Some thoughts on today's Michigan State show.
291fifth
Posts: 25,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
I went to the Michigan State Numismatic Society show in Warren, MI this afternoon. Here are some observations:
Attendance was very good. The crowd was old (as usual) but seemed to be buying or selling at a good pace.
I had hoped to find a dealer from Canada so I could sell him my small hoard of Canadian change that has accumulated from circulation in the US and (mostly) from Coinstar reject slots. No luck. It looks like the border crossing hassle has driven away all the Canadian dealers. I still have the box of change.
Prices asked for many medals and some foreign paper money seemed to be high, especially in the case of the medals. I may just be very out of touch with these markets.
I attempted to sell a 1962 MS64 FBL half in a third world holder (the coin is properly graded, maybe even undergraded) ... no luck ... even from the dealer who originally holdered the coin back in 2001. That coin I will just keep.
There was a massive pile of empty US Mint proof set cases and boxes available free to anyone who wanted them. They didn't seem to be generating much interest.
I sold a few low value foreign coins for almost exactly what I thought they would bring ... and that was the same price I paid for them about 15 years ago. Great "investment".
There were fewer third world slabs than I remember seeing in recent years. There were still large numbers of raw coins available but many PCGS and NGC as well.
The show runs through Sunday and is worth a visit if you are in the area. There is no admission charge and plenty of free, close-in parking.
Comments
Thanks for the report @291fifth.
What are the border crossing hassles?
Thanks for the report. I was a regular at that show on Friday when I lived in MI. Have not been to the show since it moved from the Hyatt in Dearborn. ?? years ago.
Someday I'll get back there and revisit local dealers I have not seen in a long time.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Tons of Canadians running around my neck of the woods, wasn't aware of any border crossing hassle???? Hell, they recently let me run a marathon from the US into Canada and back to US without even showing an ID. Seemed pretty lax.
PS thanks for report, good to hear it was busy, sad but expected no new blood.
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
Retiring at 55, what day is today?
You would have to ask the dealers that question. Back in the 1980's, when my office was in the Detroit Renaissance Center, I often had business lunches over in Windsor (which is just across the river from Detroit). The crossings, with no merchandise, were very quick and easy. 9/11 changed that.
I was there. Good traffic. Seemed to be a lot of cash flowing. Some nice educational displays on hand. Good police presence - always a good thing. I sold some seated dogs off, then looked at some very nice New Orleans minted quarters at fair prices from a dealer down south. Didn't pull the trigger though I may wander back in the morning.
Did you see me 291fifth? I was wearing the Michigan Trumpish t-shirt!
I too attended the show. It was the busiest Michigan State show that I have attended since it moved from the Hyatt. A couple dealers had customers two or three deep at their tables.
The best thing I saw at the show was a dealer selling his New Orleans mint liberty seated collection. They were both raw and slabbed. He had some nice dates in decent condition. I complimented him on building a great collection. I also looked a a large collection of Bust Half dollars that another dealer had just bought.
The worst thing that I saw was a case with a dozen or two slabbed(I won’t say by which top TPG)silver eagles with extremely gross artificial toning. Amazing what people will do to make a buck. Ugh!
I like Canadian coins especially Queen Victoria issues.
These coins with their low pops NGC, PCGS a super deal.
Nice report(s).... Did anyone notice how bullion was moving?? Cheers, RickO
I just went back to see Larry Ourso (I believe the fellow that Colonialcoin mentioned) from Baton Rouge. He's a really nice dealer to talk to and found him very easy to work with. He knows his New Orleans coins and is selling off part of his personal collection. I picked up a nice 1847-o quarter , 2-C , graded P-50 from him that I'll have to photograph and post. It has some interesting reverse die breaks and is the harder mintmark variety. It was a nice upgrade to my p35 1-A.
As far as bullion goes I saw a few people selling 90% off but did not observe any sales from dealers but really wasn't paying attention; for what it's worth.
Traffic was much lighter today and busy on Friday. Everyone in Michigan must be watching 'the game'.
Freddie