| There are several ways to effectively buy coins, | | | | issues, bullion, and mint sets through mail order. |
| each method has pros and cons that are unique. | | | | Find a dealer with a good return policy and |
| Below we list the various ways and try to guide | | | | develop trust before making major purchases. |
| you through the process | | | | You can get bad coins from any source, but via |
| Local Dealer - One of the best ways to find | | | | mail order you need to be careful about cleaned |
| quality coins is to find a local dealer you can trust. | | | | coins and polished coins being sold, as well as AU |
| Not only can they help guide you through the | | | | coins sold as BU. One of the largest is Littleton |
| process of buying, they can educate you on what | | | | Coin. |
| to avoid. Most local dealers are fairly well | | | | Online Store - This is a growing area for |
| connected and can help you find coins from their | | | | collectors. We list numerous sites that sell coins |
| sources. In addition, many local dealers have buy | | | | online. You get to see the coin scans and can |
| or bid boards where local collectors can post their | | | | make better purchasing decisions via an online |
| coins for sale. | | | | store. This has been a big advance for the coin |
| Coin Broker - There are brokers around the | | | | collecting community. It is possible to substitute |
| country that specialize in procuring coins for | | | | coins and fake photos, but this has not been |
| collectors. They will take a commission on the sale | | | | rampant on the online sites. We list a number of |
| and are generally experts in numismatics. They | | | | major dealers in our directory. |
| typically specialize in hard to find, rare coins at | | | | Online Auction - eBay and Yahoo have large |
| higher price points. Many can be found advertising | | | | auction sites for coins. eBay has probably the |
| in coin magazines. | | | | widest selection in the world. There are also |
| Coin Club friends - By joining a local coin club you | | | | major Auction houses with a presence online. |
| make connections and find friends that can help | | | | Many widely respected companies such as |
| you buy or trade coins. | | | | Heritage, Bowers and Merena, and Teletrade have |
| Coin & Money Shows - Coin shows are great | | | | online auctions as well. See our auction listings for |
| places to buy coins. The selection can be very | | | | more sites. You can find good deals, here, but I |
| large and diverse and you can compare grades, | | | | have found that online competition is high, so you |
| prices, and eye appeal. There is some competition | | | | have to invest time in searching and bidding. |
| between booths, so prices are usually reasonable. | | | | For eBay and similar online sites that allow anyone |
| Check Coin World magazine for listings in every | | | | to sell: Be aware of the reputation of the person |
| state. There is also a national database at | | | | you are buying from - there are risks similar to |
| Mail Order - Many companies advertise in national | | | | Mail Order, especially from smaller dealers and |
| magazines or distribute catalogs nationwide to | | | | individuals. [We have seen coins marked as MS63 |
| collectors. Buying through mail order means that | | | | that are XF advertised on eBay for instance.] This |
| you cannot see they coin before you get it. This | | | | is a fun, easy way to buy, but we prefer to buy |
| can lead to disappointment, especially for older | | | | slabbed coins (with photos) this way. |
| coins. It is safer to buy certified coins, modern | | | | |