My second major show
rmorgan
Posts: 249 ✭✭✭✭
I just visited my second “major” coin show – the Northwest Coin Club’s Money show. It has been just over six months since I got back into coins and started putting in an effort to become a better collector (making the rounds to local shows, joining a local club, reading/studying, and participation in this forum). I can tell my approach to collecting has matured a lot since that time.
While I have yet to “drink the Kool-Aid” of the slab crowd, I now have a higher expectation of what I want and am more patient. In October (at a similarly sized show) I found a lot more coins to buy. This time, and with a focus on just Mercurys, I found several coins priced way too high and hundreds at a quality well below my acceptance level. I ended up buying an upgrade of ‘43-D and an AU of 24-D.
Regarding the 24-D, it was priced higher than I wanted to justify for my budget. I almost walked away, but then I pursued a technique I learned here (by asking on this form about negotiating at shows: )... I asked them for their best price. They gave the coin a good look, thought about it, and came back with a 15% discount. The result was still more than I wanted to pay, but it wasn’t too far off, I had not spent any real money yet, and I wanted to go home with a new addition. So I agreed and closed the deal.
I also picked up some coin capsules (targeting my new 2019 W Lincoln) and the second volume of the Cherrypicker’s Guide at 25% off. Today did not hold as many ideal opportunities that I was anticipating, but it was worth my time. And I certainly can tell that my approach to collecting, working a show, and knowing what I want has matured from where I was six months ago.
My strategy is about collecting what I intend to keep, not investing in what I plan to sell.
Comments
@rmorgan Thanks for your report and your thought process in selecting the Merc.
I too am back after a long hiatus, and signed up for the ANA grading course in Dalton, GA
Good luck and welcome back!
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Sooner or later you probably will have to drink some "Kool aid". Lots of very nice coins are in slabs. Thanks for the show report.