Coin Show Experience 1/18/15

Wife and I attended a coin show in Grand Island, Nebraska today.

Small show, but a coin show, none the less. As I do not have the opportunity (time/distance/day off from work) to attend many, I cherish every one.

We arrived at 11 am, me with great hopes, wife with her tablet and a freshly downloaded book.

I made a quick tour of all of the tables as the first order of business, making mental notes of which dealer had what on display, conversed with a few who did not have customers in front of them, and inquired about a couple coins that drew my attention.

I am 16 coins short of completing an 09 to 58 Lincoln Wheat cent collection in 63 or better (exception of 14 D - is an XF)....so, the HUNT is ON!

One dealer had several 09 to 36 in PCGS 63/64/65 holders - but none were nice for the grade. Picked six different from 12 S to 35 S, but none came home with me.

Dealer across from the first, had a STUNNING 1973 D quarter in an "INB Certified" basement slab for $3. Yep, I bought it. Working on a Washington set from 32 to date as well.

At the other end of the room, dealer C had a couple of raw 1932 UNC Washington quarters on the table. Viewed both, inquired about price, $100 each. I passed, but said I might be back. Coin A had a couple of tick marks and was lacking in detail in the curl of the hair. 32 Philly in this series is a hard coin to find in a hammered strike. Coin B, it was UNC, but the reverse was soft, with some tick marks on obv & rev.

Viewed several more UNC Lincolns of various dates from 3 more dealers, all raw, that were overgraded, cleaned, or way overpriced.

A dealer was absent from his tables the first two hours I walked the bourse. All coins were in glass topped cases. NONE were slabbed. No big deal, but when you really start looking, most of the coins have been messed with in some way. No luster, flat...regardless what series they were. Mental note - no need to visit these tables again. Of note, when he did show back up, I recognized him from a different show about 4 years ago.

Rotated back to a dealer that I have bought/traded with multiple times in the past. What do I see in his case? 1932 Washington in a PCGS MS64 slab for $65 - perfect - set this aside, I will be back later.

ANACS had a table here as well. Submitted 10 common UNC Morgan dollars and 2014 P & D halves for grading. With my receipt, I also received a FREE ANACS pen.

Next dealer I visited with, had several PCI slabs in a case. A couple were dates/mm that I needed for my Lincoln set. 20 D - has been cleaned, prior to being slabbed by PCI (NOT a ten digit slab). There was a 16 D graded MS65BN in a PCI slab as well - sticker on the back of the slab said $1700! Oh my. I inquired to look at with a loop. Without a doubt, coin is a lock 64 BN, but no more. I hinted I would like to make an offer, but said we would be quite a ways apart in price. I asked what his price is. He replied, $280. Well, that is a start. I did not counter, but we talked a bit, especially about PCI slabs. I told him I have had good luck with 10 digit green label PCI slabs in the past, but showed him this was from a later grading period. He thanked me for the info, then told me he has had these for years. Gent had a slug of Lincolns that were sent to PCI at different times. We parted on that coin, with the suggestion that he crack and send this coin in to a top tier TPG, as he may have a 64 or 65 BN coin in hand. Before I left, I did inquire about any other high grade Lincolns. He said he did! After a couple minutes of looking through boxes behind the table, he had a tray with 30 squares full of Lincolns. I see red, I see hints of red, and I see some solid UNC BN's as he hands the tray to me. One of the first that caught my eye was a red brown 17 S that had a good strike, but, as soon as I tipped the 2x2 out of the slot, the luster was flat - obviously cleaned. Starting over at the top right, about the 4th slot in, I now notice that there is usually TWO 2x2's in each square of the display board....need to look deeper! Found a 1910 S that is blazing red/orange obverse & reverse, that has a SUPERB strike for a 10 S. Priced in ink was $275. Viewed several more coins, picked out a stunning 38 S, 54 D, two perfect 36 D's toned to purple/brown, and a NICE 23 P. We brokered a deal of $240 for the lot. Believe the 10 S is a LOCK 64 Red, maybe 65.

Wife is giving me "the look", so I head back to the dealer holding the 32 P Washington for me. He inquires to look at what I had purchased, as he knows that I am hunting Lincolns. He liked the 10 S as well...and inquired if I am in the market for a roll of UNC 1939 Lincolns. Of course, I said yes! (especially at the price offered) Opened the tube to view a few, first six were evenly divided - three are 64's and three are 65 or better. Purchased some copper Zombucks (Standing Liberty & Buffalo) that will be sent to my younger brother for birthday or special occasion - he will think they are cool - that is all that counts!).

So, after the 3 hours spent at this show, I am reminded to dig deep, ask specific what you are looking for, pass on coins that don't meet your standards (buy the coin, NOT the slab), and see if the dealer is ok with an offer.....and GOOD LUCK!