Boeing Employees Coin Club Show Report, January 2020 + Newp
airplanenut
Posts: 22,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
I spent a few hours at the BECC show in beautiful (ehhh...) Kent today. This is one of the two main shows of the year in Seattle, the other being PNNA in early spring, which is a larger show that attracts some dealers from outside the northwest. This has been a show that I've gone to on and off over the years. In the past, I've had one really great buy, but for the most part it's been a chance to catch up with a few folks and hope that something neat comes along. When I've had busy Sundays, I haven't felt too bad about missing it.
The show advertises 70+ dealers, and that seems about right. A few tables were empty, but most had a good amount of inventory covering the full range of US, foreign, ancient, exonumia, bullion, and currency, from very inexpensive to very expensive. Depending on what you were looking for, there may not have been a large selection, but it was likely that you'd find something at least related to your area of interest.
While there are some specific items I'm looking for (that few dealers will have even at a major show), for the most part, I'm just looking for what catches my eye, and if a dealer asks, that's what I'll tell them. It's my way of saying I'm just taking a look. That backfired when one dealer then proceeded to point out quite literally every coin he had in his case (all of which I could see, and none of which caught my eye), followed by a tour of the rest of his table, such as the bargain bin and some stuff that might be in the back. I was happy to get away, and then fell into the trap again when wandering head-down around the aisles a little while later. I paid attention the rest of the show to be careful in that area.
While I've never liked shows that have lots of corner tables because it's difficult to be sure you see everything if you just go up and down the main aisles, this show is laid out with perhaps 3 or 4 tables before the next corner (unlike the big shows where there may be 10-20), so it took some extra effort to be sure I saw everything. On the coin front, I didn't see too much of particular interest, and I don't think I even pulled a coin out for a look, other than to ask the date on one face-down coin--a mega-chopped trade dollar. It was a date I had and priced about 8-10x what I think it's worth, so I wasn't buying it. I was told the price was due to the chops (duh), and I'm left to wonder if they'd be buyers at that kind of a price for the many that I have.
Of course, the big draw for a show is the people, and as far as board members go, it was nice to spend some time catching up with @segoja and @Lakesammman. I've known both for a long time and it's fun to catch up on life in general beyond chatting coins. Plus, Tim is extra cool as a pilot, so there's some aviation talk to be had, as well.
While I didn't leave with any new coins, I didn't leave empty-handed. I've recently been bitten by a little bit of a currency bug (there's an upcoming post on that, and we'll see how long the bug lasts), and I've gotten a hankering for some of the well-known classic designs. I found this Black Eagle silver certificate priced right, and I like the grade as being just a bit more expensive than notes that can have significant wear or folds, but much less expensive than a crisp uncirculated note.
I got to the show right around 10am (I'd have been perfectly on time had it not been for that unexpected, very long freight train a block from the show that held me up 4 minutes), and left around 1:15pm. The show was getting a little quiet, but it was still more active than it is the years the Seahawks are in the playoffs, when many dealers are gone by noon (if they even show up) so they can get home and watch the game. In all, a good use of a few hours.
Comments
@airplanenut.... Thanks for an excellent report... I used to go to this show every year when I lived in Seattle... and I found your description to be totally accurate. Yes, I recall purchasing a couple of coins there over the twenty years I went to the show...but really spent more time catching up with people (Bochiman always used to attend)...Cheers, RickO
Oh yeah... here's my biggest score from the show, quite a few years ago:
NGC MS64
Thanks @airplanenut foe your show report.
That’s a mighty fine looking black eagle!
I attended for a couple of hours, too — sorry I missed saying hi — I felt like the vibe was a bit down compared to past Boeing shows. Perhaps related to the vibe associated with all of those impounded 737 Max jets? Seemed that they were missing a few of the good out-of-state dealers. And a bit too much of the same inventory sitting around from the locals. But segoja had some sweet stuff—octagonal Pan Pac anyone? 🤓
I dig your note. I think I know the case you picked that one from—contained some of the popular educational notes, Bisons and Chiefs. I’m a big fan of the famous 1896 $5 educational, like most.
I found this dime. Probably just barely made it into a 63 slab with the obverse marks, but the electric colors, cameo and mirrors all combine for a flashy little jewel.
Very nice report, that looks to be a very nice Black Eagle note. Funny that you mentioned this "for the most part, I'm just looking for what catches my eye, and if a dealer asks, that's what I'll tell them. It's my way of saying I'm just taking a look." That is almost word for word that same thing I say at all the local shows (and even bigger shows like Long Beach). I'll be at one of the largest shows in this area for the year next weekend and plan to use that line quite a lot.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Thanks for your report.
Nice report!
thats a good looking note!
My first time at that show- I’m always hoping to find one coin for my core collection and it doesn’t always happen, so after several hours I was really pleased to acquire this one:
After that I remembered a coin I had seen on a dealer’s site awhile back and he was able to bring it out- a nice addition to my collection of eye candy IHC’s.
All in all a good day, hung out with some great folks and learned a thing or two as well.
Thanks for the report.
Great looking Coins & Currency, guys!
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Nice report and congrats on the note - looked very clean to me for the grade, well centered, etc. Great catching up with you - it's been too long! We would have had more time but I drove to Tukwilla 1st and was wondering where everyone was......sorry I was late.
SeattleSlammer - nice pickup.
Dealer highlights for me included seeing segoja's (proof 67 IHC's, Octagonal PanPac) and West Coast Coins (4 different 1856 Flying Eagles) inventory.
Thanks for the report and I like the black eagle note
out of curiosity, do you recall the date/mint of the chopped trade?
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
1877-S
Great show report! That is one great show, along with the PNNA, of course.
Somehow I totally forgot about the Boeing show last month, or I would have been there for sure. Arg! I love seeing all the old Boeing artifacts as well. In fact I was just lamenting to myself about the lack of good shows in the Pacific NW these days. It wasn’t too long ago (ok, 30 years) there were almost quarterly large shows at the Seattle Center. Loved those shows! Dang Internet has changed everything.
Dave
I'm working at Boeing Field tomorrow and have to drive by the Museum of Flight's outdoor pavilion. Now THOSE are the artifacts I want to see!
Beautiful coin! I love the colors on it.
Anyone know if they've issued the 2020 Boeing Coin Club Medals yet?
Sounds like a fun day. I sure miss the older iron.
I believe so. I think I saw something about them being shipped, but their website isn't completely clear: http://seattlebecc.org/medals/Medals.html