I go to flea markets all the time. One that I go to on Fridays usually has a guy there that sells all kinds of coins. Several months ago he had a pile of Merc Dimes and I bought them all. Since then he tells me another dealer gets to him at about 5 AM and buys out everything. Last Friday the other guy didn't show up and I was able to buy the following for about $32. 8-Liberty Head Dimes in AG8 condition from 1902 to 14, 34 Mercs from 1923 to 45 in from F12 to AU50, 10 LIncoln Cents all 1943 Steel in AU50 or better. I put them away just as the other dealer walked up that usually buys everything. He went through what was left and bought it all. Then I noticed a really dirty 2"x4" flip with all kinds of writing on it that no one seamed to want. Picked it up and looked closer. There were two 1970S Lincoln Cents in MS60 grade and one had the writing of small date and the other said large date. I held it up and said how about $1. He gladly took the $1. That made my day.
flea finds thats great how you picked those up. After hearing how a few people have picked up coins at flea markets, I wish there were some in my neck of the woods. I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open.:smile
There are two major flea markets within 5-7 miles of my home, and I have never seen coins being sold at either one.
You just have to move to Illinois. We have numerous flea markets, coin shows, gun shows, knife shows, camera shows, car shows and on and on and on. I find coins at flea markets and all the rest of the above. Don't know why but I even find knives at coin shows around here. There is one gun show I go to where I've found coins, knives, jewlry, cameras and probably lots of stuff I didn't see. Our shows and things around here are weird. For instance fireworks are illigal in Illinois but you can buy them at flea markets, corner stands, on the streets, etc. I buy all my .38 special ammo by the case at flea markets (Oops, shouldn't say that). I find less coins that I buy at a coin show than anywhere else. I've even had guys walk up to me on the street and ask if I wanted to buy some old coins. We have a place called Maxwell Street where you could probably buy a battleship if you know who to ask.
Here in Missouri, I've never seen coins at a flea markets. And I have bought alot of other stuff at flea markets. Good coin shows in St. Louis make up for it though.
The term here is "swap meet", but the concept is the same. Must be similar to Carl's flea market. There is even a "coming sales events" column in the local paper~~ it is called the "Police Report". See something stolen in the report and then look at the swap meet that thursday through saturday
Out here on the coast you can find flea markets any day of the week. They are usually rum by gals trying to get rid of something they don't want in the house any longer. Its hard to find anything of value that hasn't been picked over before the sale begins. It's where the edited get most of their clothing and furniture, so I guess it plays a roll in economics. Don't believe I've ever ran across any coins that I can remember.
Just Carl, Send "the other guy" down my way! I sell coins at a local (large) Flea Market 4 out of 5 weekends and have lots of coins including error coins. Frank
No such luck at the flea markets (or whatever they are called) around here, although it's been a while since I have ventured out. I discussed a visit to a New Jersey flea market in early July in another thread, but suffice to say that the coins available weren't worth a trip from anywhere.
I was at my local flea market this past Sunday, usually I buy old junk silver coins mostly( Mercs,Walkers and Franklins) for near melt value. Bargains can be found but there are also people asking prices for coins that are way out of line. Like the guy Sunday, that wanted $35 a piece for a pair of 1964 proof sets. The only reason I asked was because the JFKs looked like very sharp strikes, but $35 for a $12-$13 item Is a joke and I wanted to laugh in the guy's face. I think some of the sellers at flea markets depend on folks who make impulse coin buy's but don't have any real knowledge about value's. The best deal I got was a 1909s barber in XF for $5,but that was a good 4yrs ago.
I occasionally find coins in antique shops. Unfortunately, the only large flea market near me shut down several years ago. My "best" find in an antique shop was to purchase 100 mercury dimes and one proof roosevelt dime for a total of about $35. All except the proof were circulated but had full dates and rims. All were common dates. The shop owner said that a local collector used the shop to sell off the excess coins he no longer wanted in his collection.
i go to my local flea market about every two months. the flea market has two coin dealers that have tons of good deals.
Unless one is quite knowledgeable about the coins they are buying I would never recommend buying any coin at a flea market or swap meet. 99.9% of all coins I have ever seen at such places are problem coins and hugely overpriced. If you're looking to buy coins for bullion value that's one thing, but buying coins for your collection is another - unless you are sure of what you are getting.
I was at a flea market in Pennsylvania, and a coin dealer had a 1914 D Lincoln...I took one look at from about a foot away and could tell it was OBVIOUSLY a fake....so yeah, watch out=o
Doug, I disagree with your statement! Sure, a person should be at least fairly knowlegeable when buying coins at Flea Markets but there are quite a few good deals from Vendors that are just selling off a few coins that they have collected over the years as well as some Vendors that Buy, Sell and Trade coins on a regular basis that are honest. As I noted in my earlier post, I sell coins at a large local Flea Market and at least 60% of my sales are to repeat buyers. If I miss a weekend at the Flea Market, I have some folks calling me at home asking me why I wasn't there. I have even had to drive 25 to 40 miles to meet with a few of them at times because they were he%& bent on buying some coins that week! My policy at the Flea Market is the same as on eBay, that the buyer can bring the coin or coins back in the same condition as received for a full refund (or they can trade them on something of equal value, their choice). I have only had a couple of folks come back to trade for something else but it was not because of a problem with the coin or coins. They just decided that they would rather have something else and I have never had anyone ask for a refund. I do not have problem coins but if I did, I would let the prospective buyer know! I do have quite a few lower grade (G-4 to F-12), cheap coins because that is what the common folks are willing to purchase! These folks are not Coin Collectors, they just want to own a few older but fairly nice coins! At the same time, I have many high grade coins for the folks that are looking for these types of coins! Also, many of my high grade coins are certified including several Morgan and Peace Dollar VAM's. I also have lots of error coins, many of which are Uncirculated. Come down and check out my coins and the cheap prices that I have on them. Frank
There are no good deals at the local flea market in these parts. Not on coins and not on most any other kind of junk you might be looking at. I like to go to get the fresh picked melons and tomatoes. Lots of pretty girls walking around too. But when I look at the few coins some of the vendors have on display I just have to chuckle.
