PCGS - As a teenage collector, I would lie awake for hours on nights before the coin show, too keyed up to sleep. I love coin shows. Fifty years later, I still get excited, but I also realize just how fortunate I have been in terms of maximizing security and avoiding theft during my career. You might say I've been lucky.
On any given weekend there is a coin show somewhere in the continental United States. No kidding, it doesn't even matter if it is a holiday weekend in December. There is a coin show somewhere. In 1995, I attended 55 coin shows as a dealer. And I can tell you that even though my perspective and experience on safety and security may stem from my decades having been a coin dealer, all of my advice here applies to both coin dealers and coin collectors.
When it comes to traveling to coin shows and other numismatic destinations, collectors and dealers need to plan ahead to ensure they - and their coins - are safe while on the road or in the air.Regardless of whether you're visiting your local coin club, a favorite coin shop, or a show nearby or all the way across the country, your first focus should always be your personal security and the protection of your coins. Second, you need to plan ahead when it comes to your itinerary because there will be delays. Potential nasty weather is one of the biggest culprits behind delays, and bad weather equals the need for additional time to get where you need to go. So, plan ahead with sufficient time built into your schedule, a move that can also prove crucial in your safety as well as the security of your coins.
Planning ahead doesn't just involve making sure you have enough time on the clock, but also making sure that you have your logistics planned out. Even when you are visiting a shop or attending a show within a few hours' drive, who will watch your coins when you stop for gas or food? Can you put the majority (or all) of your coins in a wheelie bag (or backpack) that you can keep with you (even in the restaurant)?
Planning ahead includes choosing gas and food stops at places you have been before when possible and are familiar with. But, no matter where you go, never leave your coins unsecured. Remember, this also applies to your airline travel - you have to get to and from the airport, check your bags, park your car, and get to your gate all while keeping track of your coins!
All of these logistical hurdles involve distraction and confusion. You will likely be asking yourself questions like "Where did I park?" "Did I refill the rental car gas tank?" "Do I have all my coins and luggage?"
Consider taking a friend along. Traveling with a trusted dealer or collector friend is always a wise move. Two sets of eyes and hands will raise your security. Oh, and keep your head on a swivel.
Ultimately many of your biggest security considerations will involve more expense. Now, nobody wants to waste their money, but how you travel and where you stay are some of the things you can control. Being budget-conscious in your travel choices must be weighed carefully with the potential risks or issues before choosing a "cheap" alternative. Don't be "penny wise and pound foolish" when booking your travel details.
A discount airline went out of business while I was on a trip. No kidding, I got to Denver International Airport and my airline had gone belly-up the day before. Many of the cheaper motels in my early career were party central 24/7 - no sleep nor security. And while being budget-minded may be fiscally admirable, consider the cost of staying at a less-expensive motel versus the costs you may assume because you stayed at the budget option. Case in point? While trying to be budget-minded, I've been stuck at a distant motel (I got a $49 room) only to be completely stranded in terms of shuttle or taxi service. My commute each day to the show costs more than the motel!
Now, all of this doesn't mean you won't encounter problems with pricey airlines or at expensive hotels. Bad things can happen anywhere.
Take bed bugs (on second thought. Don't take them). While I've been fortunate enough to dodge bed bugs during my travels, I have colleagues who have experienced them in every level of lodging available. And consider my experience with fire alarms. I've had numerous fire alarms go off in the middle of the night in one- and five-star hotels - with coins in my room. Fortunately, all of these were false alarms, but often a hotel will not restore elevator service for a couple of hours after a false alarm. This begs the question: "What floor are you on?"
False alarms and bed bugs aside, you are sure to find that booking a room at the "show" hotel (or adjacent lodging) is wise. You've eliminated most of the potential ground transportation issues if you stay at (or near) the show hotel.
Sometimes we have little choice when it comes to making travel arrangements. Especially with the larger dealers I worked for in the past, the amount of inventory we were transporting was quite substantial. Most of these dealers realized it was in their best interest security-wise to carefully choose flights, lodging, and ground transportation based on security first and expense second.
Your coins are just as valuable to you. Don't minimize the precautions and possible expenses required to keep both you and your coins safe. Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Posted 07/02/2024 08:58 am
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
