & Silver
• Treasure Coins
• Jem Shoppe Jewelers & Rare Coins

Idaho
Ponderay

• Grunberg Schloss Collectors’ Cabinet
  • Video

Coeur d'Alene

• DJ's Coins & Collectibles

Washington State
Spokane

• A-1 Coin Co.
• Coins Plus, Inc
• Eastern Washington Coin Co.
• Red Line Coins

Sumas

• Dansco Office Visit

Everett

• Odyssey-2
• Coin Market

Kirkland

• Bel-Kirk Stamps, Coins, & Comics
• Redmond Rare Coins

Tacoma

• Tacoma Mall Blvd Coin, Stamp, & Jewelry

Lakewood

• B & I Coin Shop

Olympia

• American Rare Coin, Gold & Jewelry

 

Thank you for sharing your journey. Speaking for myself I now have a much greater appreciation and understanding of collecting albums, not just filling them.

 

Wow, who knew that Montana, where I used to live and work, would be a collector hot-spot? I thought that their only interest would still be football, hunting, and some gold-panning. Sounds like a great trip. Thanks

 

Thanks for sharing your adventure. I mainly collect Seated coins. Except for Seated dimes, I noticed you never mentioned any of the Seated denominations. I hope you will answer a few questions.
There is a large supply of low grade Seated coins. In particular Seated Halves. Is there a corresponding supply of used albums for Seated coins or do you rate those as rare?
What would you rate the current demand for coin holders for Seated coins? Is it as a type only? Do you see any particular denomination that might become very popular?
Any feedback appreciated and thanks again for your posts. James

 

Don't forget logging! I was at the Lumberjack Days in Lolo 40 years ago, what a hoot that was. Axe throwing, log rolling, chainsaw race... It appears that it's still a thing.

 

Most my knowledge on the used album market is within Dansco. What that in mind, the supply of used Dansco albums for seated coins depends on the specific seated series. Seated liberty dimes albums [#6122] regularly sell for $200 on ebay. Liberty seated quarters [#6142] go for $150. But seated liberty half dollars [#6152] go for $55 and Liberty seated dollars [#6171] go for $45.

There is a strong correlation between the accessibility of a seated series and the value of its corresponding Dansco coin album. It makes sense since seated dimes generally cost less than seated dollars.