Advanced Montana Coin Hunting: Pro Techniques to Unearth Hidden Treasures
September 15, 2025How Montana Coin Shows Could Reshape the Collector Economy by 2030
September 15, 2025I’ve been dealing with this issue for months. Here’s my honest experience and what I wish I’d known from the start.
When I moved to Montana last year, I couldn’t wait to explore the local coin scene. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered most coin shows had vanished faster than a $20 gold piece at an estate sale. But what started as frustration turned into an adventure – here’s how I learned to collect coins in a state that forgot about numismatic events.
The Vanishing Montana Coin Shows
What happened to the scene?
Billings was supposed to be my coin collecting paradise. Instead, I found more AR-15s than Morgan dollars at local events. After talking to old-timers and dealers, the picture became clear:
- Graying collectors: The guys who ran shows in the 90s are now in their 70s with no replacements
- Digital shift: Dealers told me they make more money on eBay than driving 300 miles to a show
- Economic reality: Schools and churches would rather host gun shows that draw 500 people than coin events with 50
The Glendive ghost show
I nearly drove three hours to a “coin show” that turned out to be as real as a 1913 Liberty Head nickel. That outdated online listing taught me to always call venues before hitting the road.
Creative Alternatives I Discovered
Gun shows: Not just for firearms
Here’s my survival guide for finding coins where you least expect them:
- Hit the coffee stand first – that’s where dealers gossip about who brought what
- Silver dollars move fast, so check tables before lunch rush
- Carry a small magnifier – lighting at these events is terrible for grading coins
The truth about Lincoln’s 50,000 Silver Dollar bar
Yes, it’s mostly worn-out Peace dollars nailed to the wall. But the bartender introduced me to a retired rancher with a cigar box full of territorial gold coins. Sometimes the real treasure is the connections you make.
Building a Montana Collection Against the Odds
What actually worked for me
After months of dead ends, I cracked the code for Montana collecting:
- Go hyper-local: I now specialize in pioneer tokens from Montana mining towns
- Join the right groups: Historical societies have members who remember when coins were actually used here
- Be a regular: The last shop in Billings with a good inventory saves walkers for known collectors
My best accidental find
At what looked like another junk-filled estate sale, I nearly passed over a sewing basket. Inside? An 1865 territorial gold piece mistaken for a button. The $8,500 lesson? In Montana, treasure hides in plain sight when you know what to look for.
Collecting here isn’t about shows – it’s about becoming part of the state’s numismatic story.
Key Takeaways for Collectors
- Montana rewards patience – rare coins surface if you build relationships
- The best deals happen before events officially open
- Focus on Montana-specific coins where you have home-field advantage
- Always check “junk” boxes – pioneers didn’t use coin flips
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I’m glad Montana doesn’t have easy coin shows. Hunting for coins the old-fashioned way – through word-of-mouth, dusty antique shops, and befriending old collectors – taught me more about numismatics than any convention ever could. Turns out, Big Sky Country still has plenty of treasure… if you’re willing to dig for it.
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