Who Do You Deal With?

Anyone who collects coins, other than plucking them from circulation, buys them from someone. Many collectors may find their coins from various sources, while others rely on long-term relationships with one or two dealers. The world of rare coins is quite a varied landscape. For those unfamiliar with the hobby, the mention of a coin dealer probably brings to mind a small “hole in the wall” operation. Perhaps they have seen coins displayed at a flea market or in the corner of a hobby shop. Very few people who are not involved with numismatics have any idea of the size and scope of the hobby. As mentioned a few articles ago, national numismatic sales probably exceed a few billion dollars per year. Who does all of this business and what different kinds of operations are there in the numismatic field? This is most likely a question that very few ever consider. It can be important, however, to understand the different kinds of coin dealers and their respective operations. Collectors should consider whether they are sourcing their coins from the best place. The following is a brief description of the various coin operations I have observed over the last few decades.

Flea Market Dealer: This type of dealer sets up on the weekend with a few showcases. Most of the coins are inexpensive and probably uncertified. Flea market dealers have been around for decades and were the source of many of my early numismatic adventures. Very few flea market dealers are full-time operations, and numismatic knowledge maybe limited. Flea markets have also been the source of many counterfeit rare coins sold in recent years. Everyone loves a bargain, but we know how that usually works out!

Vest-Pocket Dealer: These are small operators who maintain a few boxes of rare coins and frequent local and regional coin shows or coin club meetings. Again, most are not full-time. They specialize in going from table to table shopping their wares. They may buy coins from other small dealers and are mostly wholesale operations. Many rare coin dealers started their careers this way. The overhead is low, and it’s a great way to acquire the knowledge needed to pursue coins as a full-time job.

eBay Dealers: This is a relatively new phenomenon in numismatics. These are mostly small operators who list anywhere from a few to a few hundred coins per month on eBay or on other auction sites. Many larger dealers also utilize eBay, but a quick glance at the site gives you an idea of the material available in most cases. In recent years, eBay has been making an effort to improve the numismatic offerings. As I have stated many times, I recommend only buying coins from dealers who offer full returns if there is a problem. This advice applies to Internet auctions as well.

Small Coin Shops: Decades ago, there were many more coin shops around the country than there are today. This was before the Internet and at a time when bullion dominated the numismatic scene. There have been some survivors and most cities have at least one or two operations. Quite a few might fall into the “hole in the wall” description mentioned above. It would be almost impossible for a small coin shop to stay in business buying and selling rare coins alone. Most have scrap gold operations, jewelry sales, and coin supplies. Many are nothing more than buying stations, trying to purchase coins from the public.

Large Coin Shops: Over the decades, there have been some major coin shop operations around the country that have thrived. Most are in major cities and have a much more diversified offering. Many have very knowledgeable owners and staff that have worked with local collectors for years. If you are lucky enough to live in a city with a large coin operation you would be well-served to establish a relationship with the owners. They can be a great source of numismatic information and material. Large coin shops can also offer an interesting social aspect, as many collectors like to congregate there on weekends.

Mail Order Dealers: Anyone who has read a numismatic periodical has seen their ads, usually multi-page offerings. These dealers usually offer uncertified material, most of which has been optimistically graded. Over the years, I have seen quite a few collections that have been purchased in this manner. The collectors were more interested in price than quality. With third-party grading becoming ever more important, some players in this field have started offering more certified material.

Coin Show Dealers: This category covers a large and varied group of rare coin dealers. Most have offices but conduct a large part of their business at coins shows around the country. Some are primarily wholesale dealers, and others cater to the retail crowd. There are probably 20 to 25 fairly major coin shows in the country each year. Most of the coin show dealers attend nearly all of them, myself included. Some of the sharpest numismatic minds in the industry can be found at major coin shows. These are dealers who make a living based on knowledge, and most have spent a lifetime trying to acquire as much as possible. Coin shows are also where many of the “specialists” in the numismatic industry operate. If you like large cents, a major coin show is a great event to attend. You will find quite a few dealers who have made a career dealing in copper coinage. The same can be said for silver dollars, gold coins, tokens, world coins, and many other specialties. Coin shows are a great place to meet and to establish a relationship with dealers handling the rare coins you collect. A bit of caution is advised, however. There are quite a few rare coin dealers who are there to buy and sell as many coins as quickly as possible. They only deal with other dealers and can come off as quite rude to collectors wandering by. Look for dealers with well-maintained booths, and avoid those with only a few coins scattered in their cases.

Auction Houses: Auction houses have become an integral part of the numismatic landscape. A few decades ago, an auction house might have had sales approaching $10 million per year. Today, that would be a single average sale without a major collection. For the last few years, over $500 million worth of rare coins are sold at auction on an annual basis. Many of the above mentioned coin show dealers have been struggling to source coins with so much going to auction. Auctions are a great place to see a large variety of rare coins for sale. There are a few major players in the rare coin auction business and most offer wonderfully produced catalogues. Quite a few auctions are conducted at major coin shows, and these are excellent opportunities to see the bourse floor and auction in one place.

Cable TV Dealers: Anyone who channel-surfs has seen these shows. Quite a few have very successful rare coin operations. Most of their offerings focus on modern coinage and other coins that can be purchased in quantity, such as silver dollars. These shows are an excellent recruiting ground for new collectors. Hundreds of thousands of collectors have been introduced to numismatics by cable shopping channels. Many later become more advanced in their numismatic pursuits and are a great driver of growth for the hobby.

Mega Dealers: These are some of the largest numismatic operations in the country with hundreds of employees. Some have offices that could better be described as campuses. Most of these large dealerships focus on mass market retail. Companies such as Littleton spend millions each year advertising in national publications. Others choose cable or the Internet to shop their wares. These are well-diversified and shrewdly run businesses. Some offer everything from $5 to $1,000,000 coins and everything in between. These companies would stun most collectors and non-collectors with their size; they are quite the opposite of the “hole in the walls” mentioned above. The mega dealers are also a great driver of new blood for numismatics. They bring untold thousands of new collectors into the hobby each year.

This list only gives a rudimentary examination of the many types of rare coin dealers in the country. I’m sure I may have left out a few different kinds of dealers. Regardless of whom you buy coins from, understanding the numismatic landscape will give you a better idea of how the hobby operates. As mentioned several times, establishing a relationship with someone knowledgeable will be one of your best investments, regardless of what kind of dealer they are.

Questions about the rare coin market? Send them to wmr@ngccoin.com.

Jeff Garrett bio