Gold and silver coins

[Dropy]

..... IS there a solid sight online a person can purchase gold and silver? The sort of place that buying the coins sight unseen is ok due to the level of professionalism of said retailer?

No, i dont have ANY coin shops even REMOTELY close to me. So going to one is out!

[faster]

try The Coin Shop, Farmersville, NM. If you want to insure them, they are going to come Postal Registered mail, and you will have to show an ID. Can just risk small amounts, tho, in a larger, well padded box, UPS. The owner, for a bit of extra $, will make it look like a box full of magazines, or whatever. Avoid very small, very heavy, high $ boxes.

[LUNCHBOX]

D, what type of gold and silver? Are you just looking for some coins or larger items?

[Dropy]

Well i am looking for future Bartering coins. As well as maybe some investment coin that (which will double as barter coin) for long term storage and future sell.

Sp i guesse i want prep'r coin? =)

[faster]

do NOT pay more for 1/10th oz coins than for 1 oz coins, and forget the silver. It's too bulky for carry. cut a 1/10th oz coin in half with a chisel, and it's still tradable. do NOT buy "non bullion" collectors' items, you'll lose your butt, and don't put money into metals that you will need for years. Otherwise, you'll be forced to sell when the price is "down" temporaily, Murphy sees to that. Use a 1/2 coin to buy a bushel of grain, crack it and make porridge, don't waste resources on backing bread, or expose yourself for that long, making smoke, etc.

[Dropy]

OK faster, because i am not always the brightest crayon in the box can ya be specific with some links or maybe explain EXACTLY what i should look into please?

[Dropy]

Well i mean what about mexican gold pseo coins, kuggerands, etc etc?

[bacpacker]

I have a different look at coins. I buy almost nothing but bullion coins. Usually I get pre 1964 quarters, halves, & dollars. Those can be found at most antique stores, online on Craigslist or e-bay. I never pay what the spot metal price is at the time. Also keep an eye on your spare change, I'll find a pre 64 coin or 2 about every time I sort our change.
If you want some collectors coins of higher quality, I have used Swiss America in the past and was very pleased with the purchases. I got exactly what I purchased and they were sealed and graded.

[Dropy]

Hmm something to think about there BP.

[Stormfeather]

Silver, Silver Bar, Silver Bars, Silver Bullion, Gold and More - APMEX.com (http://www.Apmex.com) is usually good for different type of coins in all sorts of amounts, Ive always had good luck with them too.

[Dropy]

Buy Silver Online | Buy 90% Silver Coins | APMEX.com (http://www.apmex.com/Product/195/90_Silver_Coins___1_Face_Value.aspx)

Something like this then?

[Stormfeather]

Yep!

[realist]

I have been buying coins at a local coin shop for the past three years. Recently I saw an ad in a magazine that I could buy a nice shiny silver dollar for the low price of 49.95 plus 5.95 shipping and handling. That same coin I could buy at the shop for $28. The same shop also sells bullion coins if I want them. i find that once you get to know the people then you really are able to get stuff more reasonable. One thing on the numistic coiins I don't like them because it is more difficut to determine the value if they are not graded. So if you do go that route only buy graded coins in plastic slabs. At least you will have some consistancy.

[Twitchy]

I have a different look at coins. I buy almost nothing but bullion coins. Usually I get pre 1964 quarters, halves, & dollars. Those can be found at most antique stores, online on Craigslist or e-bay. I never pay what the spot metal price is at the time. Also keep an eye on your spare change, I'll find a pre 64 coin or 2 about every time I sort our change.
If you want some collectors coins of higher quality, I have used Swiss America in the past and was very pleased with the purchases. I got exactly what I purchased and they were sealed and graded.

I'm with Backpacker on this one... I have all Pre-65 silver coins... I don't have a lot but there is some...

I know we have a resident bullion specialist amongst us (Pirahna2)... If he could chime in we would get some good info in here on where to get affordable coins...

Also, APMEX is charging out the rear end right about now.. stay away from them ;)

[realist]

I have been buying silver for years. I stay with only pre 64 coins. I have found that with numismatic coins you have to have buy and you can loose your shorts if you do not pay attention. I have coins that are for SHTF and I have some for investment. Investments come and go but the others I will not sell. I do like to have gold in the event of a large purchase. One thing about gold is that you can carry a large amount of wealth in a small package. Silver coins do weigh a lot that is why I have split mine in different locations.

[izzyscout21]

excuse my ignorance, but what's the deal with the pre-64's? Is that when they stopped containing silver?

I know nothing about coins. Othaer than when you put them in a wooden chest, it entitles you to have a sword, eyepatch, and a jolly roger engraved on your AR-15.

[bacpacker]

Silver coins 1964 and older are 90% silver. There was a time from 1965 until I think the early 70's they were 40%. Then today's have almost none in them.

I need me a eye patch/ jolley roger!

[mitunnelrat]

Its not all coins that had 40% from 65-70 though. Only the Kennedy half dollar. The 1971-1976 Eisenhower dollar was also 40%, but it was issued as a collectible only.

Also, nickels weren't included in this, except for the years 1942-45, which were 35% silver. These are called war nickels. They're easy to spot because the mint mark will be a big letter above monticello. This is especially important to note for 1942, where there were mintings of both the silver coin, and the ordinary "base metal" coin we're used to now.

[bacpacker]

My bad! Good catch Rat. I knew there was something about the 65-70 something different just not sure what.

[mitunnelrat]

No worries. I had to look it up and verify it myself, and finding these coins is something of a recent hobby for me! lol

[bacpacker]

My Grandma got me into coin collecting back when I was 4-5. We would always dig thru her change and pick out certain ones. She would also save special ones for me or pick up something at the bank for my birthday or Christmas. She got me several Kennedy halves and some of the Esinhowers you mentioned.

That has turned into a lifelong hobby. I still don't have much, but it's fun and worthwhile IMO. Its a much better investment than what most of my other hobbies are. :)

[mitunnelrat]

I look at it much the same way, though I haven't grabbed any coin rolls to search for some time now, and haven't been finding anything in my pocket change. One of these days I'll get a metal detector, and search some areas my buddy got me thinking about - like some old school yards in rural areas. That could be entertaining.

[Sniper-T]

^
old school yards eh? hmm... now that's a great idea!

Probably old churchyards too. (just stay away from the lumps and flat stones)

maybe this winter I'll do some research on detectors and start playing around next year.

[mitunnelrat]

He said that and it was a definite "aha!" moment. I haven't heard anyone mention that route before, probably because it lacks the sex appeal of a beach, but kids drop stuff all the time. So, that should hopefully be a lucrative area to check.

[bacpacker]

Where I went to grammar school at burned several years ago. Nothing there now. I guess Time to buy a detector and start checking it out.