My ANA WFoM 2019 experience
EVillageProwler
Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
My time for this event started bright and early Tuesday and ended after midnight Friday when I finally arrived home.
I arrived at my hotel (very close to the convention center) with enough time to register before the 1pm opening bell. I was exhausted and I hadn't even entered the bourse. For those of you who aren't young (which is most of us, because this is an expensive hobby and its the rare young person with both money for and interest in coins), I highly recommend making sure that you have plenty of energy for that prime day of coin activity (which, for me, is the first 1/2 day of a major show).
I made a beeline to CNG where I had two lots to consider; I was warned in advance by my guy there that I might not like either. I bought one. Then I went through their boxes and selected two more unlisted inventory pieces for consideration. One was within my core collecting interest, while the other was perhaps a burgeoning interest area but not quite the denomination that I wanted. I ultimately bought the 'core' coin. The two that I passed? One was rejected because the surfaces were a bit too hairlined for me; the other rejected coin was from a Charles I provincial wartime mint but in a denomination that was below my size vs cost sweet spot. (Though, to be totally honest, I am still thinking about it because it was a sweet coin at a good price but I think it may be sold now.)
Prior to the show, I made a list of British dealers that I wanted to hit up; after CNG, who's always my first, I proceeded to go see the rest on my list. One was Wessex Coins with a nice tray of Tudor and Stuart material that caught my eye but at pricing levels that didn't. Now at Baldwin's, I spent some time talking to Dominic and Neil and going over their inventory. As expected, they brought stuff that were nice. Very nice. I eyed a nice Charles I 1/2 Crown from Bristol. Common type, but with better-than-usual execution that was within my price range. But, then, he showed me an unlisted coin that was priced about 20+% less than I expected. It was a premium coin that fills a major hole, at a much less than expected price. Unfortunately, it was also an expensive coin. I can't discuss this coin further because I am still hoping to be able to get it someday.
Tuesday concluded with me in high spirits even though I was exhausted. Wednesday would be the total opposite. I woke to horrible news from the financial world covering domestic and international markets. Without getting into too much detail, I ended up not buying any more coins for the rest of the show. I went to my hotel bar and drank wine and ate a hummus and pita and vegetable platter while on the phone commiserating with a buddy in California.
Thursday came and went with a show highlight. I finally hooked up with @Stork. Had lunch with her at Gibson's, and we talked life, politics, coins, coin people and every which topic that popped up. I think she felt bad for me and wanted to cheer me up one way or another. Or at least take my mind off it for a bit.
Then it's off to the airport for what should have been a short flight that got delayed and became like a hot and stuff tin can that I wanted to vomit a bit (but luckily didn't). Thankfully my wife was waiting for me at the airport to cheer me up and bring me home. My dog was happy to see me too. I enter the door second; he greets my wife then sees me and stuffs his wet nose into me and then proceeds to slap me with his heavy tail. Great to be home. Miss my wife and dog.
And for the two coins I bought?
ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Northumbria. Eadberht, with Archbishop Ecgberht. 737-758. AR Sceatt (12.5mm, 1.01 g, 10h). York mint. EOTBEREhTVΓ•, cross pattée with pellets in quarters / ECGBERhT, mitred figure, with flexed knees, holding long cross in each hand. Booth, Sceattas – (dies –/q [unlisted obverse die]); Chapman 100 (same rev. die); SCBI 68 (Lyon), 51; cf. Pirie, Guide 2.2a-e (for type); North 192; SCBC 852. Near EF. Exceptional detail, rare thus.
DENMARK. Hardeknud (Knud III, the Hardy). 1035-1042. AR Penny (1.03 g, 9h). East Danish standard. Lund mint; Ulfcil, moneyer. Struck circa 1040-1042. + NΛR : ÐECNVT :·, helmeted and armored bust right; quatrefoil of pellets before / + VL FCIL ΘN [L]VD, voided long cross, with triple-crescent ends. Becker, Coinages, dies H25/244; Hauberg –; Hede III 33 var. (moneyer; same obv. die); SCBC 1170. Attractive iridescent tone. EF.
(This image is mine, using an iPhone in my hotel room under very adverse lighting conditions.)
And virtually with me at the show was @Zohar (and I felt like I was with him on his vacation!) and @Nap. With technology, it's become a small world! Guys - I tried to find stuff for you but it was too hard for too many reasons: the show was too large, I was too tired physically, and I was too tired emotionally. Sorry.
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Comments
Thanks for the report. I like both the coins you posted, especially the Danish penny.
Hope the financial situation you refer to improves.
My current "Box of 20"
Nice writeup and coins, thanks for sharing.
Nice coins and the report!
8 Reales Madness Collection
This write up and the highly articulate communication of the ups and downs of collecting is exactly what the process is about and why shows and in person communication are meaningful in the digital age. @EVillageProwler is the real deal and I personally have learned a lot from him. Thanks for sharing and staying in touch.
I really like the danish penny .
Sorry I missed you at the show .
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Thanks everyone.
Aw shucks. Hugs!
I stopped by but you were busy and didn’t look up. See you in January, I hope!
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Thank you for the report, and congratulations on your newps!
Delayed flights seemed to be the order of the day for a lot of us--I had the same thing tonight coming back from the show.
I was wondering if he stopped by--I outed you as the seller of that awesome Japanese Bu. That was my best coin buy but my cell phone can't get a good photo of it (and my currently lousy internet connection wouldn't be helpful for posting anyway). A certain lunch person tried to talk me out of it, it's so nice. I did offer to trade for that Denmark penny...that was a no go of course
@EVillageProwler -- it was indeed an excellent lunch, just not the greatest show. I somehow managed to miss the one panel I meant to get to, misread the schedule (insert eyeroll emoji). Oh well. Ended up sitting in on a not-interesting talk as the audience was sparse and it seemed unkind to get up and walk out. Plus my feet hurt so it gave me a chance to kill a few minutes.
In any case, it was good to see you, just wish your show had been more successful.