Coin Prices At Major Coin Shows

hold off unless its a great price....coin show prices are very competitive!

I like the big shows because there's a good chance you'll see what you are after.
But the dealers have to pay for their tables so they are less liable to give you a good price UNLESS they are doing lots of business (volume can make up for discount).
But at the same time you don't have to pay for S&H (of course there's no S&H if you go to a local shop).

But I suggest avoiding ANA shows.
The dealers at those shows seen to have their items with REALLY inflated prices.

From many, many years of experiences with coin shows, my opinion is the larger the show, the higher the prices of whatever they are selling. And for a good reason. A dealer that has to go to a large coin show that may last for a few to several days, usually has to get a hotel, motel room. Pay for restaurant types of food. Also, some bring family members which also adds to the expenses. If driving there or flying by plane and then renting a car, more expenses. Some actually ship their merchandise ahaead which also adds stso their expenses. Food, intertainment, etc. also adds to the cost. Table rentals at a large show too are really high and some pay as much as thousands of dollars per table. AND guess where all this money comes from. Why from sales at the shows. I've found in most instances prices at a large coin show exceed even a local coin store at times. And remember there is little haggling over prices at a large show. Why should a dealer give you a break? They well know they'll never see you again.
Many local coin shows are attemded by local dealers. They usually drive there and don't have to pay for a room and food unless just wanting to get away from the rest of the family. Parking too is normally free. Entrance to the shows too is usually free. At most I've been to a table rental is about $50 and in some places less. A dealer at a small show can sell for much, much less than at a large show due to all this.
By me at times there are some really large shows. I go but end up leaving with nothing. Prices for some coins are practically funny. Have to pay to get in and pay to park yet still not really worth it all except to see lots more coins than at smaller shows.
I'll take a small to medium sized local coin show every time.

If the Peace dollar is priced at fair market value, then buy local....for a couple reasons.

If (and this is an if, not a guarantee), a STRONG relationship with your local dealer, usually, can and will open doors for you that you may not even realize were there.

Not sure if you have read any of my "know your local dealer" posts, but I definitely had THE picks of what I wanted in the collections that he purchased. The only thing limited what I purchased....my budget. :)

From some of the show reports that I've seen some dealers really live it up when on the road and of course the bill for these luxuries is ultimately passed on to the collector.