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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,689 |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
Had a new experience of going to my first coin show - a three-day event at the Waldorf Astoria, which was quite something.
Just curious, do you think most ordinary collectors buy a lot at those shows, or generally not?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1625 Posts |
I know I do. I've never bought a coin online, (just prefer seeing the coin in hand) so I'm limited to the local flea markets and shows. I tend to save for a show I know is coming up.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12813 Posts |
I've never been to one but I'd definitely love to. I think there is definitely something to be said for seeing a coin in hand prior to purchase!
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Was that NYINC? It's the largest World and Ancient-centric show of each year. This may be dismaying, but if you're a US issue collector NYINC isn't even a Top 3 show....you'll find an even larger US-centric show a short train ride away in Baltimore the end of this month.
And yeah, if enough good shows were accessible to me I probably wouldn't buy anywhere else. Nothing beats looking the seller in the eye to talk coins.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
You'll be surprised how many people buy at coin shows. as mentioned they rather see the coin in hand then to scope out a photo on the internet. I love going to shows. they have every kind of numismatic items you can think of.
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
Yeah, I agree but, the only thing about going to a coin show is, I want to buy everything!..  I'll stick to ebay for now. |
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Valued Member
United States
283 Posts |
I've never gone to a show without buying at least a few coins. Something always catches my eye.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
940 Posts |
Nearly all my coin purchases are at coin shows. Nothing like examining a coin first hand, and having a large selection to look at. There are too many hazards involved with buying coins online. Faults such as hairline scratches or cleaning aren't always apparent in online images and descriptions, but at shows you can see everything.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Hello ccarrol!
First of all, there is no such thing as an ordinary collector!
Depending upon one's tastes, areas of concentration and budget we may be grouped generally into beginner, intermediate and advanced. On top of this are the inheritors who have no prior knowledge of coins.
That being said our buying styles are also individual. I have a few dealers who know my wants and they will steer me
to a coin or two that they know may interest me. At other times my eyes just locked on a coin which is beyond my area but 'spoke to me.' I bought a 20 cent piece minted in Carson City because it was for sale. I had no prior goal of finding one that day.
Some collectors will walk away with a pocketful of finds from a bargain bin while others will be happy to buy a single coin. And then there is the 'Hello!? May I have a closer look?'
I wasn't looking for it but an 1899-O dime was there in a favored dealers showcase. High circulated condition, XF/AU and sharply struck. My goal for that particular day was only to touch base with some dealer contacts as money was tight. But with a bit of luck I traded my example with some cash and came home with the dime.
Why? Because if I went to a dozen show specifically looking for that example I would not find another.
I am curious: what were YOUR expectations before going to the show?
Did you have a goal in mind or was it just for the experience?
I am reminded, years ago, when I took a co-worker to a local show. He nearly hyperventilated!
I had to walk him outside, sit him down and remind him to breath. "SO MUCH $$$!"
Well yes, I replied, that is to be expected at a coin show.
Of course, many CCF members live hours away from a city large enough to host a major coin show. I see you are in New York City so you are fortunate in that regard.
Lastly, did YOU buy anything?
Edited by matthewvincent
03/09/2015 6:12 pm
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Valued Member
United States
327 Posts |
Yeah, I'd buy at more coin shows...if the three that occur within anything like driving distance weren't 75 to 100 miles away.
I live in a pretty crappy place to be a coin collector.
Actually there is one tiny one about 50 miles away, got snowed out this year.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5839 Posts |
Yep, I save up to attend one large coin show every year. It gives me a chance to talk face-to-face with other collectors and inspect items in hand before purchasing. I may be naive, but I always assume that there's less chance of fake stuff being sold at a show than online since other, more knowledgeable, collectors and dealers can see what is for sale.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
Some of the larger shows cater to wealtheir collectors than the smaller regional shows that are geared more to middle of the road budgets. From what I've heard from other collectors, at some of the larger shows it can be a shock to see so many high end coins in one place and since New York City is one of the wealthiest/most expensive cities in the world that feeling might be exacerbated.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Keep in mind a decent table at a major show will cost you $1500 or more - you're not going to pay for that selling $25 coins. However, many dealers are specialists, and an SLQ guy is gonna have 100 MS64FH slabs on display and some beautiful circulated cameo AU's you *might* talk him out of if you convince him you're an SLQ nut. Those coins will never be seen on the guy's website. They're for people he knows will love them. Or (as I have) you could walk past a guy who had a couple thousand Large Cents and Half Cents - all raw, no silver - between VG and Mint State, $10 to $1000 as long as all you wanted was copper. Shows are fun. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I too only buy at coin shows. By me we have a minimum of 3 to 4 coin shows a Month within about 15 miles of me or less. One usually has about 80 to 100 dealers and free coffee and donuts if you get there early. by about 10 AM that is all gone due to people like me. I hate those large shows since the dealers come from all over and have to pay for food, lodging, transportation, etc. Some bring families too. Tables at some run into the many thousands of dollars. Now guess where all the money for that comes from? Yes, from the sale of coins so prices are excessive. And too, dealers don't give you breaks since they know they'll never see you again. So I keep to smaller shows where dealers are more consistent and you get to know them. This way to you can just about order what you want. And they keep the prices down for steady customers. For example one dealer knows I want Mercury dimes so he is always on the lookout for what I want. Just can't beat a coin show. ebay is so far off comparitively. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
One other benefit to attending local and regional shows:
Once a level of understanding and trust is reached between a collector and a dealer coins may be
"put on lay-a-way!" This is an advantage of meeting dealers face-to-face.
Once, at a show in my city, a dealer took some cash and a promise to send a check for the balance ($15).
He let me take the coin that day.
When I remarked that I thought that very trusting he replied that
"collectors are quicker to pay than dealers."
And my favorite: a dealer at a regional show, who is local to me, let me take his personal collection of Barber "V" Nickels to see if any would be suitable for MY set. I had both sets, side by side, overnight in my hotel room.
Bottom line: coin shows are invaluable for making contacts and not just buying coins available that day.
I have bought online and would continue to do so but the coins I want are just not available.
Edited by matthewvincent
03/10/2015 1:43 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Once a level of understanding and trust is reached between a collector and a dealer coins may be
"put on lay-a-way!" This is an advantage of meeting dealers face-to-face. Can also be a disadvantage as well. At most of the shows I go to every dealer there will let me put coins on layaway and take the coins with me. Really easy to get WAY overextended that way if you aren't careful. So I try to avoid buying on credit if I can. (But it's nice to know I have a reputation that I can be trusted that way.) Edited by Conder101
03/10/2015 11:47 pm
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Replies: 20 / Views: 3,689 |
Posted 03/09/2015 5:05 pm
