Best Of

1952 Roadmaster Riviera

After a grueling 12-minute drive from the show, I arrived home from the CSNS show today, leaving plenty of time for some yard work in the afternoon. While it was a fairly busy show, I found myself with plenty of time to visit with people Friday and Saturday. I spent some time chatting with @Desert Moon at his table (as well as while he was hiding from a non-customer). He was trying to replenish coins as he was selling them. John Dannreuther's two-part volume on silver proof coins is now shipping. I saw a picture of a couple pallets of cases of books parked in his driveway. Final delivery was by forklift. I spent some time chatting with David McCarthy at Kagin's. I don't really have to say "show me something cool" anymore. He just pulls that stuff out when I get there. A few of his coins end up in my calendars as a result.

Friday, I found myself in a discussion with John Agre (CRO) about the 2nd law of thermodynamics as it relates to the USPS. Just as the entropy in the universe in increasing, so it is with the USPS. Eventually all packages will end up in an unknown state within their system where it is no longer recoverable -- lost, missing, or stolen for the most part. One could say this is because any physical process can only add entropy to the system it acts upon. Moreover, eventually everything of any value will find itself being shipped somewhere. As the universe ages, all matter will reach maximum entropy, and eventually just decay into either photons or disappear into a missing package in a figurative black hole of a USPS processing and distribution center.

There was a bit of excitement on Friday for people in the back of the hall in the higher numbered aisles. Apparently a couple kids were trying to sell a certified gold cob. They were quickly made by the dealer (Cabbage Coins), who stalled them long enough to be able to confirm with Dan Sedwick that the coin was stolen and contact the police, who later apprehended them when they returned to attempt to close the deal.

One of the first people to show up at our table on Saturday was someone trying to sell counterfeit Forever stamps for $10 a roll. I'm hoping someone was able to record his unguarded attempts.

Newps? Yes. I had the opportunity to upgrade my broadstruck 21-S Morgan from an AU58 to an MS62 that I liked better. Got it from Jon Sullivan.

I also spotted a 1938 proof WLH in PCGS 66 CAC that I liked at the Stack's Marketplace table. Not sure if they were just rolling out the Marketplace this week, but the premise is you can leave an offer and they'll get back to you when they accept or reject it. It doesn't work that well on a bourse floor, because someone at the show can't give you an immediate response. You have to wait for an email which never came, but after a few hours I nagged them about it and they said my offer was accepted. Clearly, they have some bugs to work out, but at the end of the day I got this.

I left home early Tuesday morning for the long drive to the CSNS show in Schaumburg, Illinois. I left a day early this year because I wanted to do a little sightseeing. After a stop for gas and for lunch at Fazoli's, I arrived in Urbana, Illinois in late afternoon. I checked into my hotel and then went to dinner at Cracker Barrel.

On Wednesday morning after a light breakfast at the hotel, I got back on the road. I crossed into Indiana to visit the Indiana Dunes National Park. I had never been there before. It was cool and windy but, I really enjoyed it. Back on the road I stopped at the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. Not a lot to see there, but I did walk the trail. I arrived in the Schaumburg area in early afternoon. I went to my favorite restaurant anywhere, the Rose Garden Cafe for a late lunch. I had the 2 large pork chops, chicken and rice soup ( that is so good ) , baked potato and rolls. All for only $16.95! That has got to be the best bargain anywhere. I took one of the chops back to the hotel.

Thursday morning, I had the pork chop from last night for breakfast. After breakfast I headed to the convention center. I got my badge and waited for the 10 AM opening. There was a very large crowd waiting to enter. There was a very long line at the PCGS booth. I first went to see a coin that had been on Ebay. One of the dealers had it with several other boxes of coins out on the floor. They said to come back in 20 minutes. I did and the coin was there. I took a quick look and bought it. Paid too much but I needed the coin and I liked it.

I next went to see David Kahn to sell him 4 coins. It was a quick transaction. I then went to see a $20 Liberty that a dealer had on their website. It was nice but we were too far apart. Said hello to Liz. She did not have anything for me. Next, I went to look at a 1799 Large Cent in PCGS VG 8 at HLRC. It was sold but he let me take a look at it. I would have had to think about it if it was not already sold.

I saw complete Proof sets except for the gold from 1857,1866,1867 and 1891. So cool! One dealer had 11 1916-D dimes in PCGS G-4. He had a few others graded 3 and 6.

The floor was very crowded until about 2PM when it thinned out. I left in late afternoon.

I went back to the Rose Garden Cafe for dinner. I had a steak ( the biggest that I have ever seen ) and 4 jumbo shrimp with chicken and rice soup, baked potato and rolls for $19.95. I took half of the steak and a roll back to the hotel.

Friday morning, I had the steak and roll for breakfast. I arrived at the show just before it opened. I continued looking for coins that I needed. I saw a 1793 Wreath Large Cent in PCGS 65 Brown with a CAC sticker. Holy crap. One dealer had a complete Classic Head $2 1/2 and $5 variety set in PCGS holders. Wow! I saw American Eagles for spot plus $4.

Said hello to Ken Goldman, Dan Decker and had a nice chat with Cliff Mishler.

The concession stand had hot dogs for $8, chips for $4 and soft drinks for $6. The show was much less crowded on Friday. I consigned a Flying Eagle Cent to Great Collections. I left the show in late afternoon.

I went back to the Rose Garden Cafe for dinner. I had the fried Ocean Perch, fries and the chicken and rice soup for $16.25.

On Saturday morning after breakfast at the hotel, I got on the road for home. I had to make more stops than normal because my right knee was killing me. Not sure why. I arrived home around 6 PM.

I had a great time at the show even though I only bought one coin, but I sold all of the coins that I had brought with me.
Next up the ANA in Pittsburgh.

Good Morning, this for the late coffee drinkers....

Here ya go, ex-Norweb but British.
Only graded specimen of any grade and a 1934 Shilling just back from hosts at Proof 67 Cameo:

AU58 PCGS CAC