About us

About Us

The Silver Queen story begins in 1973, when Master Sergeant Art Arbutine retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than 20 years of service. While stationed overseas, he had spent two decades collecting British Crowns and developed a passion for coins. After retirement, Art and his wife Patricia (Pat)  opened a tiny 700-square-foot shop in Belleair Bluffs, Florida, called Belleair Coins. What started as a personal hobby soon became the family business.

Pat quickly saw potential beyond coins. While Art focused on the numismatic side, Pat began buying and selling sterling silver flatware and holloware, recognizing its true value beyond scrap. In 1979 she founded The Silver Queen Inc., which grew into a nationally recognized source for silver through catalogs and magazine ads. Customers from around the country called in to track down missing patterns, replace heirloom pieces, and build complete silver services.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, the businesses grew steadily. The small shop expanded to over 5,000 square feet, and The Silver Queen built a reputation for one of the largest silverware inventories in the United States — now with over 165,000 pieces and 12,000 patterns available. Pat and Art’s three sons — Greg, Chris, and Jay — as well as extended family members joined the operation, making it a true multigenerational enterprise.

In 2002, the family moved the businesses into a new 14,500-square-foot domed showroom in Largo, Florida. The building quickly became a local landmark (nicknamed the “Taj of Largo”) and provided space not only for the retail stores but also for the The Silver Queen Museum, where Pat and Art displayed remarkable pieces they had set aside over the years — including Tiffany punch bowls, Gorham Martele holloware, and antique flatware patterns.

Today, the businesses operate as two sides of the same coin:

• The Silver Queen Inc., specializing in silverware, gifts, china, crystal, and jewelry.
• Belleair Coins, Gold & Diamonds, dealing in coins, bullion, diamonds, and estate jewelry.

Together they generate millions in annual sales and continue to be run by the Arbutine family with longtime staff. Over the years, they’ve been featured in Southern Living, the Tampa Bay Times, and numerous local and national outlets for their unique mix of retail, history, and family tradition.

From a coin collector’s dream in 1973 to a Florida landmark today, Art and Pat Arbutine’s vision still shapes every part of The Silver Queen.