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 Replies: 26 / Views: 5,439 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7276 Posts |
Thank to T-Bop for letting me know, I attended my first coin show, the Melville Coin Show. The show is about an hour away, so my wife tagged along.
We made great time (and since it was a Sunday morning, the traffic was light). Once you get in the hosts take your temperature and your contact information in case anyone gets Covid.
After getting in I took a stroll around to see what was available. Based on some quick counts, 3-4 dealers had a pretty nice selection of US notes, another 10+ had a large selection of coins. There were several bullion dealers and some that sold foreign notes and post cards.
Overall between 20-30 dealers all set -up. The place was well attended with everyone being masked.
The selection was good, I found a few items that were on my list.
The dealers were all friendly, willing to show you the items and answer questions.
Several dealers commented that this was the first show they came to and because of Covid there hasn't been much selling, so supplies are somewhat limited. The quality tended to range (in notes) from Good/Fine to AU/CU, there wasn't much in the VF/XF range that I was looking for.
The selection was better in Coins and I found several quarters that would have fit nice in my slabbed set.
If there was negatives, I thought the prices on some items were higher than I can get locally (but I notice this almost every where, we seem to have good prices locally). I also noticed that several people were monopolizing the dealers (mostly selling as it takes time to price out a collection), which limited access.
Sadly since I was only looking for 3 specific items:
A Stanton Large Note - Found several but they were either CU or F and I had found one at Vern Potter, so I was comparing to the one Vern had on his website (which is the one I ended up buying)
Justice 50 cent fractional - Found one, but it was slabbed and CU (more than I wanted to spend)
A Lincoln 50 cent fractional - Found one, and while marked as VF, it had more wear than I wanted. Price was fair and I almost got it.
But since nothing was exactly as I wanted or wanted to pay, I didn't buy anything at the show.
My wife on the other hand no items on her list so she ended up buying 6 beautiful Portuguese notes and a 1940 Portuguese cent.
As I didn't want to make it all about me, we then spent some time on eastern Long Island and then we had lunch in the Hamptons before driving back home.
So would I do it again. The answer is yes, but I would come more open minded as I could have picked up a slabbed coin that was on my list.
Again thanks to T-Bop for the invite and the meet up. I really recommend that if you can get out to a show you do it!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1488 Posts |
Most visceral memory from local coin shows of the 1970s and 1980s? -- the heavy smell of tobacco smoke wafting through the stale, money-scented air. Seems like more than half the dealers were smokers: cigarettes, pipes, cigars. There was much less smoke (and it was quiet like a library) at the postage stamp shows.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
You're lucky to be able to go to 'local' shows.
We [WA state] haven't had one for over a year and most that were scheduled for this year have already been cancelled.
That is our government in action [or was that government inaction?], hmmm.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
669 Posts |
Hoping to attend the World's Fair of Money later this summer since it's a very short drive for me.
Edited by mrpapageorgio
04/11/2021 8:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
CentSation, do you ever go to the PNNA convention in Tukwila? I used to go every year until I started college and was never in town.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
Numisma,
Yes, in fact as you may know, we had two scheduled for last year and I was looking forward to both. Went to 2019's show both Saturday and Sunday.
I am not too far away in Renton.
Edited by CentSation
04/11/2021 9:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5178 Posts |
Are we sure the World Fair is going to happen?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
It certainly sounds like it went well at least. I can say I've gone to a few shows and not come out with anything as well. I've also gone to some shows and walked out a lot poorer than I walked in! Quote:
Are we sure the World Fair is going to happen? No, though the babble thru work among the dealers is that they're trying to make it work. Even if that means moving it from Chicago. |
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Very excited to resume coin shows after this pandemic blows over - your description of community sounds really enticing...
Glad you enjoyed it!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Didn't hear you say you tried to chew down prices. Every show I go to I never pay what a dealer is asking. Always chew them down on the price. And most dealers know people do this so they raise the prices accordingly.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19146 Posts |
The coin show phenomena is always interesting. A few years ago I was looking through a basket of slabbed (mostly PCGS) US coins--gave the impression of being a bargain bin. I picked out a PR70DCAM 2005 'Waters' nickel--with no price indicated. Nearly every other slab had a price. So, I asked the guy behind the table for his asking price. He dug around for several minutes, then turned to me and said, "How about $5?" I said, "Done!"
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Nice summary, Helder!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7276 Posts |
Quote:
Didn't hear you say you tried to chew down prices. Every show I go to I never pay what a dealer is asking. Always chew them down on the price. And most dealers know people do this so they raise the prices accordingly. I would have haggled if there was something I wanted. There wasn't, but doesn't mean I didn't enjoy going :) |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Yes It's true , Helder and I met at a local coin show that I have been going to for the past 49 years . Gotten a lot lighter now because of Covid . Anyway we wound up not buying anything as I was only looking for OBW and BU rolls of Lincoln Cents and he was looking for certain notes . But it's always fun going to a show . |
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Moderator
 United States
188130 Posts |
Braver than me. I would have been neurotic the whole time and upset if I came away empty. Looking forward to a stress free event this fall.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7276 Posts |
Quote:
I would have been neurotic the whole time and upset if I came away empty. We'll..... not really empty.... my wife picked up a few notes......... I may post them later or today..... I also had a note I wanted, so it was worth to check out the show... Well since I made you wait. Here is one of the notes my wife purchased.   |
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Replies: 26 / Views: 5,439 |
Posted 04/11/2021 8:50 pm
