Finding Tougher Coins

PART 1
I appear to have run out of sources for finding some more expensive coins ($1000+) on my wantlist.
I need more sources for Seated Liberty coins in NGC or PCGS slabs.
My regular searches are:
-- eBay
-- Stack's
-- Heritage
-- Great Collections

I need to broaden my search area.
I've been looking at websites of dealers who I believe might have these coins occasionally:
-- Gary Adkins
-- David Lawrence
-- Coast-to-Coast
-- Dick Osburn

What other names would you recommend I add to this list?

PART 2
The coins I do find are often priced higher than my catalog sources indicate (mainly just Coin World).
(I'll have to start looking a PCGS and NGC pricing.)

What other sources would you suggest?

 

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Put Collectors Corner (http://www.collectorscorner.com) on your list of stops. Don't buy there; use the place to identify which dealers have coins you like and then access their own websites to talk a deal as they'll be inflating prices a bit at Collectors Corner.

And any higher-end shopping should include Northeast Numismatics & JJ Teaparty in Boston and Pinnacle Rarities in Portland. People seem a bit polarized by Harlan Berk, but I'm a fan.

 

we just had a hsbc bank auction off all their unclaimed safe deposit boxes...look for your local banks to do the same.

 

Oh man just like storage wars...this would be called safety deposit box storage wars.

 

the only thing is, rolex and gold coin lots are mixed together, etc...got to bid on the whole box....

 

I'm not sure how helpful this would be in locating very specific and more difficult to acquire coins on a want list, but an interesting suggestion nonetheless.

As toughcoins has already pointed out, you might as well toss your guides when it comes to tougher LS material. It is also not uncommon to find such a coin sold at auction later relisted on certain dealer's sites at significant mark-ups, so keeping a close eye on Heritage, Stacks, etc is a wise move. As for other sources, you've already received a few fine recommendations, but I will add that there certainly are others that could, potentially, be helpful in your quest that may or may not specialize in the type, meaning that getting the word out could very well prove fruitful. Other than this, and as the old saying goes; patience is a virtue.

 

Another option is to find a dealer you trust, and let him know exactly what you are looking for and price range. A good dealer will see a ton more coins than a collector ever will. Most great collections were put together with the assistance of great dealers.

 

I have several coins I've been trying to track down for 4 plus years to complete my collections. Be patient but keep looking.

 

Yeah, I looked for a silver Christopher Byzantine coin for about 8-9 years before locating one. Then, two months later another came for sale in a group lot. I wasn't about to let that one get away, so now I own two.

Tough coins very much will be like this. You spend years looking for one then magically there are two or three on the market. Never get tricked, though, into thinking they now are easy. I have seen very rare coins come on the market in twos or threes, and then never see another one for a decade or more. Buy what you can when you can is my favorite motto.

 

Try going to Collectors.com and doing a search.

 

Why?
If you have what I'm interested in I'd be very willing to deal with you.

 

His lack of self-promotion was, in my most humble opinion, both tactful and professional, and in today's world of me, me, me, rather refreshing as well.

 

These are really good suggestions. I've dealt with all of them, and have been pleased. The only caution I would say: Larry Briggs deals in a lot of cleaned or problem coins. He knows the series, and literally wrote the book on them, but the material he usually has is not attractive. Handle with care.

Just about any dealer can have what you need, at any given moment. I often use collectorscorner.com to sort through them - that website will aggregate a number of major dealers with a simple search.

 

Well, it also kept him within the rules of the forum. An offer to buy or sell is best handled in the marketplace, or in PMs.

A discussion of good dealers for a certain type of material is definitely within the scope of the forum though.

 

Thanks for putting me on to Collectors Corner.
Just bought one coin listed there and am contemplating a second one.

 

It would depend on the series, there are prominent dealers for just about every series. What is your interest, or are you just going after some random nice pieces.

 

The Fun Show is in January.

 

I was amused that the first reply to this thread about "tough to find coins" was by a dealer member named "ToughCOINS" I'd have to at least check with that guy. Good luck.

 

That would be a great idea. He has some cool stuff.