← Back to articles · Hobby & visiting shops ·
US Mint vs your local shop: two different stores
The Mint sells you new product at Mint premiums. A shop buys and sells the aftermarket. Neither one owes you the other one’s number.
The US Mint is a factory store. A coin shop is a secondary market.
If you paid Mint issue plus shipping for a proof set, that is a Mint conversation. If you bring it to us five years later, that is a shop conversation. Those prices are not married.
What the Mint is good at
New official products. Waiting lists. Pretty boxes. Sold-out pages.
What the shop is good at
Buying what you have today. Selling you last year’s eagle without a subscription. Bidding junk silver. Telling you the proof box is not doing you any favors. Proof vs bullion.
Sold-out does not mean rare
It means the Mint sold what they wanted to strike. The aftermarket decides if anyone still cares. Old is not rare. Novelties.
Part of the coin shop counter wiki · visitors & collectors · NumisQ Learn