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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,989 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
So today I visited the Raleigh Money Expo. This was the largest show I had ever been to. I have what I think is a decent collection and it has been assembled almost completely through the Internet over the last 10 years. (eBay, Great Collections, CCF, and other websites that I have became familiar with.) Upon entering the show today I had to register and show my ID before I was allowed to go in. I know it was normal practice today but is it normal practice at other shows? I didn't mind doing what I had to do but I was just curious what it is like at others. What other things I noticed today: 1. I saw quite a few people that appeared to be my age (mid-30's). Even a few dealers. This actually kind of surprised me. 2.I saw thousands of graded Morgan's. This did not surprise me since this is what I noticed at the other two smaller shows I had been to. I just can't get over how popular these are. I do like Morgan's but they are not my primary interest in collecting. 3. I just didn't see a lot of Capped Bust coins overall. I really like graded Capped Bust quarters and I probably saw less than 10 at the entire show. Half of the 10 were probably MS and way out of my price range. Very few capped bust dimes and Half Dimes as well. There were more CBH's than any other capped bust coins. Do capped bust coins not sell as good at shows typically or do they sell quick? I haven't figured this out yet. 4. Every dealer I communicated with was very nice and more than willing to answer any questions I had. I had my 6 year old with me and he walked away with a Buffalo nickel and a 1982 mint set for free that two different dealers gave to him. He was thrilled and he said his coins were shinier than mine! Also, I was able to put a face with the name with several of the businesses I usually do business with primarily online. That was pretty cool. 5. After saying all the positive things about the show I must say that I am not yet 100% comfortable at shows. I am just not use to them yet. I really like thinking my purchases out and don't like making hasty spur of the moment decisions. I really like browsing the Internet and zooming in on pictures. Then I can compare prices with other examples and then I am finally ready to pull the trigger. Like I said, this is just what I am use to and I am sure if I go to more shows I can get more comfortable with them. Anyway...rambling is now over. Thanks for reading. Edited by Connor
06/25/2016 9:19 pm
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
Big shows are daunting for even sophisticated collectors. It helps to go in with a want list and a budget. Rare coins are rare even at shows. Morgan dollars and Walking Liberty halves are common coins. Capped bust dimes, anything draped bust or flowing hair, draped and Capped Bust quarters are rare coins. It is hard to fill a specific date of a rare coin in a specific grade even at large show. You'd generally have an easier time on the internet. But if you go in with the idea of buying something high grade in a Draped Bust type, you might find something to buy. Its great that you bring your six year old. I always give free coins to little kids at shows. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
I've noticed that there is a lot of competition for quality Capped Bust coins. Walked in to a local coin shop last week and asked them if they had added any Capped Bust or Seated coins to their inventory lately, slabbed or raw. The dealer said that I was the 7th collector in the past week that had asked that question and that they have people in weekly that clean them out of their quality new purchases in those series. These coins may never make it to the coin show circuit if the local dealers have regular customers willing to shell out. All I see consistently at local dealers is a bunch of Morgans, Mercs, Buffs, Walkers, and other modern stuff that is high mintage. Got two nice Capped Bust Half Dimes today at a local shop, so sometimes you get the good stuff before the vultures swoop in. |
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Valued Member
Canada
71 Posts |
Very cool. I've never been to a show, but I can see how all the coins could be pretty overwhelming.
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Moderator
 United States
189137 Posts |
I planned to attend that show. However, it is just outside my comfortable range for a day trip and when I set my calendar I did not account for an overnight stay. That proved to be by undoing.
As for the local shows, I have never had to show ID, but I do have to fill out a name tag (sticker). All of my coin purchases in the last twelve years have come from coin shows and I have never bought a coin online (besides US Mint purchases). I have a list with the information I need and I prefer to have a coin in hand before buying.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
I have only attended a few small local shows, and average going to one a year, so my experience in collecting is similar to yours from an acquisition point of view. Here's my 2 cents worth.
I have not had to show an I.D. or register at any of the three venues I have frequented.
1. Average age is probably mid-50's.
2. The popularity of Morgans is astounding is the U.S.
3. I have seen a good variety of raw and certified Capped Bust Halves. Lower denominations tend to more raw, problem coins.
4. Dealers are willing to dicker these days and want to make sales. Sticker prices are always negotiable and no reasonable offers are immediately dismissed or met with rude rebuttals.
5. Same. When you get used to "Windows shopping" and then go live it's tough to feel comfortable, especially on bigger purchases, when you don't have good price information at hand.
As someone noted, bringing in a prepared want list with series/grades/prices could be a big help.
Edited by BH1964
06/26/2016 01:08 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts |
 with jbuck, I went to a show today my self just a small one only 30 dealers. filled out a card on how I found out about the show paid my 3 bucks and in I went. sold a few things and picked up some coins and ten one oz. bars of silver. the more shows I go to the more I like them. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I go to about 2 to 4 coin shows a Month around where I live. They range from about 30 to several hundred dealers. None of the smaller ones require name tags or ID's of any kind. The only one I am supposed to sign in at is one of the larger ones and it is not a requirement, only a suggestion. None of the ones I go to have admittance fees or parking fees. One of the larger ones does but I seldom go to that one.
Average age of dealers appears to be in the 50's and same with collectors. At one there is a guy near the door that has free coffee and donuts and a large tip jar. The jar is always full of bills. I asked him once if this is what he does and he told me he owns a coffee houses and does this on show days for fun and a bit of profit.
I never buy coins on line since I have so many coin shows and I've never seen on line a price that I can't beat at a coin show.
Types of coins at the shows are usually all the same. Mostly Silver Dollars in slabs and usually a lot of slabs.
Most dealers are friendly and love to chat. Getting to know them helps reduce the prices too.
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Valued Member
United States
354 Posts |
Interesting. I've been to one coin show in White Plains, NY, and there were more ancient coins, commemoratives, world coin, and bullion bars then coins mentioned above.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
I went to a coin show in late Febuary, and it was rather small (30 ish dealers)... heres what I found: 1. Didnt have to sign in 2. Mostly dealers in their 40's, this actually kind of surprised me. 3. LOTS of Morgan dollars, and junk slabs! 4. Not a ton of early stuff, but it's there if you look for it. However, most of the stuff is rather expensive 5. People like to give free stuff and discounts to YNs. I walked out of that coin show with a few new folders, a US mint pen, some Coin Week magazines, and a smoking deal on an UNC 1909 VDB Wheat cent. 6. "Junk" bins offer the best deals. There was a 3 for $5 junk bin for Buffalo nickels and Indian Head cents. I ended up finding two 1863 F-12 ish fatty IHCs and a solid XF-AU 1937 S Buffalo nickel for $5 for the lot. Granted I had to look through the pile for a little bit, it was still a lot of fun. Just my input! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Connor - Every coin show, is just like walking in to a new coin shop. Figure out the lay of the land.
The next line item, EVERY collector needs to know the series they collect - inside and outside, including pricing. I use a smart phone while I am in front of the dealer. Just another tool at my disposal. Don't be shy in asking to see a greysheet either. Again, another tool, that most dealers have at the ready.
Of note, there is FOUR items that are at the top of my list...that being bad list.
1 - CLEANED coins, not being noted on the flips/2x2's.
2 - Way overpriced coins. Why? That means somebody is TROLLING for the unsuspecting person. Wrong on so many levels.
3 - RUDE dealers. Don't be rude. Regardless, you don't know if I have $5 or 5K in my pocket. I, intentionally, don't look like I have a large amount of cash in my pocket.
4 - RUDE people. If I am next in line, I AM next in line. DON'T interrupt the dealer and I when talking. Will afford the same courtesy to you when I am in line behind you.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
I did this show friday, and today.. I really like this show.. along with the club show in charlotte.. most shows dont require a tag.. this show, baltimore and fun show are the main ones I attend that do.. some dealers are good and some are aggrevating.. the show did not have a good crowd like it normally does though.. most dealers I have dealt with a lot in the past said it was real slow.. morgans are for sure the hot spot to most tables.. I usually just search out bullion.. I'm glad you had a good expierence
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
I find these reads quite interesting. I've never been to such a coin show, as they simply don't exist where I live. Sure, we have auctions, but no trade 'shows' for coins where several coin dealers gather to do business: we have it for lots of other 'old man' hobbies, though, like model trains and such.  So I'm quite curious to experience any such thing. I'll be in Illinois in September and Florida in October and December, and hope to find a show that's going on by then. Observations as stated here really help in preparing. I guess that with such coin shows, about 99% of all coins will be US coins. I'll be in for the other 1%.  If my experience with coin trading in Europe is correct, there might be quite a few bargains on all foreign (non-US, non-Canadian and non-Mexican) coins. Morgan dollars are nice, but I already have a few, so there's no need to get into that madness. How are show prices in general compared to visiting LCS's? Also, how's the authenticity of the coins on such shows? Are most sellers usually trying to sell legit stuff or are there also quite some who have counterfeits? |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12287 Posts |
As I'm involved with the Raleigh CC show, I thought I'd add our perspective.
First off, "Thank you!" for attending our show. I hope you got a chance to visit our "Kid's Zone" with your son. We had more than 130 young collectors visit "the Zone" during the weekend and all of them left with free coins (unless they left without us knowing!).
We had 170 dealer tables at the show, so there was certainly plenty to explore on the bourse. I'm sorry you didn't come across more Capped Bust coinage. It's hard to say why there might have been limited selections on the floor. Due to space and travel limitations, dealers do have to make decisions regarding what they bring to a show. For series that are less popular at any given time, they may decide to limit what they bring so that they can bring more of the coins that collectors frequently ask about. Also, they may have brought more CB coins but had them stored on their backup table vs. in their display cases. Always remember to ask dealers at a show if they have what you're looking for - you might be surprised by the amount of inventory that they keep "in reserve" vs. put out in their cases.
Regarding the registration process, we started checking IDs a few years ago as an added security measure to help protect our dealers and guests alike. Knowing who is attending our show has actually helped us on several occasions when we needed to respond to a security issue. We registered over 1,500 guests this year and less than a handful did not want to register and/or show ID - these guests were not allowed entry. We feel they represent a potential risk to our show's security and believe we are acting in the best interest of all those who attend.
Hope you come to the Raleigh Coin Club Expo again next year!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3194 Posts |
I attend 3 shows per year and at all three I have to show ID. I have no problems with this and appreciate that this takes place.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2130 Posts |
I didn't mind showing ID. Actually thought it was a pretty good idea. You can never be too safe these days. I am sure there was several million dollars worth of inventory under that roof!
Commems...thanks for all that you did. It was a good overall first experience at a show this large for me. We did visit the kids zone and he participated in all of the games. I am there were several volunteers in that area over the weekend but the gentleman working in the kids zone around noon on Saturday was very nice and good with the kids.
I do indeed plan on coming back next year!
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,989 |
Posted 06/25/2016 10:19 pm
