Harlan J Berk Ltd — Local services in Chicago

I've bought several modern coins from Harlan, and every time they "thumb" the coins with their bare hands. When I bought my first expensive coin (a 5oz silver coin produced by the US Mint), I thought that perhaps this was a common practice, but now I know better and I started using eBay instead.

Still I have gone back sometimes for smaller denominations, like the latest presidential dollars which they offer for $2 each (not a terrible deal). However, they go out of their way to take the coins out of the mint rolls and handle them before packaging them.

This always infuriates me slightly, because I know that their thumb print will be showing up over the years, unless I wipe it off (which also degrades the potential value). Even if the coin isn't very valuable, I'm still collecting it and paying 2x face value, so as a basic courtesy I'd expect them not to handle the coins.

Today I asked (very nicely) why they are not careful about touching the coins (I was hoping for an answer about why it doesn't matter or advice about how to take care of fingerprints). Instead the guy berated me about how these are not nice coins, how they lose money on them, and and he went on to degrade me because of my interest in modern coins. He said that "maybe for $5 they would be more careful and sort through them" (which of course isn't at all what I asked).

Ok, so maybe they're not good for modern coins, but there's more....

One day while I was in there buying one of the large silver coins (I think I bought two or three there before learning my lesson), I saw a young woman come in and ask about an old Morgan dollar. She wanted to know if it was valuable. They said nothing about the rarity or condition of the coin, they talked a lot about how they buy silver at face and how they give a fair deal for silver.

Ultimately they convinced this young woman to sell the Morgan for about $2.50. From what I could see it looked like it was in great condition (and they didn't tell her anything about it being cleaned or anything). So, basically I wouldn't trust them to give me an honest opinion either.

FINAL CONCLUSION: I've been there many times, and I don't trust their coin handling and I don't trust their valuations, and I...

I checked online reviews and this place was TOP and highly recommended by many sources (even other dealers). But I still did my “do diligence” and went around to all the rare coin collectors and appraisers Downtown Chicago. Roughly all of them where either -$80 to +$20 of value of my coins compared to Harlan.

I called our family banker at Northern Trust and within a few hours, he said his company sends their customers to Harlan.

The whole experience of selling a family heirloom is a little nerve wracking and Manny (hope I wrote his name right) made me feel at ease with the whole process. Now my vacation here is paid off. Nice way to finish this trip.

I even bought a few coins related to my birth year and the birth year of family members living and past, it’s a nice way to remember our Chicago branch of the family. I got to see different coins of US history… part of my family is from here. Manny didn’t have to take the time, but he did and I appreciated the time spent here showing me all these coins. He even said he was into comic book collecting (so am I), thank you for the knowledge shared ! :-) Next time I visit,...

I wrote this letter to Mr. Hooper on 11 September 2018. I have been dealing with Berk Ltd since mid or late 1970s. They have been one thing always: Consistent, professional. On the date mentioned, I needed help and WOW! did I receive it. I had to write a thank you..... I am Old School.

Mr. Darren R. Hooper

NUMISMATIST

Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

Dear Mr. Hooper:

I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you.

You have serviced me at the silver counter for over 3 years and you have always been so kind. For that I thank you.

I want to applaud you again- for yesterday. I was just returning from a procedure and my mind was in Never Land and adding and subtracting was not on my menu. I explained to you what I needed, you crunched the numbers and gave me the BEST deal I have ever had at Berk, Ltd.

We had a sermon Sunday and the subject was: First Impressions Can Not be Changed.

The first time I dealt with you you were the same then as now. I forget many things, but I do not forget kindness.

I may be redundant, but I thank you again and again.

With silver priced as it is, I will see...