Yesterday and today the Numismata coin show is/was on in Vienna. I did all my looking yesterday, but I had to head back today. The Messe Prater( Conference centre is actually very close to where we live. Its just across the Danube. By car it would take a good part of 45 minutes by "U-Bahn" (underground) its only 10 minutes away( "U-Bahn" is better than cars in Vienna).
I had an American collector ask me what European Coin shows were like. So when I went this morning I took my camera...and took a few photos:
The first one is taken just heading the the entrance to the hall the Show is in. At this stage I didn't realize I was 20 minutes early( opened at 0930)
The lad guarding the door let me take one photo from the entrance doors. The photo doesn't show much because of the horrible stamp stands and the Vienna mint hut! (I have no idea who the guy is who is standing looking at the camera)
10 minutes before the show was supposed to start we were let in. Past the evil stamp( just to make it clear: I don't like stamps) stands this shot was taken. You can see the Vienna mint stand to the left( they put up a garden hut) to the right is the stand of a shop I used to buy from( gold and Silver) I believe they are owned by a Private bank, but I could be wrong.
The main hall with If you look the NGC stand really over worked( perhaps thats why the guy looking at the camera is so Grumpy looking!
The NGC stand in the photo is exactly as I expected it to be. However Yesterday the stand did have people behind it and they were taking submissions ( actually I was surprised at how many customers they had yesterday). I had planned to talk to them today...but obviously the people running it were still having breakfast( they arrived just as I was leaving( 10:00am) When the show opened this morning the NGC stand was the only one that wasn't manned( staffed). Now a shot of the main part of the hall I think the main difference from the one US coin show I have seen, is the stands are are waist height and there is no seating for customers.
the final shot to the very right you can see some peoiple sitting thay are at a small "cafe" some are drinking their breakfast (beer) others are having solid food. I don't know if that normal in American or not. All I know is for me Alcohol and coin shopping would lead to Bankruptcy very quickly. Obviously that cafe stand also serves coffee and wine.
I was only there for a few minutes( 30) As I was leaving a greater number of people were arriving
Posted 04/26/2014 09:04 am
