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Thread Title: Impressions & Images from the "Showdown"
Created On Saturday September 28, 2002 6:06 PM
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shylock
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Saturday September 28, 2002 6:06 PM

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Wow, what a trip. A few impressions I jotted down during my long plane ride home (transcribed from a dozen post-its and 2 vomit bags).

Special thanks to the 3 owners of these beautiful collections whose quality was only rivaled by the the 3 ladies of PCGS (BJ Searls, Carol Bennett, Gayle Kean) who made viewing them a pleasure. BJ deserves a BIG feather in her cap for pulling this off.

For a comparison of the sets I'll defer to Rick Snow's post in Spooly's thread. Anyone who knows anything about this series knows the difficulty of finding quality coins and had to be overwhelmed by these 3 sets sitting side by side. The connoisseurs all agreed the Blay collection was extra special for its painstaking consistency you'd have to see to believe. All 3 collections were amazing, and the quantity of finest knowns in one location became staggering on Thursday when Ira Davidoff appeared with his complete set in hand. Tim (Lakesammman) and I looked over his set on top of the case that held the other 3 -- unreal! Walking onto the bourse floor in search of 1 or 2 nice coins was difficult after this endless stream of superb gems.

The best part was the people, many of whom I was finally able to attach a face to an email address or forum nic. They turned a great show into a real vacation, making me comfortable from the get go. Very impressive. Stewart Blay is all you'd expect him to be as far as copper expertise and great stories, but is simply a nice guy as well.

Thanks to all 3 collectors, PCGS and the Long Beach Collectibles Expo I was able to take a couple images of the display itself.


Jim Halperin (Heritage) & Tim (Lakesammman) at the PCGS table.
Carol "Greta Garbo" Bennett waving off the paparazzo and BJ "Annie Oakley" Searls attending the PCGS booth.
Courtesy of the Long Beach Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Expo

BJ and me

I'd like to have imaged every coin but it would have taken 2 days. I managed to image many which I'll add to this post soon. But I have to conclude with Stewart's 1877 PCGS MS66RD "Golden Princess" which is, well.......


Courtesy of the Long Beach Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Expo

-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

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merz2
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Saturday September 28, 2002 6:21 PM

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shylock
I must say if that is an example of what you saw,I'm jealous I first started collecting the IH's in circulated(XF) condition.I couldn't afford better.Next to the Lincolns the IH's are the best for me.I love copper!!! I don't think i've seen a finer example of one than that 1877.Stewart,you are to be commended on your eyes.I probably don't want to see your Lincoln Proofs.

-------------------------
 Don
Registry 1909-1958 Proof Lincolns

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shylock
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Saturday September 28, 2002 6:33 PM

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The reverse:



-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

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Spooly
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Saturday September 28, 2002 6:41 PM

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Sweet! I wish I could have gone! Sounds like it was alot of fun!

-------------------------
 Spooly

"We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

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IrishMike
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Saturday September 28, 2002 7:25 PM

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I am making my reservations for FUN in two weeks. I can't pass up the two 68's and the 1856, nope I can't do it, nope nope nope Sounds like the showdown was the best part of the show. Every one who participated and set it up deserves mucho kudos.

Edited to add: Thanks for the great picture Paul, what a terrific coin. Hope to see you in Orlando.

Edited: Saturday September 28, 2002 at 7:26 PM by IrishMike

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shylock
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Saturday September 28, 2002 7:31 PM

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Merz -- the 1877, which Stewart bought raw in a Stacks auction, is all he cracked it up to be. I would travel 3000 miles to image it alone, and wish I could find common dates as nice.

Here's another from the Blay set, a difficult coin to image due to its tone. This 1862 MS67 is one of the most appealing copper-nickels you'll ever find with subtle peripheral toning I could just barely capture. You really have to see this one in person:



His 1900 MS67RD (!):





-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

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mdwoods
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Saturday September 28, 2002 7:40 PM

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Shylock, do you think the 1877 has a good shot at making MS67? It sure looks like it meets the requirements from your pictures. Which are extremely nice BTW. Mark

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merz2
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Saturday September 28, 2002 7:44 PM

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Paul
Your pics are great.I'm quite sure I'd have drooled all over the case.I'll bet they had to clean the glass after every person. I can't even imagine sets like those.I am humbled by those coins.My Lincoln Proofs look good but I'm not sure if they'd stand up along coins of that kind.If the Lincoln Proofs are that good,I'm glad just to be in the top five with them.

-------------------------
 Don
Registry 1909-1958 Proof Lincolns

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IrishMike
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Saturday September 28, 2002 8:36 PM

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That 1900 is amazing, one of the nicest looking IHC's I have ever seen.

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Lakesammman
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Saturday September 28, 2002 8:38 PM

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Paul:

Great job on the pics - the toning on the 1862 is spectacular! The 1877 is the only one I've ever lusted after...what a monster. Thanks again for the photo tips while there - I have the lights on order.

Is that really me in the Hawaiin shirt.....gotta start eating salads again!

-------------------------
 "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).

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shylock
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Saturday September 28, 2002 9:04 PM

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Mark -- I can't see PCGS giving a 67 in this date unless it was slapping them in the face. This coin may merit it compared to others, but the scrutiny they'd receive would put the brakes on market grading.

There are two ways to look at it. Technically it falls short in strike. But compared to other 1877s they've graded on a curve due to common strike weakness, why not? This PCGS MS66RD has the same gorgeous color but is clearly weaker struck. The only other image I have, c/o Rick Snow, is an older photograph of the 66RD Epstein coin.



Here are two extremely tough dates from the Ally collection that won "best in show". Both are 66RDs:




An equally tough date in 66RD from the Richard collection that was supreme:


Courtesy of the Long Beach Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Expo





-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

Edited: Saturday September 28, 2002 at 9:58 PM by shylock

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toothpuller
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Saturday September 28, 2002 9:10 PM

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Unbelievable coins.

Paul, Thanks for the images.

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Cocoinut
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Saturday September 28, 2002 9:27 PM

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Simply gorgeous coins! Wish I could have made it to Long Beach.

Great photography as well. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Jim

-------------------------
 Countdown to completion of my Mercury Set: 2 coins. My growing Lincoln Set

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shylock
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Saturday September 28, 2002 9:48 PM

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The one person I was most curious to meet was Tim/Lakesammman. I've had an year long email correspondence with him and you can't help but wonder what someone is like in realtime. Turns out he's one of the most down to earth, quick witted guys you'd ever want to hang with. And someone I continue to learn from. Sharp as a knife in his own laid back way. But enough about him...

One last coin for tonight from the Blay set that blew every diehard collector away. The 1886 T2 gets a lot of attention, but try finding a T1 like this 66RD:



-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

Edited: Saturday September 28, 2002 at 10:15 PM by shylock

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STEWARTBLAYNUMIS
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Sunday September 29, 2002 7:33 AM

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Paul

It was a pleasure to meet you !! I just go home this morning via the red eye.My only glitch occurred at the LAX airport when a couple of security inspectors who failed to attend the showdown wanted to see my coins.
The shots look great and are certainly better than I can ever compose.I'm sure there are more to be posted.
I really enjoyed sharing my coins with the other collectors.I am also amazed how well all the collectors got along together.I was also enamoured how much fun Ira Davidoff was having during his own showdown with his set vs. mine and the others
We finally got Rick Snow on the message boards

Tim - For the time being,I am married to my 1877.The 1877 coming up in January is suppose to be a real nice ms66 red.When I see you again I can tell you its history.It was great to see you again.

Merz - I got to meet Doug Wright on Saturday

Stewart










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littlewicher
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Sunday September 29, 2002 8:57 AM

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Yes! We finally got a pic of Carol!

-------------------------

For some life lasts a short while, but the memories it holds last forever.
-Laura Swenson

In memory of BL, SM, and KG. 16 and forever young, rest in peace.

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shylock
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Sunday September 29, 2002 9:25 AM

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Stewart - Hope security at LAX enjoyed the show. My two lamps caused some tension at Kennedy on my way out there.

I already regret not taking even more pics, but perhaps that could be done at some future date in a more conducive environment. I think we should crack them all out of their damn plastic and get some really nice images

Was fortunate enough to meet Doug and Jom during my last hour there, both great guys. Jom & I searched the floor for Elcontador (Jeff) but it was like finding a needle in a haystack at that point. He introduced me to Toningintheblood and Strat along the way.


A few more keys from the Blay set (the 1868 & 72 are 65s, the 1875 is 66):





And his MS67RD 1878 (!):


All images courtesy of the Long Beach Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Expo

-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

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shylock
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Sunday September 29, 2002 10:01 AM

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Another image of the 1877 that really shows the lustre (sorry, but I can't get enough of this amazing coin):


Courtesy of the Long Beach Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Expo

Stewart knew I'd recently bought an 1857 FE with major obverse strike doubling, and brought his PCGS certified DDO of this date for comparison. Mine has the same doubling of the denticles on the upper rim, date and eagle, but lacks the doubling of the eye & beak that his clearly shows:

1857 DDO MS64

-------------------------
 Paul <> altered surfaces

Edited: Sunday September 29, 2002 at 2:15 PM by shylock

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goose3
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Sunday September 29, 2002 10:42 AM

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Fantastic pictures paul!!
that 77 is breathtaking.

That FE DDO you have linked looks exactly like one I have in EF40 PCGS. Mine too has a broken wing tip.

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kranky
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Sunday September 29, 2002 12:31 PM

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Great, great photos, shylock! I don't know how hard it was to get special dispensation to take photos but I'm glad you got it. I can't even imagine what it would be like to see entire sets of the quality represented in the pictures here. You guys who got to see them in person were very fortunate.

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 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.

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