Greater Chicago (St. Charles) Coin Show
U1chicago
Posts: 6,520 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here are a few thoughts/observations (from Friday, Feb 22) after my visit to the Greater Chicago Coin Show:
~Upon arriving I noticed the parking lot was packed. Wow I thought, this is more people than I have ever seen at this show!
Well, it turns out the big room was hosting the Great Western Invitational-a gymnastics competition.
~The coin show was in the smaller room and the amount of people was much fewer than the amount of cars might have suggested (I guess the gymnastics competition has strong attendance)...this isn't too unusual as this isn't a big show. It's mainly local dealers and a handful of dealers from out of state.
~Knowing that this show wasn't as big, my goals for buying and selling were more modest than usual.
~I had three main items on my want list: some inexpensive raw coins for my type set album, older/unusual slabs, and toned Morgans. I didn't end up finding much. Very few nicely toned Morgans were available (the only two that I somewhat liked were priced too strongly). I didn't find any holders that I wanted (some SEGS and PCI slabs were available, but nothing that caught my eye). I was happy to find two raw type coins: a Seated Dime and a toned 40% Kennedy. Total spent: $19
~I only brought a few items to sell and some of these I didn't expect to see much interest (but I always bring some extra items just in case an opportunity presents itself). I was able to sell a foreign PCGS slabbed gold coin for a bit under melt, a token, and a Classic Commem (that one I was pleasantly surprised to find a buyer based on the state of the commem market....it helped that the coin had some nice color).
~I was able to look at every table and many twice in around 2.5 hours
~I saw a few people that were sitting at tables for long periods (30+ minutes) and likely making some deals; I saw a few collectors picking up some coins, but overall I didn't see a ton of sales
~I didn't see many sales or even hear much conversation about bullion-plenty of dealers had some gold (I saw some 1 oz Buffalos at $50 over spot) and silver (World & Eagles anywhere from $2-$4 over spot) at their tables....maybe it was moving, I just personally didn't see much activity
Overall this is a decent show and is worth checking out if you have time and/or live close enough to make the drive worthwhile. Central States and the Summer ANA shows have been better for me, but this show just had enough to satisfy my coin appetite until Central States comes up in April.
Comments
Thanks for your show report @U1chicago.
Another semi-related observation (and a chance to post a photo to mix in with the hodge podge of words
):
~A dealer that frequents many of these shows had a Dan Carr toned Amero that was graded MS 69 by Anacs. Last time I asked he wanted $950 for it! He still has it several shows later. I didn't ask how much he wants for it now as I was able to find my own example (albeit raw) on eBay for around $73.
Thanks for your report.
That is one bad "gas job" AFAIC.
See you on the third Thursday of April!
Thanks for a good show report.... I thought bullion would be moving better right now... Cheers, RickO
I walked to the old showroom and saw the gymnasts. Watched for a few minutes and almost paid the 12 bucks to go inside. The coin show was one of those shows you know will be disappointing as soon as you walk in. Stayed 15 minutes sold a coin to Rarcoa asked a few prices shook my head and left. Should have paid the 12 bucks to watch the gym show to make the trip worthwhile.
Thanks for the report.
I attended that show last year and was disappointed. The show was poorly attended, the room itself was dark and dreary, and the inventory in most dealers cases looked like stale, old and overpriced inventory they take from show to show. Not an event on my future itinerary.
Your hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need it.
Thanks for the report
That is how Carr issued them. It’s the “color toned” version. So treated right at the source.