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Charmy's PITTSBURGH ANA Show Report w/Lots of Pics!

ThePennyLadyThePennyLady Posts: 4,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
Well, it was a long week and I’m exhausted. I’ve been procrastinating writing my report, not because I was super busy at the show (because as mentioned, this show was quite slow), but I was exhausted each day because I had just too much fun (as you will see from my photos)! So here goes….

Tuesday – Arrived in Pittsburgh late Tuesday night. I saw this dinosaur statue near the baggage claim area at the airport and thought it was amusing so I had to take a picture.
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Checked into the Westin hotel, went down to the bar to have a nightcap and grab a quick bite but they had already stopped serving food, so I ordered a glass of wine, took it back to my room, put my jammys on, turned on the tv, got all cozy in the wonderfully soft down-covered bed, and felt like I was in heaven – it was a wonderful way to gear up for the next few days!

Wednesday – Woke up to a very wet rainy day, and headed over to PNG day. Although the bourse floor was sparse (as is usual on PNG day), I found quite a few nice coins to buy. Here’s a photo taken of the floor on the morning of PNG day – it gives you a good perspective on how huge the bourse floor actually is.

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Then Todd and I then went to lunch at Sonoma Grill right down the street – they had great food and a HUGE wine list of California wines – but since it was still early so I restrained myself from ordering a glass. However, it did remind me to pick up a couple bottles for the show, so the waitress recommended this nice liquor store that had a good selection of wines. I was perusing some of the higher end wines and picked out a nice Mondavi Private Selection Cab, then Todd (who knows more about pennies than he does wine – which isn’t saying much!) came upon this interestingly labeled wine and enthusiastically recommended that I try it!

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So I bought it hand opened it the next day – considering the label, it was pretty decent!

We then went back to the convention center to set up our booth. Whenever I set up my trays of raw coins, I use these little wooden children’s blocks to prop up the trays, so when I pulled out the blocks to set them in the case, I became quite amused when I discovered one of them had some writing on it. When I was at the Chicago ANA, Noodle helped me pack up and apparently left me a little reminder!

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After set up, we hopped on the busses to head over to the ANA’s dinner riverboat cruise. It was a good dinner and the band was very entertaining – some of us even got up and danced a few jigs! And even though it was raining, it was a lot of fun and a wonderful cruise.

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The waiter with a huge stack of drink glasses!
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Me and Karin
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Greg Lyons
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Rick Snow (check out his “special button”)
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The dessert table
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Some pictures taken along the river
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After the dinner cruise, the ship dropped us off at the Rivers Casino. Apparently, it’s a pretty new casino and is really nice. We tried to play limit poker but they didn’t have a game going so we ended up playing some blackjack and 4-card poker. We won at blackjack, but then lost it at 4-card poker (the dealer has the advantage by playing the best 4 cards out of 6, while the players only play the best 4 out of 5).

Thursday – The show opened to the public earlier than most shows (and ends earlier as well), so I’m not sure whether this is a good or bad thing. Personally, for me, I prefer the 10-6:30/7pm show times so at least it gives people some time to stop by the show after work on weekdays. In any event, there was not as much public coming in as there have been at the last few ANA shows, and it stayed that way throughout the whole show. Here are a couple photos of the bourse on Thursday.

That’s Rick Snow in the aisle whose table was just one table away from mine (yes, at one point we even had a rubberband war).
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This is a shot looking from my table looking towards the entrance.
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I think it is difficult to estimate how well a new show will do, especially being in a “new” town, but as has already been mentioned in other threads and reports, this was definitely not a good selling show. However, as Rick suggested in one of the other threads, you can still make lemonade out of lemons – at least from a dealer standpoint. If there isn’t enough public buying coins, then usually it’s a good time to shop around for coins from other dealers who may be in more of a mood to “wheel and deal.” And that’s exactly what I did.

In any event, whether a show is good or bad business-wise, I still try to make it a fun and enjoyable experience, and meeting and visiting with (and of course sharing some wine with) the forum members who come by is one of the things that I enjoy the most! There were a lot more forum members who stopped by that are not pictured here, including Speety’s dad (who showed me a wonderful tribute to Speety by Legend in the most recent issue of The Numismatist), Kranky, and many others, but here are some of the folks who I was able to cajole into letting me photograph them for my report!

Mar237 (who I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with and who brought me a bottle of some very refreshing and sweet Pennsylvania wine)
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Mr. and Mrs. Curly (who brought me a tasty bottle of Gnarly Head Zinfandel)
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Mark Feld who is always entertaining (and also tries very hard to maintain proper coin show etiquette when he’s at my table)
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Don Willis (it’s always great to see him get out from behind the PCGS table and stop by for a quick visit and photo op!)
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GrandAm (a very nice and friendly guy)
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Jaceravone (another very nice guy)
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Kevin Flynn (the author of many books – too numerous to count – it’s always an honor chatting with one of the most prolific contributors to the numismatic community)
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Emily (one of the nicest and most helpful and hardworking people at the ANA)
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Ian Russell (I just love listening to Ian talk with his cute British accent!)
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Me and my music hating non-wine drinking fantastic coin-photo taker table mate!
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After the show on Thursday, we headed up the “Incline” to a restaurant at the top of the hill that was recommended to us – The Tin Angel. The view was fantastic and the food was very good, but the atmosphere was a little less than desirable since we were seated between a family with 3 kids and a very loud group of people – also, the prices were higher than we expected. However, as I mentioned, the view made it worthwhile.

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The clouds parted long enough to see the beautiful full moon!
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After dinner, we once again headed back to the Rivers casino – we were finally able to play some 4/8 limit poker, but unfortunately not for long since the table broke after about an hour. Apparently, no limit is much more popular at this casino. So we went back to the black jack tables where I broke even. After I quit playing, one of the guys I was with took a break and let me play his chips. At one point I got a pair of 2’s and the dealer had a 6 showing. With $20 of my friend’s money down on the hand, I placed another $20 and split the 2’s. The dealer gives me another 2, so I placed another $20. (If I was playing with my own money, I wouldn’t have a problem betting more money, but it made me very nervous betting this much of someone else’s money.) So the dealer next gives me an 8, so of course, now I needed to double down on that hand, which I did! Thank goodness she deals me a 10 on that hand, so I move to the next 2 and get another 10 (not good). So I move to the third 2 and get a 9, which of course means I need to double down again! Oh geese! I go for it and pray. I wait for the other players to finish, then the dealer turns over the card under her 6 – yeah, it’s a 10! Now for the final card – I have to say I can’t even remember what it was, I just remember that she BUSTED! YIPPEEEE! Needless to say, my friend was quite pleased when he returned to the table!

Friday – Since usually the first day of a show is the best day, and the day in between the first and last day is usually the worst, and even though I already bought quite a few nice coins on PNG day, I figured I better do some shopping. So I hit the floor as soon as I arrived this time looking for some nice original raw material which usually takes more time to scrutinize than searching for slabbed coins. I saw some very nice Conder tokens but decided to concentrate more on inventory material.

I was quite surprised to find a beautiful uncirculated raw 1877 Indian cent and quickly snatched it up at a decent price. The dealer said he’d had it for a while, which didn’t surprise me since many people are hesitant to buy high grade raw key date copper.

I also took the opportunity to take some more photos around the bourse. Here are the PCGS folks with Larry Shapiro.
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This is part of the Shireman Collection of high grade Barber Half Dollars on display at the PCGS table
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The NGC folks (they were quite busy)
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Rod Gillis and Mike Ellis commiserating on something….
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A couple of cute kids who stopped by my table for their Treasure Trivia question
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As we left the show, the sun was shining for the first time since I had arrived so I had to snap these pretty photos of the river outside the convention center
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For dinner we decided to try this German place that we’d heard a lot about – The Sharp Edge. It was a neat little pub that had some wonderful Oktoberfest brew and a great menu. The place was packed and there were several other coin dealers there when we arrived.
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A wall of beer!
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Inside the bar
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The cute draft handles at the bar
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Me and my Guinness
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My huge plate of German potato pancake, pulled pork, sauerkraut, noodles and sauce (so much for that low-carb diet)!
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Some dealers who were enjoying the non-rainy weather outside the pub.
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View from in front of the pub looking towards the convention center at the end of the street
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After dinner we headed to – yep, you guessed it – the casino! This time, the 4/8 limit game went on for several hours, and I ended up $92 ahead!
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This is some guy we ran into at the casino – he was dressed so bizzarely that I just had to take his picture
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Even the casino was getting ready for Halloween – this is the front of a trash cart
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Saturday – There was a seemingly endless group of boy scouts working on their Coin Collecting Merit Badges who stopped by my table for the Treasure Trivia question.
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So in general, Saturday was sadly and excruciatingly devoid of coin buying customers. Though I did make a few good sales, it did not make up for the general lack of business during the entire show. Of course, the economy always plays a big part in the size of spending money the public has available, but perhaps because this is a new show in a new town coming on the heels of the recent controversy at the ANA all contributed to the slowness of this show. However, If you judge a show solely by being able to make some good buys, then this show was a success for me. But of course, dealers need to have good sales to be able to continue buying.

I personally enjoy participating in ANA shows since they do a great job of promoting their shows with quality auctions, great educational programs, and fantastic displays and exhibits. So I hope this new third ANA show is able to survive and hopefully thrive!

Next show is the Portland PNNA show later this week!
Charmy HarkerThe Penny Lady®

Comments

  • image
    Like being there.
    OLDER IS BETTER
  • SoCalBigMarkSoCalBigMark Posts: 2,786 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report, thanks Charmy!
  • Great Report...!

    Thanks For Sharing...

    My Ebay Auctions

    Currently Listed: Nothing

    Take Care, Dave
  • TURBOTURBO Posts: 494 ✭✭✭
    This is the best post I've read since becoming a member. Going to have to make the Tucson show if it means getting a sip of wine.image
  • Fantastic report Charmy! You really do a wonderful job! I do however have one comment. I like Guinness as much as the next guy ( or gal ) but when you are in a German restaurant with that great selection of German beers you must sample some of the goods. Very disappointed in you. image
  • These are the types of reports I enjoy. Lots of photos! (And a lot of wine bottles on display cases image )
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
    I see they had a younger dealer presence this year!

    image
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
  • MeltdownMeltdown Posts: 8,651 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Looks like a great time!

    What a great sounding lifestyle! Good food, good friends, booze, poker, gold, silver & copper, etc.

    I know there's a bit of work involved, but you wouldn't know it just by reading your write ups!

    I'm looking forward to saying hello this weekend in Portland.



  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report, and I am glad you got to see some of the sites in my old hometown. image
  • etexmikeetexmike Posts: 6,794 ✭✭✭
    Always enjoy all the pics to go along with the report. image


    Mike
  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,470 ✭✭✭✭
    Great Report Charmy!

    Interesting that both the "very nice guy's" (GrandAm and Jaceravone ) are both serious IKE Collectors!
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!
  • PQpeacePQpeace Posts: 4,799 ✭✭✭
    Thanks Charmy !
    Larry Shapiro Rare Coins - LSRC
    POB 854
    Temecula CA 92593
    310-541-7222 office
    310-710-2869 cell
    www.LSRarecoins.com
    Larry@LSRarecoins.com

    PCGS Las Vegas June 24-26
    Baltimore July 14-17
    Chicago August 11-15
  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,847 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks Charmy! I hope to see you in Baltimore. That is the goal. MJ
    Walker Proof Digital Album
    Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
  • Another fun report! Thanks, Charmy!
    Let's try not to get upset.
  • TootawlTootawl Posts: 5,877 ✭✭✭
    Each time I stopped by Charny's table to say hi, she had a handfull of people at her table!
    PCGS Currency: HOF 2013, Best Low Ball Set 2009-2014, 2016, 2018. Appreciation Award 2015, Best Showcase 2018, Numerous others.
  • coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,664 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Excellant report Charmy!
    I haven't been to Pittsburgh in almost 30 years.....I see it has changed, but only Casino wiseimage
    I miss back east



  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,311 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report. It's just like being there.

    Thanks.
    Tempus fugit.
  • coinnutcoinnut Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Now that's a report! Thanks for all the pics Charmy!image
  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 13,963 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Each time I stopped by Charny's table to say hi, she had a handfull of people at her table! >>

    There are two very good reasons why it's always like that:
    1. Her wonderful personality.
    2. The chance of getting a splash or two of grape juice.

    Great report girl!
    When in doubt, don't.
  • HighReliefHighRelief Posts: 3,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the great report Charmy and the pictures are awesome image
  • MFHMFH Posts: 11,720 ✭✭✭✭

    Great report as always.

    Thanks for stopping by our table - it was good
    seeing you again.

    Also - very enlightening conversation. Thanks.

    Mike Hayes
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !

    New Barber Purchases
  • mozinmozin Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭
    Thanks Charmy!
    I collect Capped Bust series by variety in PCGS AU/MS grades.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 45,301 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report as usual. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Did you have time to sell any coins?imageimage

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.

  • curlycurly Posts: 2,880

    I always look forward to your reports and pics, Charmy. You are always so gracious. Thanks.
    Every man is a self made man.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report Charmy. Pittsburgh is interesting - I was there earlier this year for the NRA annual show. That Zinfandel looked interesting. Cheers, RickO
  • morgansforevermorgansforever Posts: 8,428 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The plate of German potato pancake, pulled pork, sauerkraut, noodles and sauce looks awesome.
    Great report, always look forward to them. image
    World coins FSHO Hundreds of successful BST transactions U.S. coins FSHO
  • ajmanajman Posts: 1,359 ✭✭✭
    Charmy, you're the best! Reading your post was like almost being there myself. Thank you for taking the time to show collectors who couldn't make it feel as though we were. image
    Beer is Proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy -Benjamin Franklin-
  • copperhuntercopperhunter Posts: 925 ✭✭✭
    It was great to finally meet you Charmy! I appreciate your style with the wine offerings as well as the coins. Glad you were able to enjoy the city and its offerings during your free time. The Sharp Edge has the best Belgian beers; good choice! Hope to see you again in the near future. Chris

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 43,796 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I don't have a photographic memory, but the dude in the bright yellow garb at the casino has ruined my appetite for scrambled eggs this morning.

    Thanks Charmy.
  • coinkid855coinkid855 Posts: 5,012 ✭✭✭
    Nice report, but I didn't make it! imageimage



    -Paul
  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,282 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice report - would have enjoyed the beer hall.

    The goofy dressed guy at the casino - kind of looks like Stewart. image
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko.
  • mustanggtmustanggt Posts: 2,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the great report image
  • PonyExpress8PonyExpress8 Posts: 1,670 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the photos and great report buddy. It was nice to see you and looking forward to seeing you in Portland this weekend.

    Didn't have as many outings this time but did go out with a few of the ANA staff and Coinkid to the Andy Warhol museum. It happened to be free admission day too! image

    That was about my only outing but couldn't beat the cost which was good since as most have mentioned the show itself was disappointingly slow. It worked out well enough though by switching to wholesale mode and buying that I made it into lemonade. image

    While I didn't get to explore as much as I often do or play poker (I got in at 2 AM Wednesday night and never caught up between the 3 hour time zone difference) I thoroughly enjoyed what I did see of Pittsburgh.

    Charmy I felt I got to see a lot more of it with your pics. Thank you!!!!
    The End of the Line in the West.

    Website-Americana Rare Coin Inc
  • DorkGirlDorkGirl Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭
    Thanks!! Always love your reports. Seeing pics of the people here is one of the best parts for me, to put faces with the names.image
    Becky
  • ThePennyLadyThePennyLady Posts: 4,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Fantastic report Charmy! You really do a wonderful job! I do however have one comment. I like Guinness as much as the next guy ( or gal ) but when you are in a German restaurant with that great selection of German beers you must sample some of the goods. Very disappointed in you. image >>



    Yeah, I know, my bad. But I'm not a huge beer fan and since we were drinking Irish Car Bombs (which I love!), I just stayed with the Guinness! image

    Paul/CoinKid, the photo I took of you turned out more blurry than my usual blurry photos and you know you would have gotten lots of flack for looking so fuzzy! image

    TooTawl, so sorry I missed chatting with you!

    MJ, I definitely look forward to seeing you in Baltimore!

    Copperhunter, it was great to meet you too!

    Glenn/PonyExpress, you'll definitely have to get out more, we missed you at the poker table

    Lakesamman, yes, I have to agree, that yellow guy does kind of look like Stewart image
    Charmy HarkerThe Penny Lady®
  • I must say I did enjoy meeting you, but I knew I would! I very rarely have my picture taken, so everyone feel lucky (?) to actually see me!! Ha!

    One comment made me laugh - you said the Tin Angel was more expensive than you expected. Funny because when Todd was with us at the Church Brew Works for the PCGS Forum dinner Friday, he said more than once that our prices were so much "cheaper" - most of us think otherwise and I hope management didn't hear that remark! We ate at the "Nine on Nine" Wednesday night, before the police pulled us over (another story!) where the prices were MUCH higher than expected, and I left still wanting more.

    I didn't get to meet everyone, but did put miles on my aching feet running the whole time, was helping at TWO tables the last 2 days at opposite ends of the room... Had to leave at 3 on Thursday because of an upset stomach, but had a great time otherwise. Sold a few things which allowed me to buy a 1909 S VDB (raw in a strong VG) and 1/4 ounce of gold, an Australian nuggut which I'd never seen before. Really wanted to buy more but just didn't have time to shop as much as I wanted. Guess I'll save my cash and buy more of those silver eagle sets from the Mint soon, not a total loss!

    Saw my first Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game Saturday night before driving home, and although we lost, I realllly enjoyed it and the perspective that's lost when watching on TV.

    Oh, and 2 other things I bought, to give my grandson for Christmas (I guess I've started shopping already!) were 2 nice little ol' errors from Fred Weinberg. One is a double clip on an IHC, and the other is a broadstruck Lincoln Cent. I know Dylan will love them both!
    Have bought and sold on BST, many references available when asked.
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 27,412 ✭✭✭✭✭
    nice report charmy
  • shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,445 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Be careful, I think this might be a fake Charmy report...I don't go to very many shows, but I haven't heard of many sightings of Mark Feld grinning...and she even got a picture? Hmmm!!!
    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC


  • << <i>Be careful, I think this might be a fake Charmy report...I don't go to very many shows, but I haven't heard of many sightings of Mark Feld grinning...and she even got a picture? Hmmm!!! >>


    Oh it's real, I was sitting beside him when his face cracked!
    Have bought and sold on BST, many references available when asked.
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Be careful, I think this might be a fake Charmy report...I don't go to very many shows, but I haven't heard of many sightings of Mark Feld grinning...and she even got a picture? Hmmm!!! >>



    Not to pile on, but one morning during the show I was talking with Mark and blu66vette and there were smiles all around.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • WTCGWTCG Posts: 8,940 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Be careful, I think this might be a fake Charmy report...I don't go to very many shows, but I haven't heard of many sightings of Mark Feld grinning...and she even got a picture? Hmmm!!! >>



    It's real alright. I was there when the pic was taken.

    We spiked his breakfast...
    Follow me on Twitter @wtcgroup
    Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
  • ElKevvoElKevvo Posts: 4,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the show update! I enjoyed your post...

    K
    ANA LM
  • littlebearlittlebear Posts: 1,431 ✭✭✭✭
    A fun report as always! See you in Baltimore!


    Larry L.


    image
    Autism Awareness: There is no limit to the good you can do, if you don't care who gets the credit.
  • alohagaryalohagary Posts: 2,761 ✭✭✭✭
    great report and even better pics
  • ThePennyLadyThePennyLady Posts: 4,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Be careful, I think this might be a fake Charmy report...I don't go to very many shows, but I haven't heard of many sightings of Mark Feld grinning...and she even got a picture? Hmmm!!! >>



    Actually, it wasn't a fake report, but a "fake" Mark Feld - I found a guy that looked a lot like Mark but knew it really wasn't him because this guy would actually smile when I asked him to! image
    Charmy HarkerThe Penny Lady®
  • pontiacinfpontiacinf Posts: 8,915 ✭✭
    what everyone else said!

    you rock, love the reports!
    image

    Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill

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