Every now and again, I get a flyer about a roadshow where they will evaluate your old coins. They will also look at comics, memorabilia and jewelry, specifically gold and silver.
I finally got my act together enough to go out there with my box of coins and a few other things I hoped they take off my hands. I had no delusion that I owned anything of five-figure, four-figure or even three-figure value. I just wanted to put my mind to ease that I wasn't putting a quarter back in circulation that might be worth a dollar.
It was a very pleasant experience. I thought it would be a conference style format and you had to go to different booths, but instead it's two guys in a hotel's "We-Office" facility and you have a one-on-one discussion. Along with my coins, I had brought some comics, some memorabilia and jewelry. The only stuff that was worth his wild were some coins and some jewelry.
And that's fine. They have to make money and they likely know what they can sell for just a little bit more and what won't move.
I left with a check for $225. half was from some coins, specifically some coins the local coin shop didn't even bother taking out of the bag when I went there a few months ago. The rest was for a silver bracelet I got in Mexico in 1994, a 10K gold ring and a couple of other items. I actually took back two rings that weren't worth much but I thought my kids could enjoy.
But the best part is that now I am free to put the rest of the money back in circulation. I've carted those boxes around from apartment to apartment to condo to house to house. Why? And I can pitch all that other stuff too.
While I was there I was able to talk to Ronnie about his industry. We talked about how those stories of someone finding a rare coin worth XXX money makes things harder for his industry because that is such a rare, rare event. But people like my mom hoard things because they believe it will be worth more some day.
he said he has been doing this for almost a decade now. it tickles my heart that someone could find something that they enjoy and pays the rent as an alternative to the florescent lighting of Corporate America Hell. While I only spent less than an hour with this guy, he seemed intelligent, knowledgeable and could probably flourish in many other industries. But he gets to do something he genuinely seems to enjoy.