The last time I remember buying new release coins direct from the mint or the retail shops was in 1990 with the $5 1 ounce silver kookaburras.
After that I wizened up a bit, and found that if I waited a while I could buy most of the new releases later on at well under issue prices,
some even under spot prices.
So being a bit of a cheapskate does have its benefits in the long run, as I have amassed a much larger stack than I would have if I had purchased
must of my stuff through retail outlets when first released.