What books feature Colorado gold, silver, lead, etc mine life?
"You're not here to sell this, are you?" the dealer asked, lowering his loupe.
The morning air in Colorado Springs carried a sharp, high-altitude chill as Elias stood in a line that snaked around the brick corner of the Hallenbeck Coin Gallery . He wasn't alone; dozens of others shuffled their feet, some clutching small velvet pouches and others holding heavy, clinking Tupperware. With silver prices hitting historic highs in early 2026, the quiet hobby of coin collecting had turned into a local frenzy.
When the heavy glass door finally opened, Elias stepped into a room that smelled of old paper and metallic tang. Behind the counter, the staff moved with practiced speed, evaluating bags of "junk silver"—pre-1965 quarters and dimes—based on current market bids.
Elias shook his head. He had come to do the opposite. He used the value of some old bullion bars he'd inherited to trade for a rare Morgan Silver Dollar he knew his grandfather had always wanted but could never afford.