James H Cohen & Sons

I went there knowing that I knew nothing about coins but that I wanted to buy a few as a gift. I explained this and to help said a coin connected to New Orleans, France or Ireland, or possibly a pirate doubloon was what I was thinking of. The unfriendly man who was trying to not help shook his head and said but what coin do you want. I found my patience and said, ‘maybe you could show me a few.’ He reluctantly pulled coins out and explained not much about anything. All without looking at me and no emotion.
WHY DO THIS? It is obvious you are intentionally being rude. It is insulting to your customers and your employers, and even other co-​workers who might like the chance to make a sale. It is so rude and unnecessary. I am not sure what I was supposed to understand from his behavior but I understand he is arrogant and this place is poorly managed since employees are allowed to act this way.
There are too many places to buy coins for cheaper and with a much better experience. I thought shopping local was going to be nice. No, it was horrible.
PS I reluctantly bought a coin just so the effort wouldn’t be completely futile. I regret it.:-(

Some really nice items. A wall of early percussion firearms, swords & miscellaneous. Fellow behind the counter was very nice & obliging, however, know your stuff. Prices were 20−75% higher than other sources. With that said, a handful might be hard to find elsewhere. I can’t speak to the coins and paper money.

Very eclectic store. Really strange in a wonderful sort of way. Other reviewers have said the store is like a museum. I understand their comment, but prefer to say the store is a remnant from a bygone era. I can imagine my grandfather shopping here in the 1950’s, and it literally hasn’t changed a bit in the ensuing 60+ years. We really enjoyed it — both the merchandise and the curiosity of it all.
The store sells several types of items — vintage and antique firearms, swords, bayonets, old currency and coins, shipwreck coins and memorabilia, and a few nice cases of jewelry.
A really curious mix, but it somehow works.
The salesperson was friendly and attentive. She negotiated the price fairly, and they shipped the item back home for us. They shipped it VERY quickly, and it arrived VERY quickly.
‘Great to do business with. Very professional. I’d buy from them again in a heartbeat…

Interesting. Definitely the type of place collectors go. I did not get to delve that far into the inventory. There were not many people working or anyone able to answer questions. I felt like it was a wing in a museum where all of the stock was meant to be on display.

Great Customer Service!!!
I purchased a great «New Orleans Mint» Morgan here last week… with cool toning!
I am not a serious coin collector
(there are people who spend MILLIONS ON A SINGLE COIN), but the people here took care of me just the same.
I really liked the vibe from the lady who was helping me, I have a feeling she is an owner… Or married to one of them!!!
Anyway, cool stuff here. Will buy here again when I go back to NOLA.

Let me begin by saying that I collect firearms.
I do know some things, but also know what I don’t know.
So I am not afraid to ask questions.
I have worked in the firearms industry for years, am humble, and know that many people specialize in antiquity. Lots of people know more than I do.
I browsed the cases and saw several items that intrigued me. I was set to buy a peperbox that would have fit in my collection nicely, but…
When I asked the guy behind the counter about a french bayonet on the wall things went bad.
I have the exact bayonet and would love to have the rifle that it belongs to.
I thought if they have one, done deal. Ship that sucker to my brother in law’s FFL.
But when I asked about the rifle, the salesman took the opportunity to be the smartest man in the room. I asked what model rifle went with that bayonet? He said a french year 1874. I inquired if there was a make or manufacturer with that rifle? He replied ITS A FRENCH 1874!
Well that response is not going to help my cash from my wallet. Do I know that there was only one french rifle made in 1874? NO!
An ‘I don’t know would have sufficed’. Or a Gras Fucil if he actually did know.
Now that I have had a chance to hit google, I have learned that it was a Fusil Gras mle 1874. But instead of talking guns with me, he had to bee rude. Did his ego get in the way of a sale? Probably. Or maybe he thought I was just a tourist there to put finger prints on his wears. Well news for you, you are in the french quarter nola. Everyone is a tourist there to put finger prints on your wears. Your job is to sell stuff.
My response was «well now I know, thanks». But the sales prevention person had to act like I was an idiot for asking for a further definition of the weapon.
I used to have to train my salesmen not to talk people out of guns because of their particular bias, but this guy was just rude.
If you don’t want people to ask questions, just flip the sign to closed.
I’m sure I can find a peperbox and a Gras 1874 on gunsamerica.
Wont be back.
However I will tell every gun guy I know, not to bother.

One of the reasons my wife and I came to New Orleans this weekend was to visit this shop. It taps into a few of my historical and collecting passions … and those who know me know that I spend way too much time in these sorts of shops.
So I went in wanting to love this place. Really wanting to love it.
I’ve learned over the years that some antiques shops cater to really dedicated collectors, and others cater to more of a «tourist» crowd – especially in locations like this. I was really saddened to discover the latter; they were far more interested in selling collecting kitsch to interested tourists than they were in talking to someone who has collected (and knows what he’s talking about) for most of his life.
Even my wife was struck by how unwilling they were to take things out of the case. Seriously, that cased Colt revolver isn’t all that rare or exotic, and there was a chance we may have talked seriously about price if I could have checked the condition of the bore, the lockup of the cylinder, etc. But as it stands, it’s still in your case and my money is still in my wallet.
I’m going to go back today to see if they were just having an off day, or if the sun was just getting to me. I really hope I can revise this review later, because I seriously want to love this place. But I simply cannot abide by shops that dispense attitude; there are far too many other eager and willing sellers that will take the time to build the relationship. And in the world of numismatology, notaphily and antique weapons, relationships mean everything.

Cohen & Sons is better than a museum: it’s free to stay for hours, and you can find some damn cool and incredibly interesting parts of history. Definitely my favorite antique store on Royal St. that I found during my visit to NOLA.
They have everything: antique guns, maps, currency, and old coins. Not just Civil War old, but even 400 B.C. old!
It was at Cohen & Sons where my antique map obsession began. I got two amazing maps from 1770s depicting the US (cartographer believed California was its own island) and ancient China (sans Tibet and with many other differences).
I wholeheartedly recommend visiting if you’re in NOLA!

Was excited to visit this shop while visiting New Orleans for the first time. I was traveling with my dog and was pleased to find most shops allowed me to bring my dog in the shop with me out of the hot sun. However this shop owner played games and asked if I had a ‘clean-​up’ kit for my dog. When I said I did he said ‘then, no’ as he felt this indicated my dog would use his store as a restroom. He went on to ask if my dog was well housebroken… With regards to allowing dogs in the store, say yes or no. Either way, i don’t care. don’t play with people. I didn’t feel like looking around after this. One star for the customer service.

Cohen & Sons is like a museum where you can buy everything if you have good enough credit.
Colt revolvers from the wild west. Muskets from Harper’s Ferry. Denarii from the Roman Empire. Pirate Treasure.
If you are a grownup who loves history and antiques, you just found your toy store.

Really the nicest people around.

We always try to stop in on any visit to NOLA. We may not be able to afford much at Cohen & Sons, but it’s always a great experience! Family-​run, friendly, and professional ~ we highly recommend you take a gander, and buy a coin or two while you’re there!

This is the most impressive coin dealer I have ever encountered; I love that it’s a family-​owned business with personalized attention. One of the ‘sons’ (I forget his name) patiently explained to me the myriad of antebellum currency notes, helping me pick the perfect 1771 Philadelphia 5-​shilling note. I’m more of a numismatist, but I was really impressed with their antique weaponry and jewelry. Should I ever make it back to the French Quarter, this will probably be my second stop (right after a savory Cajun meal somewheres).

An antique store opened in 1898, James H. Cohen & Sons sells vintage collectibles from around the world. I bought my dad a tattered Roman coin from the rule of Constantine the Great. When I hold it in my hand, I get real poignant and can’t help but think of all the cheap hookers and bags of Roman blow it helped score down the ages.
From what I can remember, they also sell Napoleon’s sword and Hitler’s bureau set, which I’m pretty sure, when combined, gets you 43.4% closer to world domination.