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Making an Offer on a Coin to a Dealer

Coin dealers are often the best place to purchase old coins. Not only are most of the coins already graded for you, but it is also, in some cases, possible to talk the dealer down in price. The most important thing when attempting this is not to insult the dealer. Do not make a ridiculously low offer on a coin. If you do this, it is less likely that the dealer will listen to your more reasonable offers. You can avoid insulting dealers by educating yourself about old coins.

Things You'll Need

Coin price guide

Instructions

- 1
  Get to know the coin dealer. Try to engage him in conversation--show him that you are serious about coin collecting. Learn about how he runs his business. He will be much more likely to listen to an offer if he knows you.
- 2
  Learn about the specific coin you want to buy. Look up the value of the coin in an up-to-date price guide. Try to find what the coin has been going for at recent auctions. This may may be difficult to come by, but it can give you a better idea of the true value of the coin.
- 3
  Prepare your offer. Base it on the information you have gained from your price guide and auction watching and the price the dealer has on the coin. Decide what your ideal price is and the most you are willing to pay for the coin.
- 4
  Make your offer to the dealer. Some dealers do not like customers making an outright offer. Instead, you can strike up a conversation about your potential purchase and drop some subtle hints. If you must make an offer, be diplomatic, because if you upset the dealer at all, you can kiss your discount goodbye.

Coin Collecting