Where do you buy most of your coins

Mostly eBay.. I buy what I like, if I'm willing to pay that price, I consider it fair. All they have to do is send what they described and there's no wussy second-guessing coming out of me. Vcoins is pretty handy. Almost never go into coin shops, they never seem to have anything very exciting, and the dealers have always been huge weirdos. But I'm sure the dealers reading this message are cool (maybe, sort of).

 

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Depends. I prefer shows, when possible. I've bought much more from vcoins lately, only because I just haven't seen much I like on ebay lately.

 

And when your not around we just take them all back.
I was shocked that so many common places were left out of the poll.
I too have a minimum of 3 coin shows a month, all within 15 miles, all free admittance, free parking and really nice, steady dealers. Once hooked on a coin show there is no way I could ever try ebay or any on line dealers.
Second to a coin show is the yard/garage/estate sales. Not auctions, but just the typical household estate sale.
Another item left out is friends, neighbors and relatives. I do get a substantial amount of coinage from that sourse. The problem with this is most have no idea of numismatics so I get mountains of just stuff. Not really mountains but a good amount. I really never had the hart to tell most that I do not collect foreign coins so I usually get large amounts of coins that I have no idea of what they are, where they come from or what to do with them. So I put them in 2x2's or plastic slips, seal them, put them in boxes and forget them. Now there are several such boxes and I really just can't tell people not to keep giving me those.

 

I'm sure Spider wouldn't mind you shipping those boxes to him, to get them out of your way.

Ribbit

 

Well,

I had to vote other as it's work as of late. Course work is at a coin shop.

Before I was at the shop it was coin shops, shows and a few favorite dealers I have met through ebay. Bougnt a few nice things on Coinbug as well.

clembo

 

no need, I already loaded them up in my trunk and am on my way back

 

Get all of mine from dealers at the flea market =P

 

I mostly use a few internet dealers, more recently but not frequently coin shows, and the occasional find in antique shops. At one time I used Ebay, but haven't for several years.

 

I put other. The last 2 summers have been pretty good for picking up coins at yard sales. Nothing this year yet. Lady at yard sale told me today "We are not coin people". Did get a scrapbook with numerous nice stamps for $1 at an estate sale. It was on the way to the famous Brimfield Antique show last month. Brimfield coin dealers were way out of whack with pricing so I did not buy. Coins are sold in every form you can think of. Some Brimfield dealers have junk boxes full of coins with no prices. You pick one up out of the dust and dirt. Brush off the cobwebs and ask how much?
They invent prices on the spot. Always way too much. I find it disgusting to even dicker with them. Other dealers have nice clean displays and orderly arranged coins.
There is another show in Brimfield, MA July 8th thru July 13. Then again Sept. 2 through Sept. 7th. If you are in New England and have never been to Brimfield during antique week I highly urge you to go. There are thousands of dealers set up all along Route 20 on both sides of the road. There is so much you can't see it in even a couple days walking around. Coins are found in most of the shows. What it is was started years ago by a farmer in one of his fields. Now there are fields on both sides of the road with maybe 600 dealers in each field. It;s like the World's Fair of Antiques.
I do frequent the antique shops in Putnam, CT where the prices seem better.
And coin shows of course. One or two regular coin show dealers will usually discount so I repeat buy from them.
Coin shops I find to be hit or miss. Either way out on price or they don't have what I want. Knowledge varies in this rural area.
I did pick up 19 different mint and proof sets for just $5 each at one coin store. That was a bargain. But mint and proof sets are not big sellers right now.
Then ebay. Yes I buy, but that's a gamble. I do return misrepresented coins. The last ebay purchase was returned and I dickered with the seller to pay postage. The Mercury dime [slabbed] was supposed to be MS64 FSB and blast white.
OK FSB and yes PCGS MS64. But blast white had big black spots in obvious places. Seller was understanding enough to pay postage and give full refund.
I would like to sell some stuff but don't do too well on ebay. I even got paypal to see if it made a difference. Nope. Items did not sell.
So I still have the idea to try a table at a flea market. $20 to $25 for a space.
The coin show wants $70 a table. Nah, I won't go that high.

 

Mostly from shows, what few we have and very little anymore from Ebay.

 

I stopped buying anywhere a few moths ago. I mostly used to buy on ebay but too many disappointments and returns keep me from returning there for now. I've realized that I have so many coins I haven't taken a really good look at, that I need to check them out more thoroughly and put them in albums. Then maybe I can sell my excess coins.

Bruce

 

No mention of pawn shops here? I've had no luck with those but I know of one person that constantly gets Silver Dollars from one. He told me he usually pays about $5 each. Not sure if I should believe him but it's possible I guess.

 

I'll try to cherry pick Ebay when the chance arises, but these days it's mostly shows. I buy alot from the various BST/open forums and in bulk from wholesalers as well.

Teletrade last night was pretty good to me

 

I have a dealer here in Mesa I trust been with him a long time and there are some members here a CT I have traded with.

 

I buy at coin shows mainly, but I do occasionally go to a shop because the show I go to is only once a month.

 

I have one coin shop in the local area. If I am looking for somethin I start there first. (Support your local vendors). I have 3 online coin store that I have purchase from frequently (well often enough). I have bought from ebay but only when the price was right and I wasn't afraid to risk losing my money on a rip-off.

/I'm a pawnshop shopper also. I worked at one part-time for 2 years. FWIW many pawnbrokers know very little about the intracacies of coins. Sometimes you get a deal somethines they are a little too proud of their peice.

 

Seeing as I live in nowheresville UK I am far from any coin shops.

On my ebay account I have bought 70 things....65 of which were coins.

I have picked up coins from junk shops etc in the past.

My best find in one of them was a £5 coin in a folder commemorating the 90th birthday of the queen mother.
Spinks coin guide puts it at $20 i got it for $1.

The coin itself is $10 legal tender anyway so i dunno what the seller was thinking.

 

Bruce, would that be Greg or Jack? Xavier or Tri-City.
Next time your heading to the shop, email me, I'll meet you there.

 

Jack.
It is not tri-city or Xavier however it is just down the street from Xavier and I will let you know the next time I will be there take care.

 

I got almost all my coins from swaps with other collectors.