Pawn shop steal!

I hear it is getting hard to find 90% and ASEs, so you could imagine my surprise when I walked into a fairly new pawn shop and found these. 10 walking halves (some in almost uncirculated condition), an ASE and an old Engelhard Prospector. The guy wanted $150 but as I looked away towards the door he says he would take $125. I offered $115 and it was all she wrote!

I see the prospectors sell for $35-40 which still surprises me but my question is for the walking halves. These are the first I own of higher quality. The 1942 and 1944 show virtually no wear and are the first I have seen that dont show wear straight down the middle of the woman. I see similar condition coins selling for 30-40 but am interested in what you guys think.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

very nice find!

 

I think I'll wait for the usual suspects to pile on about how you're a terrible person for not INSISTING on paying full retail for them.

Great find! Post some close-ups of the better Walkers when you can...

 

Congrats! Less than melt! Almost unheard of at a pawn shop (unless you are selling).

 

Nice job. The good ol' look toward the door trick

 

Thanks guys. Needless to say I will be visiting the shop everyday at lunch from now on.

 

I've only done that when the person was a "friend" of the individual that they purchased from. If a business chooses to sell something for below market, that's their prerogative. Of course, it's entirely possible that the person who sold it was new and will get fired or have to pay the shop back... Like how Chumlee seems to be constantly threatened with.

 

I am sure they paid someone less than I paid. He said they normally pay $18 per oz on 999 and for gold they pay $14/gram for 14k, $24/gram for 24k. He did say as long as he makes $1 they are fine with bargaining.

 

Nice job of being in the right place at the right time...

 

Excellent score! :thumb: Just be sure they pass the magnet test. Congrats! TC

 

Why didn't you offer to buy ALL their metals, in that case??? $744 per troy 24k... And they'll sell $1 per gram over that. That sounds impossible.

 

I did get all they had, the shop doesnt sell their gold, just sends it out to a refiner. The guy did mention they save up their wheats and indians, so I am hopeful they will have some good scores.

 

Went back today and got this assortment for $100! I was surprised to get my first unc War nickel and a very nicely toned 1883 Indian Head.

 

I'm guessing the owner of this Pawn Shop doesn't know what these coins are worth, no way anyone who owns a store around here would be near $100 for all those. Great finds!

 

Lucky! I'm jealous!

 

The roll in the middle are war nickels and most are junk but I was very surprised to walk in and see all this. The guy I dealt with is the franchisee, he said as long as he gets more than he paid and he moves it fast he doesn't care what they are worth. He is one of those, it's only worth what someone will pay for it guys. If he made money at 100 I'm guessing he paid much less.

 

That looks like well under half melt. Amazing.

That reminds me of a guy at a coin show who said "I know it's a low price, but I'm still making money". Yeah, but you could be making a lot MORE money, and STILL be selling for well under the going rate. There comes a time, though, when you stop questioning and just buy with a big smile.

 

I'm not going to say he should have payed more but I am going to say (and I am truly sorry) that I never really believe anyone when they say that they bought silver for less than melt.....I mean, a pawn shop owner is not an idiot for one, and for two it is easily available information as to how much silver is trading for....take into consideration how many people jump at buying silver for melt and it just doesn't make sense....i honestly find it easier to believe that someone wants to get some virtual props for a score at a pawn shop that never happened than to believe that a business owner just decided that he would throw some money away for kicks. I could be wrong, and I may be a jerk, but that's what I believe. Sorry again if i am wrong.

 

half melt...exactly....never happens.....even if he is still making money off of them because he only payed a hundred or so he still has overhead and needs to make as big a profit as possible.......there is just no way he gave them away for half melt....none.....sorry

 

Nice job dude! I do feel a little pity for the poor soul who got less than $100 for all that silver.