As a coin and coin album collector, I've learned over the years that coin shops are full of hidden gems you'll never find online. In January 2024, I spontaneously embarked on a memorable coin shop road trip across the Southwestern US to discover hidden treasures. Over those 10 days, I gained a newfound appreciation for physical coin shops and how they serve their local communities.

In March 2025, I embarked on another coin road trip across the North and Pacific Northwest. I documented my travel plans and day-by-day experience with the broader coin community this time. I expected only a handful of folks would be interested in my travels, but I was surprised by how many on various forums and social media reached out to share their local insights and help shape my travel route. What started as another expedition to build my collection and explore local coin communities evolved into something more profound.

I was curious about numismatic cultural differences between large cities and rural communities, though I wasn’t sure what those differences would be. Here is what I saw.

‍Regional Shop Differences

Urban Coin Shops

‍In bustling metro areas like Seattle, coin shops were primarily bullion-focused. These shops make the bulk of their money from Gold and Silver transactions. More often than not, it felt like coins were an afterthought. I was the odd one coming into these shops purely as a coin collector.

‍Smaller City Coin Shops

‍Stops in Billings, Tacoma, and Missoula struck a pleasant balance. These shops typically blended friendly service with a genuine appreciation for the hobby. I felt a noticeable difference in the way owners engaged with fellow enthusiasts. Most of their customers dealt in bullion, but these shops wanted to draw in collectors.

‍Small Town Coin Shops

‍I discovered some real hidden gems in small towns. One shop I visited was JS Coins in Butte, Montana, which Joseph runs.

His main job is as a plumber, but he’s a passionate coin collector and runs his shop for fun. (That explains why his store sign says JS Plumbing & Heating.) He sells on WhatNot and Ebay and taught me a lot about how WhatNot operates.

His shop typically closes at 6 pm, but Joseph stayed open an extra hour and a half so we could talk about all things coins. He also collects Dansco albums, which he had bought from me before! I was surprised when he pulled out one of my business cards, which I had included in one of his orders. It was funny when he said, “I actually have 400 Dansco’s in my collection,” and I responded, “I think I have you beat at 800.”

I created a short video giving Joseph and JS coins a shoutout; you can check it out below.

Another hidden gem was Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet in Ponderay, ID.

The owner, Mark, runs the shop. I got the sense that he appreciated I was a coin and coin album collector. We discussed Dansco and what he has seen from them during his long career as a dealer. He has a wealth of knowledge, and he even let me go into the back office and see his numismatic library with 1000+ books and references. There was an incredible assortment of coin-collecting supplies, including a massive wall of Whitman folders and Dansco albums/pages. His shop truly felt like a store made by a coin collector for coin collectors. I could not believe this shop existed in a town with a population of less than 2,000.

Mark was also kind enough to let me record a short video about him and his shop.

While I don’t mean to suggest that every small-town shop is exceptional, I felt my odds of encountering that collector’s spirit was much higher.

‍Shop Observations and Demographics

‍Some overall observations from the 22 coin shops I visited:

25% welcoming: Owners welcomed me with open arms in these shops and treated our conversations as exchanges between fellow collectors. They took the time to sift through their inventories to help me find those elusive rare albums.
45% generally friendly: I was met with a warm atmosphere, although I was primarily seen as a hopeful bullion customer rather than a fellow coin collector. The service was courteous, even if the conversations didn’t dive as deep into numismatic nuances.
20% ambivalent: Some stops felt more like casual browsing; the owners were preoccupied or offered minimal engagement.
10% closed: A few establishments were unavailable despite my visiting during their stated open hours.

Some more observations:‍

80% of shop owners and employees were men; 20% were women.
97% of store employees were white.
35% of shop owners and employees were under 35, 40% were between ages 35 and 60, and 25% were older than 70.
I noticed that I made the best deals in shops run by collectors. Places that leaned heavily into bullion sales weren’t as willing to negotiate.

Notable Acquisitions

Dansco Albums

Rare Finds: Republic of Austria Type [Continental Line]
International Series: Canada Type, China Silver Panda, Mexico Type series (Centavo and Peso)
U.S. Coin Series: Half Dimes, Bust Dimes [Littleton Version], Lincoln Coin
Precious Metals: American Eagle Silver Dollars, Silver Rounds, Silver Bars
Specialty Albums: Santa Cruz Coin Club, Space Medals, Pokemon Cards, Custom Harley Davidson Collector's Chips

Dansco Folders

International Series: Australia One Dollar 2008-2012, Fiji 1934-1967, Mexico 20-25 Centavo
U.S. Coin Series: Washington Quarters from 1963

Dansco Pages

Rare Finds: #7070 US Type Set: Gold Type Page
International Series: Republic of Guatemala Type Page 4
Specialty Pages: Hershey Coin Club Hershey, Pennsylvania

Dansco Miscellaneous

Inventory: 2800 Plastic Slides covering all albums
Pre-Finished: Slipcase Cover, Unpunched Pages

Library of Coins Albums

International Series: Canada 1 Cent Pieces Vol. 60
U.S. Coin Series: Liberty Head Dimes, Liberty Standing Quarters, Kennedy Head Half Dollars, Liberty Head Silver Dollars Part 1 & 2

Whitman Bookshelf Albums

International Series: Australian Type Collection, Canadian Quarters 1921-, Canadian Dollars 1935-, Great Britain Minor Type Set
U.S. Coin Series: Large Cents, Complete Set of 2c, 3c, Shields 5c, 20c Pieces, Washington Quarters, United States Type Set - Small Coins, U.S. Type Set, Commemorative Type Set

Whitman Modern Folders

International Series: Canada 5 Cents, 25 Cents, 50 Cents, Dollar

Mehrig Albums

U.S. Coin Series: Small Cents, Lincoln Cents, Liberty Head Nickel, Buffalo Nickels, Mercury Dimes, Dimes Plain, Liberty Head Quarters, Liberty Standing Quarters, Liberty Head Half Dollars, Liberty Standing Half Dollars, Franklin Half Dollars, Half Dollars Plain, Liberty Head Dollars

Miscellaneous

4 lbs of World Coins
Scott’s American Album for United States Stamps
International Junior Postage Stamp Album
Philippines Type Set Album [Unknown Manufacturer]

Unexpected Discoveries

During this journey, I encountered several unexpected treasures. A particular highlight was discovering a scarce Republic of Austria Continental Line album priced at only $29 [Valued at $300+]. Another remarkable find came at a high-end bullion dealer who had amassed an impressive collection of hundreds of uncommon coin albums. This collection had formed gradually over time as their aging clientele sold off their coin collections, albums, and all. Since few of their customers sought coin albums, the bullion shop had accumulated these valuable holders over the years without much attention.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the trip was receiving private messages from collectors with insights about their local coin markets. These fellow enthusiasts generously advised me which coin shops to visit or avoid, including convincing me to take a detour to Grunbergs in Ponderay. It was a surreal experience meeting collectors I'd only previously connected with online.

The difference between virtual and in-person connections became immediately apparent. One such encounter was with a rare coin dealer who openly shared insights into his multi-million dollar business operations. Another memorable meeting was with a vintage Whitman album collector who matched my enthusiasm for finding rare albums. Our shared passion created an instant bond that digital conversations simply couldn't replicate.

‍Visiting Dansco's Headquarters

‍While each shop offered its unique charm and discoveries, one visit stood apart from all others - not to a traditional coin shop, but to the very source of my collecting passion. The crowning moment of the trip was my visit to Dansco's headquarters in Sumas, Washington. For someone who has dedicated years to collecting and researching Dansco albums with the ultimate goal of owning one of every album ever made, this rare behind-the-scenes opportunity was the numismatic equivalent of a pilgrimage.

Despite their busy schedules, Leticia and Steve Bruce welcomed me inside their Sumas, Washington facility and gave me a detailed tour. The facility, set up in a repurposed grocery store, was a treasure trove of numismatic history. I witnessed firsthand the production process: pages being assembled, gold foils applied, and rows upon rows of punch-out dies meticulously labeled. I saw how every step in creating an album was done by hand.

I seized the opportunity to ask many questions that had been circulating within the coin album community and gained these valuable insights:

Will Dansco update the #7070 U.S. Type Set album or make foreign albums again?
- There are no current plans to update or reprint foreign sets. They focus on the most in-demand items, like update pages and recent mint series such as American Women Quarters. There have been discussions about a volume 2 for the #7070 series, but no immediate plans.

Is there a master list of all the custom albums Dansco has created for customers over the years?
- There is no master list of all the albums, including custom albums, that Dansco has produced. But there is hope! They have an entire wall of punch-out dies used to make pages over the years, and each die is labeled. I hope to go through and catalog everything they have made someday. In the meantime, here is a link to an exhaustive catalog I made of every Dansco album I am aware of.

Why did Dansco move its operations from California to Washington State?
- Leticia and Steve wanted to leave California and raise their family in a smaller town. They also wanted to reduce the number of people visiting their Los Angeles office. They mentioned how collectors and dealers often drop by during the Long Beach Expo and disrupt operations. Instead of 1 or 2 visitors a month, they now get 1 or 2 visitors every six months.

Are there plans to update their U.S. Commemorative albums?
- They have looked into it but have no current plans.

Why are the pages in the #8141 American Women Quarters w/ Proof albums not include slots for S- Proof Silver coins?
- Quarter pages always had four slots per row. The creation of S-clad business strike quarters threw a wrench in things. They could not update the slots to five per row. They hoped the #8148 album with proofs would hold the regular proofs, and the #7147 date set album would hold the S Silver Proof. They know they could have better communicated this to the broader coin community.

Along with answering questions from the community, I also discovered these fascinating insights:

They have not produced coin folders since 2015.
They partnered with and produced Littleton-branded albums in the 1980s before Littleton branched off to create its own line of albums.
It's a surprisingly small operation with only eight employees.
When UN FAO coin albums were made in the 1960s and 70s, Dansco employees placed FAO coins inside and sold them complete.
Their highest demand period was during the state quarter series, when production needs caused their employee numbers to swell to 25.
Dansco produced green folders covering Ireland series coins, which are now exceptionally rare.
They discontinued Australian albums in the early 2000s.
Die punches cannot be altered - an entirely new die must be created if a page needs updating with a different size port.
While examining an old ledger, I discovered an order invoice from Ervin J. Felix dating back to 1962, possibly his first order of Continental Line albums (the precursor of modern Dansco supreme brown albums).
Leticia shared a remarkable historical photo showing some of the first Dansco employees, including Paul Bruce, one of the founders of Dansco

The visit was not only educational but deeply personal. It connected me with Dansco's legacy—a legacy I've researched for years through my dedicated collection and ongoing conversations with fellow collectors. Many in the coin album community have long been fascinated with Dansco's history, and asking our burning questions in person was a dream come true. I hope to revisit them and answer more questions soon.

‍More Than Just A Road Trip

‍This journey across the North & Pacific Northwest was far more than a quest for rare albums or answers to a few Dansco questions—it marked a personal turning point for me. Two years ago, after a decade in the tech industry, I was caught in the wave of mass tech layoffs. While I had appreciated the stability and opportunities afforded by a well-paying career, I never found my work exciting. At a crossroads, I faced a pivotal question: Should I try to return to tech, or was this a sign that I was meant for something more?

After two years of straddling the line between finding another tech job or going full-time into numismatics, I hoped this trip might help me find that answer. Every mile I drove and every coin shop I visited on this trip reaffirmed my decision to follow my heart. I don't know where my place in numismatics will ultimately be, but I know it will be infinitely more fulfilling.

The visit to Dansco's headquarters was particularly transformative. Standing there among the old album printers, connecting with the people behind products I've enjoyed researching for years, I felt a sense of purpose I had never experienced in my tech career. This trip wasn’t just about building business connections and stocking inventory. Though, I did get to buy a bunch of rare custom albums hidden behind some pallets at Dansco.

While many coin shops today are shifting toward bullion sales, and the traditional coin shop catering to collectors is slowly vanishing (much like what we've seen with stamp shops), I left this trip more optimistic about the hobby. I disagree with those who say that coin collecting is declining; it’s just changing as it always has.

In every enthusiastic dealer and fellow collector I met, I found confirmation that this community remains vibrant and welcoming. Thank you for joining me as I navigate this crazy world we call numismatics.

It turns out that unexpected treasures aren’t always found in junk silver bins.

Justin

‍The 22 coin shops I visited‍

‍Montana

[IMG] — Grizzly Gold and Silver
My visit included a delightful conversation with Randall about German coins, where he was intrigued to learn I spoke some German—a skill honed during my two years teaching English in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, which he’d recently visited himself. The shop offered a solid mix of world coins and albums, alongside standard US coin displays, and Randall kindly provided a discount on my album purchases.

[IMG] — Ardie's Coins
Ardie proved to be exceptionally personable, sparking a lively discussion about our preferred coin album manufacturers—he’s particularly fond of Library of Coins. The shop itself impressed with an expansive wall dedicated to Dansco albums, paired with a robust inventory spanning world and US coins, tokens, and medals. Before leaving, we exchanged plans to stay connected, as Ardie mentioned having additional albums in storage.

[IMG] — Penny Ranch
The shop was bustling during my visit, offering a decent variety of US coins, though I noticed no world coins and only a limited assortment of coin albums. While the selection skewed heavily toward American currency, I managed to secure a solid discount on the few albums I purchased.

[IMG] — Williams Gallery
This modern coin shop primarily focuses on US coins, with a strong emphasis on Morgan Dollars dominating their inventory. While their selection leaned heavily toward American currency, they stood out for their extensive range of coin albums, particularly Littleton-brand products.

[IMG] — JS Coins
Small-town coin shops often surprise me—they’re usually cramped, inventory-limited, and focused on gold and silver sales. However, this one, run by Joseph, a passionate collector, defied expectations. Despite typically closing at 6 pm, he stayed open an extra hour and a half just to chat about coins. Our conversation included a lighthearted moment when I asked about Dansco albums: Joseph proudly mentioned owning 400, only for me to jokingly counter with 800. Joseph’s enthusiasm shines through his unique setup—he works full-time as a plumber (hence the store sign, “JS Plumbing & Heating”) but runs the shop purely for enjoyment.

He sells coins on WhatNot and eBay and shared insights about how WhatNot operates. To my surprise, he even recognized me as an eBay seller, pulling out one of the business cards I include with orders. Inspired by our conversation, I’m now exploring the possibility of creating a custom gold-type set Dansco album for him.

Grizzly Gold and Silver
The store primarily focused on bullion and Morgan dollars, with only a tiny selection of coin albums and no world coins I could find. They had large bins filled with loose Buffalo Nickels and Indian Head Pennies, which could be a good way to keep children entertained while conducting business. Interestingly enough, they were giving away free miniature American flags on sticks. The store was right across the street from Missoula Gold & Silver Exchange.

[IMG] — Missoula Gold & Silver
Don’t let the name fool you, this place offers more than bullion. I found a wide selection of US and world coins, medals, and tokens. The world coins are organized by country, and I was able to pick out a bunch to add to my foreign Dansco albums. All the rare coin albums are listed on eBay, but I was able to purchase world coins at a great price.

Treasure Coins
Was closed even though I visited during open business hours

[IMG] — Jem Shoppe Jewelers & Rare Coins
This place was more of a jewelry store more than a coin shop, although they showcased a limited selection of coins, including Morgan Dollars and contemporary proof sets. There were no coin albums for sale.

‍Idaho

[IMG] — Grunberg Schloss Collectors’ Cabinet
Grunberg Schloss Collectors' Cabinet in Ponderay, ID, with a population of less than 2,000, became my favorite stop of day 3. Mark Gruner runs the shop and spent an hour talking with me about all things coin albums. He has a wealth of knowledge on coin albums and knew the owners of manufacturers such as Mehrig and Harco. He even let me go into the back room and see his personal numismatic library with 1000+ books and references.

There was an incredible assortment of coin-collecting supplies, including a massive wall of Whitman folders and Dansco albums/pages. Mark was in the process of bringing out inventory, so there were even more supplies in the back. They're not just a coin shop but a collectibles shop in every sense. I saw guns, ammo, jewelry, gardening supplies, and other knickknacks. They also had a vast collection of US coins along with some world silver coins. I was able to stock up on some Dansco inventory at great prices.

DJ's Coins & Collectibles

The owner, David, pulled out various foreign Dansco albums and a massive selection of Library of Coins albums. Luckily, the rare albums he showed me aren't often available on eBay. I was thrilled to get a custom Dansco Silver Chinese Pandas album; it's the first custom album I've found on this road trip.