Bullion at shows

Hey guys and gals, first time posting here. I have never attended a coin show as they’re always a 2-3 hour drive from me. Thinking about hitting a few in 2021 as life hopefully returns to normal.

Can anyone let me know what I might see in the way of bullion at a show? Will there be a wide selection of gold, silver, and platinum bars? Or are things really limited to gold and silver eagles?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Local shows in my area (central NC), even the smallest ones with a dozen or so dealers, always had a least a couple of tables with silver bars. Probably gold bars as well, although I don't usually pay attention to them. I'm not sure I've ever seen platinum bars, but I've never been looking for them, either.

Welcome to CoinTalk!

 

I live in GA where we have many major shows. You can usually find bullion at spot at coin shows. Most of the gold and silver bullion you will find is a mix of generic rounds/bars and generic poured bars.

If I had to come up with a number I'd say about 15% of all the bullion at shows I go to are US eagles.

 

Thanks guys, great info. I live in Georgia also, but it seems like most of the shows are still a good drive. I’m down in the southern part. South Carolina, Florida, and Atlanta area seem much more active for shows.

 

In my area of PA you will find a little gold, lots of silver and copper. Most of it is over priced, Especially the copper. I don't recall ever seeing platinum. I don't think I've ever bought bullion at a show.

Welcome to CT.

 

Copper bars carry a crazy premium.

 

Heh. In one mixed lot I bought on eBay years ago, there were five one-GRAM copper bars -- in a baggie, with a receipt. At some point, someone purchased a set of six of them from Property Room Police Auctions Online -- for $10.00, plus $7.95 S&H, plus 70 cents tax. $3.11 per gram, for copper.

The price of copper was bouncing around four dollars or so at that time... per pound. That's less than one cent per gram. 300 times melt value? That's getting into 1916-D dime territory!

I made a profit on the other stuff in the lot, so I'm in them for zero. I've been trying to decide what to do with them. I think the receipt probably has more collector value than the bars.

 

At these shows - are the premiums for Eagles or maples better than online ?

 

I've found show prices are higher.

 

Last show I attended in Greenville SC was a fairly good sized show. Each table was as different and varied as the dealer that ran it. And there were several that did seem heavy in bullion. In fact I distinctly remember walking by one table as the dealer was pouring a large bag of “junk silver” into a large container.... There were expensive dealers and there were reasonably priced dealers and everything in between.

 

Yep! If you don't like to haggle, buy online! Every coin show I've ever been to has had bullion, some more than others but there's always some!

 

I'm in Colorado and the local coin circuit shows are always full of bullion dealers or guys that do Numis and Bullion. Everything you see online is available at these shows usually.

 

At coin shows here in California I see silver bullion all the time. I prefer to buy common Franklin halves. The good thing about our coin shows is you don't have to pay sales tax if you buy with cash. And tax in Calif. is nearly 10%

 

I'm pretty sure that's not the way the law is written.

 

Perry and Tifton have some pretty decent coin and currency shows. The one in Perry typically has 100+ dealers and usually happens in January. Jacksonville, Florida, also has a pretty large show that happens twice a year, typically during May and November.

 

I'm sure you're right. Same goes with the many flea markets and swap meets we have here, no sales tax if you pay with cash and I always pay with cash

 

Thanks for the tip on these three. None of them showed up on my initial calendar of shows search. Will look into them.

 

If you want the best deal in bullion, meet in person with cash. It has always been that way. It is a section of the market where they prefer cash transactions.

I don't judge, or pretend to know their accounting situation, just know a pile of Benjamins gets the best deal both in bullion and coin collecting. Always has, always will.

 

I think here in California we pay one of the highest sales tax rates in the country.

 

You pay one of the highest everything rates except for property taxes sir.