To Littleton or not to Littleton?

hey cdcda,

while I see your point, in that making broad, general statements is dangerous, sometimes it works. In the case of Littleton coins, they do a lot of business. Through advertising, they are probably one of the most commonly known coin businesses in operation. That makes them accessable to people who see their ads in a magazine. Plus, they do a lot of business with a coin of the month program, which most people around here tend to think is a bad idea - it takes the collecting out of collecting. If people spend time searching for the things they are specifically looking for, you would be hard pressed not to find a better deal for the same coin you would find at Littleton.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I will add that Coast to Coast's prices on Silver Eagles and other bullion are the best I have found anywhere. But they are loose and fast with their grading. I have purchased Morgan Dollars (not "O") from them that they called "Gem BU" their highest grade, when the eagle didn't have any definition on the breasts. The hairline was poor too.

I have said it before, am saying it now, and will say it again: buy silver bullion from Coast to Coast, but be very careful when buying other coins. The Silver Eagles I have purchased from them were great; nice frosty white with minimum if any dings.

 

I've purchased a couple of coins from Littleton. Their prices seemed high, but the quality was very good. Nothing can replace going to a coin shop or show and inspecting the coins yourself, but more money has probably been lost buying overgraded coins than by paying a little too much for properly graded coins. So by Ebay/Internet standards for raw coins, Littleton is okay.

 

Ooh, this sounds like fun. A testable hypothesis (rubs hands together). Okay then folks let's see what happens when we advance the same query about Coast to Coast Coins. To avoid tainting the sample I will withold my opinion until later in the post. Does anyone know anything about Coast to Coast's pricing? Will I get a good deal on my coins, buying from them? (note: this should not be construed as sarcasm. I really think this might be an interesting exercise).

 

I looked at Coast to Coast prices today and compared them to my local coin shop and found that most were just under the $12 mark for the non-1986, 1996 silver eagles. If you add shipping in it probably is slightly higher than the local guy. Their price for the 1986 and 1996 silver eagles were a little higher even before shipping. I guess it is better to buy local in this case.

 

The way I test shipping costs is to go through the steps of the shopping cart. Eventually you will get to a place where it adds the shipping.

With Coast to Coast, I buy mostly rolls or bars of silver. A roll of Silver Eagles cost $4 to ship. 2 rolls cost the same. I have purchased up to 3 rolls for $4 shipping. BUT, one wheat cent will cost that same $4. 4-10oz silver bars cost $4.

My state has a 9.25% tax, so that usually more than offsets the shipping.

 

$9 for 2005
$9.45 2004
$10.95 2003-2000
$11.5 1999
$12.5 1998
$19.95 1997
$39.50 1996
$11.95 1995
$15.95 1994
$10.5 1993
$11.75 1992
$10.95 1991
$11.75 1990
$11.5 1989-88
$10.95 1987
$17.95 1986

 

Let me just say this, Littletons is LAST on my list for a great number of reasons. Have done business with a few national dealers and can name another that I almost had to get a lawyer to get a refund on over graded, falsely advertised (which they admitted was intentional) cleaned and buffed Standing Liberty Quarters that were ON SALE for about a third of what they would have been worth, at the time, IF they had been what they claimed. To good to be true and I should have know better! Lesson learned!

 

And, applying what we learned from a different thread, the shipping:

For a single coin, this would push a coin over what I could get from a local dealer. For two coins, about break even. More than two, I would come out ahead.

 

So CrystalTalk, u have seen coinage cleaned from Littleton? I heard that is true!

 

Compare Coast to Coast with local shop

My local guy without any shipping of course sells the coins listed above for the following prices.

1986 18.00
1987 12.00
1988 12.00
1989 12.00
1990 12.00
1991 12.00
1992 12.00
1993 12.00
1994 12.00
1995 12.00
1996 35.00
1997 15.00
1998 12.00
1999 12.00
2000 12.00
2001 12.00
2002 12.00
2003 12.00
2004 12.00
2005 12.00
______________________
Average price per coin 13.6

Almost no difference before shipping. Add in the wait time and shipping cost and I'll stay with my local guy. But, it does speak the the low prices at Coast to Coast.

 

Another aspect is availability. My "local guys" don't have every year ASE.

But, yes, I'd prefer to buy from the local dealers, partly so I can see first what I'm getting, and partly to keep local shops in business.

 

I to prefer the local dealer, IF, and only if, the local guy is honest. Fortunately for me, mine is a good guy and is upfront about everything he sells. He is well stocked with silver, gold and just about every coin I need. If I want it and he doesn't have it, he'll find it at a coin show for me.

 

Well heck, I'd buy from the local dude any day!

 

First things First you are right dont collect does new state hood Quarters !!

IF tou want to collect Quarters go with the standing liberty and the silver washington`s new Quarters are just to popular and tomanny are beinf produce about the $24 dollars for new eagles is to much to pay i shop around and got them for about$7.00 and $10.00 dollars

 

Buying in bulk from coast is the way to go it seems. I bought a 20 roll of silver eagles at $174 + $4 shipping.

Thats $8.70 a piece + .20 for shipping. $8.90/ per coin.

But singles, yeh, buy local. Id rather buy local for a hands on look.

 

I have had great luck buying from the local (40 miles away) coin dealer, and also buying from Coast to Coast.

The local dealer, and his daughter, are great. A few cents higher per coin than Coast to Coast, but, of course, no handling and shipping charges. Plus they take the coins out of the rolls and choose the very best ones for me.

 

I won't buy from Littleton, anymore, because of WAY TO HIGH price and now I have had 3 people saying the coins r dipped or cleaned.

I don't think this negativity will hurt them though.

 

I use a rule of thumb that the maximum price to pay for a silver eagle is spot + $2.50 and that includes any shipping costs. Any price below that seems reasonable for a high quality specimen. Of course, it's necessary to pay more for certain dates now if you want them. I'm not sure if there is any long term benefit to collecting silver eagles by date, but I have a collection I've been keeping up over the years in airtites just in case.

I wish Littleton had lower markups. I've purchased a couple of things from them in the past, like the company, the service, and the coins, but not the prices.

 

Littleton

I too, wish Littleton had more reasonable prices. One of my first of maybe a handful of orders from them over the years, was a 1886 Silver dollar, maybe MS64, for $3.00. I guess it was 30+ years ago. Most recent was the silver eagles with free shipping. Of course the approvals they send has to be returned...

This brings up a question: About 5-10 years ago Littleton was selling Pf65 pattern 1938 Jefferson nickels. I bought one. I never see any info or value on these. Any idea ?