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 Replies: 9 / Views: 3,974 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5177 Posts |
Which numismatic convention would be best for a beginner/intermediate coin collector to attend: FUN in Orlando or Whitman in Baltimore?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
IMO, go to the one closest to you. Saves you money on travel and maybe even lodging. Since I'm about 35 miles from Baltimore I've been to the Whitman Show 10+ times. I've never been to a FUN show but I'd like to go once just to say I've been. Same with the Central States Show. But I'll stay east of the Mississippi. (Also went to an ANA show in New Orleans once.) |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5177 Posts |
The closest would be the Bay State Coin Show, or the NY Numismatic International Convention. Both have been cancelled.
Maybe the BSCS will happen next August.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
I've never been to FUN, though I'd like to. However, I've been to Baltimore as both a collector and dealer so I can speak there. Baltimore attracts a lot of attention and is structured numismatic chaos. But if you want a coin I promise whatever you're looking for is there. Whether that be a $50 coin or $500,000 one. I enjoyed Baltimore both occasions and was able to secure some amazing coins. The benefit of either is prices. Many dealers will sell for 10-20% off of their ebay prices at shows. One such example is my bust half. Priced at $1300 on ebay I secured it for $1050 in person. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
Quote:Many dealers will sell for 10-20% off of their ebay prices at shows. One such example is my bust half. Priced at $1300 on ebay I secured it for $1050 in person. I can imagine it helps if you do not have to pay the ebay fees and overhead. But there is obviously a cost to renting a table at a coin show. Not sure if that is much less than ebay fees. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
Quote:But there is obviously a cost to renting a table at a coin show. Not sure if that is much less than ebay fees. Depends on the coin, but the cost to get a table is less than you'd think |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5238 Posts |
Renting a table is a flat fee, and does not depend on the sales. Although I have never been to Baltimore, I did go to a few FUN shows. My justification was that I live in Canada and the show was in January. So I combined it with a winter vacation. FUN was absolutely enormous, and had bargain tables as well as tables with $1 million of gold bullion. I went to an ANA in Philadelphia and was very satisfied with it. Comparable in quality to the FUN show, and no problem spending all your money quite a few times over. So I would say there are great opportunities at all the big shows, so go to the one most convenient in terms of time and location. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5177 Posts |
Well, no shows for me anytime soon it seems.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5818 Posts |
The Whitman show got cancel in June, I was thinking going there, but will check back for the November show, hopefully by then this virus will subsided.
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:
...hopefully by then this virus will subsided. Truth. I missed the local show last fall and another one two weeks ago. Neither were cancelled, but with no statewide mask mandate I was not going to risk it. I hope the show this fall will work out for me. My classification makes the vaccine available to me "approximately" 12 April 2021 and the general population by the end of May. Plenty of time for herd immunity, assuming enough people get it. |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 3,974 |
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Posted 10/26/2020 1:15 pm
