Detector finds and “I dug this”: dirt is not a grade
Dug coins can be real and still ugly. Corrosion is not toning. A shop will bid what is left, not…
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The public coin and money library, plus dealer guides — what people bring to a shop, how money works, and how shops run.
Start in the library · Coin history · Visitors · SpotPro for dealers
European and Mexican silver: .800, .835, .720, and “925” that isn’t
Not all old silver is sterling. Mexico and Europe used a buffet of fineness numbers. The stamp is a clue.…
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Broken chains, class rings, and jewelry nobody wants to wear
Broken does not mean worthless. Scrap gold is a weight-and-karat job. Sentiment is free. Melt is not.
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Can I buy it back later? Usually yes — at tomorrow’s prices
Shops will sell you metal again. They will not freeze yesterday’s bid as store credit. The spread works both ways.
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Bank box day: how to move a box of metal without a parade
Call the shop. Call the bank. Do not do this on speaker in the lobby. Two trips beat one horror…
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How to tell if a coin shop is a real shop
A door, a scale you can see, a bid on paper, and a person who will still be there next…
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White gold, platinum, and the magnet that ruins a Saturday
White gold is gold with a costume. Platinum is a different metal. Tungsten rings crash the party. Test. Do not…
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Why some shops will not take a card when you buy gold
Card fees eat the spread. Chargebacks on metal are a nightmare. Cash, debit, and wire exist for a reason. It…
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Cash, check, or wire when you sell: pick the boring option
Cash feels final and trips reporting rules. Checks and wires are how grown-ups move large numbers. Ask what the shop…
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