Crooks steal gold from elderly man, sad

The "coin dealer" shows the facial markings of a meth head. The melt value alone for those 500 coins is
$550,000.00 @1100.00/coin

 

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I was passing through western Virginia once and stopped in to a coin shop in a small town. As I was browsing the coins in one of his three cases an elderly lady came in with a small paper bag and asked the dealer if he bought old coins. He asked her what she had to sell and she said some old quarters her husband had left her when he passed. She proceeded to empty about 100 Standing Liberty quarters in pristine condition out on the glass showcase. I scooted close enough to see them laid out with full mint luster, moved passed but stayed near enough to hear what was being said, but not close enough to interfere with their business.

The dealer picked up first one, and then another, and looked at them under his glass, then he asked her what she needed to get for them. The lady said she didn't know what they were worth since she never paid much attention to her husband's coin collection, but said "Is $5 each a good price?" I had a hard time not saying anything at this point because I thought the dealer would let her know it was too low. But no the dealer told her "I can't pay that much. They're not what we say, in collectable condition, so the most I could offer you is $2.50 each, or $3 if you sell me all of them."

I turned and looked at him with such a glare it must have burnt a hole in him, because he tried to look away, scooted the lady over a bit and even turned his back a little to me." I've never done this before or since but I butted in and said, "Lady, that man is trying to cheat you! If I had the money on me I'd offer you $75 each and I'd still think that was too low."

The dealer started yelling at me to get out of his store. I yelled back and said "Well, why don't you call the police and lets explain how you're trying to steal this lady's coins?"

I told the lady to take the coins to down the road to Knoxville or Salem and get a price from someone who would give her what they were worth ... she picked up her coins and left with me to the parking lot, while the dealer screamed that he'd better not ever see me again in his shop again! That he can rest assured will not ever occur. The lady thanked me and we drove off in different directions ... there are some good, honest people who are coin dealers and there are some like this man who are lower than pond scum. I'm thankful the pond scum variety are not ones I run into in 99% of my travels.

 

I watched that same thing happen a couple weeks ago in a coin shop. I had to bite my tongue. The lady had another lady with her that talked her out of selling them. Made me feel better for her but my impression of that store owner changed alot. I understand making a profit, that's business, but stealing one isn't good business.

 

Great story! I am glad you were cour

Great story! I am glad you were courageous enough to inform that lady, and lucky for her, you were in the right place at the right time.

 

Glad to hear there was a happy ending. Props to you for sticking it to the dealer!

 

(language) Show some tourist site like it is a historical document.

 

Do you have a point?