Reputable dealers in Washington DC?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by ccarroll, May 29, 2015.

  1. ccarroll

    ccarroll Member

    Too bad I didn't think of this before. I'm going briefly to Washington, and I thought it might be a good opportunity to slip a few coins in my pocket and see if anyone is interested. Any suggestions? I found one person listed in professional numismatists, but it doesn't even look like he's a dealer.
     
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  3. beef1020

    beef1020 Junior Member

    You could check out Bonanza coins up in Silver Spring, Julian Leidman has been running it for a couple decades.
     
  4. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    A well known dealer
    BUT
    several experiences with him have led me to believe that his offers are on the lower side.
    And he's in Maryland.

    In fact most (all?) B&M dealers are in Maryland or Virginia.
    In the immediate DC metro area there is Coins of the Realm (Rockville, MD).
    All the other stores are further out (20+ miles).
     
    swamp yankee likes this.
  5. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    You do realize that you are looking for a 'reputable dealer' in Wash, D.C.?

    How of the US Senate & Congress?
     
    Whipps likes this.
  6. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Yeah you what they say about accountants and politicians! :rolleyes:
     
  7. swamp yankee

    swamp yankee Well-Known Member

    Finding a "legit" dealer in the "seat of corruption of the free world" will be impossible unless you're looking for a barrel of "palm grease".....
     
  8. Silverhouse

    Silverhouse Well-Known Member

    Common Cents coins in Annapolis is good. Sandy is the owner. I'd call ahead and tell him what you're looking for. He is in and out of the shop sometimes, and if it's a slow day he'll usually close the store around 4 P.M.
     
  9. ccarroll

    ccarroll Member


    To my surprise, I actually managed to get out there to Bonanza. It was not at all a good experience. He was courteous, but didn't spend even a few moments talking about the coins at all, and only gave me a quick overall price. When I pressed him for the specific price on my one bigger Austrian coin, I think he gave me the absolute lowest price that anyone has offered.

    Interesting, though, so thanks anyway. Even the bad experiences can be helpful for comparison.
     
  10. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    I don't know how he stays in business.
    But he has a table at all of the Balto Whitman shows.
     
  11. V. Kurt Bellman

    V. Kurt Bellman Yes, I'm blunt! Get over your "feeeeelings".

    [chuckle] The OP used "reputable" and "Washington DC" in one title. As if...
     
  12. Silverhouse

    Silverhouse Well-Known Member

    Well, there is some truth to that. Finding a good dealer in the D.C./Maryland area is difficult. I find myself buying from online sources for coins that I need, that my LCS's don't have. Sometimes you get a deal if they don't like a particular series, if they like them it seems they hike up the price more.
     
  13. ccarroll

    ccarroll Member

    But it's not just that he stays in business - he was recommended to me by two or three people.

    Perhaps it may be because, since he offered me very low prices, he may possibly also sell at low prices?
     
  14. beef1020

    beef1020 Junior Member

    Carroll, I'm just gonna throw this out there, but if everyone is giving you low prices and/or not much interest it's probably because the coins have little demand in a retail setting.

    Many of us experience the same issues when we try to sell, hence the advice given to sell on Ebay. You get a slightly higher price because you are cutting out the middle man, but you have to put in work to do it. If you are unwilling, or unable, to put in that work, then you have to pay the middleman to do it.

    You made reference to a $3000 setup, and some people certainly spend that much, but just about any digital camera will do the job, phone/point and click, etc.
     
  15. KoinJester

    KoinJester Well-Known Member

    No, not really he is one of the highest priced dealers there is. Now did he wait on you or one of his employees?
     
  16. ccarroll

    ccarroll Member

    It was The Man himself, KoinJester. He was perfectly civil, but you could tell even before he saw the coins that he wasn't that involved. It's okay, not everyone likes to cultivate customers. It was just disappointing because it was a big deal to get out to his place.

    Beef, you're absolutely right, my coins aren't wildly valuable or wildly rare. But, still, when there's a difference between being offered $300 or $400, I feel that it behooves me to shop around. It's not that I'm unwilling to do the work - it's just that I've been avoiding Ebay, partly because I don't want to do transactions online, but especially because I like the idea of someone seeing the item in person, so there's no chance he'll be disappointed. In all likelihood, I've actually done more work than someone who just sits at home, snaps a pic, and posts on Ebay.
     
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