If you’ve been flipping through channels in the early morning hours and landed on the History Channel, there’s a chance you’ve come across the Cable Shopping Network (CSN) — a coin and collectibles TV marketer that has been selling numismatic products to viewers since 2002.
But is buying coins from CSN actually a good deal, or are collectors better off looking elsewhere? Let’s take a close, honest look.
TL;DR:
CSN is a legitimate coin dealer — not a scam —, but collectors routinely overpay. Know the red flags before you buy.
Key Takeaways:
- ✅ CSN is a real, BBB Accredited (A+) business that has operated since 2002
- ✅ Coins sold are genuine and legally issued — not counterfeits
- ⚠️ Prices are frequently well above market value — always check eBay and Heritage Auctions first
- ⚠️ CSN uses NGS for grading, not the industry-standard PCGS or NGC — this affects resale value
- ⚠️ Shipping costs are non-refundable even if you return the item
- ⚠️ Orders take 4–6 weeks to process, and your card is charged immediately
- ❌ Customer service experiences are inconsistent — some buyers report order errors and difficulty getting resolutions
What is Cable Shopping Network?
Cable Shopping Network (CSN) is not a general consumer shopping channel like QVC or HSN.
It is a specialized coin and collectible marketing company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, that sells rare and collectible coins through television programming and its website (csnmint.com).
CSN airs on the History Channel on weekend mornings, generally in the 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM ET window on Saturdays and Sundays, though exact times can vary week to week.”
Founded in 2002 and incorporated as a Limited Liability Company, CSN has been BBB Accredited since 2004 and currently holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
The company describes itself as one of the largest retail marketers of rare and collectible coins in the country, offering products ranging from Morgan Dollars and Silver Eagles to Gold Buffalo coins and world coins.
Unlike counterfeit coin operations, CSN sells legally issued coins — but that doesn’t mean every purchase is necessarily a smart one for collectors.
Is Buying CSN Coins a Good Idea?
The honest answer is: it depends, but there are real reasons to be cautious.
CSN’s coins are generally authentic and legally sold. However, a consistent pattern of criticism from collectors centers around several concerns:
– Pricing premiums:
CSN coins are frequently sold at significant premiums above their spot metal value and above what coins in equivalent condition would fetch on the open market.
Savvy collectors routinely find the same coins — including “unreleased” or “exclusive” offerings — available on eBay or through established dealers at lower prices.
– Third-party grading quality:
CSN uses grading services such as NGS (Numismatic Guaranty Services) rather than the two most widely trusted and recognized grading services in the hobby — PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company).
Coins graded by lesser-known services may not command the same resale value or collector confidence as PCGS- or NGC-graded coins.
Some customers have reported receiving coins with visible flaws despite high assigned grades, which raises legitimate concerns about grading standards.
– Shipping and handling costs are non-refundable:
CSN’s return policy allows refunds or exchanges within 30 days of the invoice date, but shipping and handling charges are not returned.
In practice, this means that disputes or returns can cost collectors money even when the company accepts the item back.
– Processing times can be long:
CSN’s standard processing time for new orders is four to six weeks, and customers are charged at the time of purchase, not at the time of shipment.
Reviews from the Customers:
Customer experience with CSN is genuinely mixed.
– Negative Reviews
Some long-term customers report satisfaction with their purchases and praise the company’s service, while others have had frustrating experiences involving order errors, misleading product descriptions, and difficulty getting resolutions.
On the negative side, several complaints involve coins being described in ways that didn’t match what was received
One notable complaint about rolls of Kennedy half dollars advertised as 1964-dated 90% silver coins that turned out to contain 1965–1969 coins of a different composition.
Other complaints reference unauthorized charges or difficulty canceling orders.
“Ordered a specific numbered 2026 American Eagle Silver Coin… THEY TOOK MY $135.00… today get an email stating my coin NOT AVAILABLE!!! WATCH OUT PEOPLE, BIG BAIT AND SWITCH TACTICS!!”
BBB Verified Reviewer
“I placed my order and two days later my credit card was charged… shipping would occur in 4–6 weeks… I asked for a refund and that would take 7–10 days. WHY? You were quick to charge my account.
BBB Verified Reviewer
“I paid $2,700 and they sent back $2,100 — they charged me a 20% restocking fee they never disclosed. They also would not reimburse shipping.”
ComplaintsBoard Verified Reviewer
– Positive reviews
On the positive side, a segment of CSN’s customer base reports repeat purchases over the years without issues and describes finding genuine value in certain offerings.
The BBB profile for CSN includes both complaints and positive reviews, and the company actively responds to complaints filed through the BBB.
“I’ve done business with CSN online and cable shopping network both by phone and mail orders from a printed catalog over a decade now. I don’t always like how long the orders take to get here, but I do understand this is not an overnight shopping experience. I have always received what I ordered and I have always been happy with what I got.”
BBB Verified Reviewer
“I have been using shopcsntv since 2017. To date I have bought approximately 60 coins. I have never had a problem with these people — they have been very polite and have answered my questions with complete satisfaction.”
BBB Verified Reviewer
CSN is a legal, long-established business that sells real coins, and some customers have found it a worthwhile source — particularly for certain specialty items.
But collectors should be aware of the pricing premiums, the use of lesser-known grading services, and the non-refundable shipping policy before purchasing.
As with any coin purchase, independent research and price comparison are your best tools.
Before you go…
Now that you know more about Cable Shopping Network coins and if they are authentic, it is time to decide. The choice is yours! We hope these tips have helped you answer your questions about CSN coins. If I spend money on my collection, I want my collection to be authentic. It’s okay if I pay a little more for my collection rather than being ripped off or scammed by others!
Check out my next article: “Beware of HSN Coins Ripoff!
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Glad to know this just about to purchase 500 dollars worth of
F morgans..thanks reviews all seem to say csn is a rip off
I stay away from CSN. But that is just my personal opinion
After several purchases from CSN I have never had a problem the only people who have problems don’t read the full disclosure
Its interesting that some would have a bad purchase .I Experienced my own return problem with the items being sold out only to receive something that was not my original purchase , So the question is are the graded coins by these acronym such as NGS ANNAC and so on are these authentic graders or not. Please someone respond to that
They are the best known independent grader in coin collecting world. However, I do get my fair share of bad purchases as well. For me, I learned from it and move on
I have been buying from CSN for 3 years and have 0% problems. I have gotten some great bargins from them and outstanding customer service. NO complaints ever!!!!
I’m looking to learn and understand more.
I was about to call CSN and ask them right now about if these 2025 P Eagle Privy (and everything else they go off about every show) are so great at their “value price”, then why don’t they just sell them elsewhere at a higher price and without incurring TV time and studio costs (paying these salaries)?
So in this article it says these are counterfeit? If so how could they be sold for years in America without being investigated and caught?
Alto forgot to ask:
If they are graded by the big grading houses, how could they be fake? Or is the cert fake? Makes no sense.
I sure wish I had done my research before my purchase. I bought a collection of 42 Walking Liberty silver dollars “expertly graded” as MS69 by NGS. By no means do I consider myself a coin expert, particularly when it comes to grading, however, MS69 is quite specific to the degree that any imperfections should be nearly impercetible with the naked eye. It only took me a few minutes to pull a handful of coins with very noticeable scratches and dings. I returned the entires set and, needless to say, I will never do any business with CSN again. This lesson cost me about $100 in shipping costs. Shame on CSN. Shame on NGS and double shame on me for not performing my due diligence.
I’ve never had any trouble with CSN, although I did get one silver eagle from them that was grade MS 70 that had a very bad dig into the reverse of it! I did not return it because I figured it would be more trouble than it was worth! On the items they sell, I don’t see that they can be unauthentic! I will continue to buy from them for the items I’m interested in!
I made a purchase from CSN in December 2025 for consecutively numbered Silver Eagles from the first 50,000 strikes. I received an email 4 weeks later indicating the item was oversold and they would substitute an equal value and quality product for the item I purchased. Can you say bait and switch. I looked up the price of the item with SD bullion and JM bullion for what they sent and the price was $30 dollars per coin lower with the others. When I contacted CSN they said I could return the cost. Very disappointed and will never purchase from them in the future. Do not trust anyone like this and purchase from a reputable bullion retailer. Going back to SD Bullion.
I’ve been doing business with CSN since 2001 and have been satisfied with the quality of their items. Their on-line catalogue provides a better than most & their staff have always been helpful & courteous…and now with the free shipping on over $200 purchases, I don’t see how you can go wrong. I especially like the specialty items that are provided for collectors of items like Barbi, Coke, and other popular silver products, especially those that pop up on the holidays. I especially like the 10-minute and less quicky items that are real attention getters. Wish their sale catalogue would come in the mail more often. Over all I give CSN an A+