| So you want to start collecting coins or perhaps | | | | doubt they will tell you to take a hike if you ask. |
| you’re an experienced numismatist and you | | | | 4. Coinstar Reps |
| want to get good deals on gold, silver, or rare | | | | If you go into a grocery store most of them |
| coins. Where do you look? Yogi Berra once said, | | | | have coin collecting machines by the front door. |
| “Hit em’ where they aint.” This is | | | | This can be hit or miss but on each machine it |
| what this article is about. Sure you can find coins | | | | should have a label telling you who the local rep is |
| on ebay, from a reputable dealer, craigslist, or | | | | for coinstar or it may be another machine. Be |
| surfing the net. But more often than not you will | | | | very polite and ask if you can meet them when |
| never find real value. Over the years as an | | | | they empty the machines and sort through the |
| expert marketer and coin collector I have always | | | | coinage. Don’t expect everyone of them to |
| had the knack for finding leads and even coins | | | | say yes but I read an article where a coin |
| where nobody else is looking. Why compete with | | | | collector befriended one of the reps and assisted |
| the big boys? These 7 tips for finding coins at | | | | in rolling the coins. He found thousands upon |
| face value or, if your lucky, below face value, can | | | | thousands of wheat pennies, silver mercury dimes |
| surely vault your success in finding real value in | | | | and silver quarters. This can be a rather daunting |
| coin collecting. With a little diligence and a little | | | | task but if your polite and even offer to pay a |
| homework a literal gold mine could be right in your | | | | fee they may let you look through the coinage. |
| back yard. | | | | 5. Estate Sales/Garage Sales |
| So where do you start? | | | | This is where you may be able to score coins |
| 1. Your local Bank | | | | under face value. Check craigslist and your local |
| One day as I was driving down the road coming | | | | newspaper for estate/garage sales. Read the ad |
| from a coin shop, I drove by a bank. Instantly, an | | | | for keywords like collectibles, trinkets, coins, etc. |
| idea came. I wonder if they have any coins I may | | | | If you want to save time call (if the number is |
| want. I went inside with a smile of course and | | | | listed) the seller a head of time and just ask if |
| asked the teller if she had any half dollar coins. | | | | they will have coins. If not, you just saved time |
| She said yes and pulled out a tray of 180 | | | | and gas. I have scored bags of coins for $10-$20 |
| Kennedy half dollars all 1965 – 1969. She told | | | | bucks and resold them for a ton. |
| me an elderly gentleman came in 2 hours earlier | | | | 6. Everyone knows about craigslist. But you know |
| and cashed them in. Showing very little emotion I | | | | if you want to search craigslist you have to go to |
| said I will take them. I gave her $90 and walked | | | | every single city seperately. Until now. Go to and |
| out with 180 silver Kennedy halves at face value. | | | | you can place in a few keywords like coins, coin |
| There melt down worth was $270 at the time. | | | | collector, silver coins, gold coins and it will track |
| Score! I’m sure all of you have a bank | | | | any new listings on craigslist for those keywords |
| account. Just ask your favorite teller every time | | | | anywhere in the world. This does take time to |
| you go in if he/she has any halves to get rid of. | | | | read through it all but you may find great deals |
| They may let you look through them, they may | | | | 2000 miles away. The seller may be willing to ship |
| not. If you have a good rapport with the bank | | | | to you but be very careful since there is a lot of |
| always leave your business card and tell them to | | | | fraud. Do a thorough background investigation. I |
| call you if any more come up. | | | | like to track what’s going on say up to 200 |
| 2. Convenience Stores | | | | miles away. I’m always willing to drive that |
| Folks our country is in a recession now. People are | | | | far for a score. |
| cashing in their inherited coins, or collection to buy | | | | 7. Courthouse records |
| basic needs. Everytime you go to a convenience | | | | I am a life insurance agent by trade and I |
| store ask the clerk if he/she has any half dollar | | | | stumbled across a way to find leads at the local |
| coins or dollar coins they don’t want. People | | | | courthouse. Unfortunately, the most common |
| buy beer and cigarettes with their silver coins all | | | | document you will see is divorce settlements. |
| the time. I try to avoid saying silver or gold coins | | | | It’s all public!! (I know your probably calling me |
| because it may give away to the clerk you may | | | | an ambulance chaser now) Many times one of the |
| want to resell at a profit and he/she will keep | | | | parents will be ordered to obtain life insurance to |
| them for themselves. I have about 20 – 25 | | | | cover child support. I simply send them a |
| clerks locally who keep a look out for me. Again I | | | | postcard telling them I assist dads in obtaining |
| always leave my business card with the clerk and | | | | cheap life insurance. So that is how I get my life |
| tell them to call me if they get more. You | | | | leads. One day I was reading through a divorce |
| won’t get lucky every single time, but if you | | | | settlement and behold the couple was ordered to |
| don’t mention it you won’t get them. | | | | sell a coin collection!! They couldn’t agree on a |
| 3. Grocery Stores | | | | lot so the judge ordered them to sell it. I never |
| I read an article online that jumped out at me like | | | | call these people because it can be a rather |
| a loose tiger. People in Los Angeles are paying for | | | | sensitive subject. I just send them a postcard and |
| their groceries with SILVER! The recession has | | | | tell them I buy coins. And they call!! Again this will |
| forced people into liquidating coin collections to buy | | | | take up a lot of your time but nobody knows this |
| basic necessities. We all need to eat, right? So | | | | information unless you spend a few hours a week |
| every time you get to the checkout line ask the | | | | at the courthouse. Art collectors do this when |
| cashier if she has any half dollar coins or dollar | | | | someone passes on and in the probate document |
| coins. If she does ask if you can see them. If | | | | it may list an art collection to be passed on to the |
| they are silver and if your the luckiest guy or girl | | | | heirs. Keep an eye out for coin collections. You |
| on the planet you may see a gold coin. They are | | | | may get lucky. |
| busy so respect their time. If they are wrapped in | | | | Well I hoped this article helped. This is how I have |
| rolls just take them (pay for them, of course) | | | | built my collection without having to pay high |
| and sort them out later. If there is no valuable | | | | premiums. Do you have any collecting tips that |
| coins, so what? Deposit them at your bank. And, | | | | allowed you to get coins for face value? |
| always remember, you are a customer so I | | | | |