Thursday @ Long Beach

Elcontador

This is the first Long Beach show since Covid began, 1 1/2 years ago. I missed Feb. 2020 and Sept. 2019, so I wanted to make this one. Two friends had deceased father in laws who had coins, gave them to me to sell, and they sat because this was the first time I could go to a venue to sell them (which is one of the main reasons I went).

Drove. Always took the local Metrorail before, as it left me off 500 yards from the entrance of the Long Beach Convention Center and I didn't have to deal with parking. Not going to take public transit of any sort now.

The show is an example of the "new normal" of dealing with Covid, and trying to get on with our lives. Everyone had to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask, or they weren't allowed in. Got a pre-printed pass on the internet, so I didn't have to wait in the long registration line.

Show was busy. I think people have been frustrated not being able to actually look at coins for the last year and a half, and jumped at opportunity to see and hold them in their hands.

Huge lines to get coins graded at PCGS throughout the 4 hours I was there. Not as many booths selling coins as before; more sports cards this time around. Usual suspects were there, though Laura was not at the Legend table, and Katy Duncan was not at the Pinnacle table. Didn't see Todd either, but maybe he was out when I was by his table.

I wasn't looking to buy anything, though I did see my first AU 53 1795 3 leaf Flowing Hair Dollar, which is on my radar.
It's hard to buy a coin, even if you have photograde available, if you haven't been able to actually see a number of them to get a feel how photograde compares to how the TPGs are grading them these days, and there aren't many of these coins around. Coin appeared properly graded, but didn't have my name on it, so I passed.

I visited my favorite people I see at shows (one of the main reasons I go). Sold the coins mentioned in the first paragraph. The other reason I like going to shows is to hold in my hands amazing coins that are rarely seen, and I could never buy. I looked at Walter Husak Large Cents, part II or III. He had the Pogue 1810 in PC 5 BN. Truly an amazing coin. Not flashy, but the strike was hammered, clean surfaces, and even dark brown color / texture. No carbon. No marks. One of the cleanest Classic Large Cents I've ever seen.

There were some very high end Barber Halves available and I looked at a few of them. Attractive Barber Halves in MS 65-67 are available. Couldn't find many, if any at all, 15 or 20 years ago. The ones I saw had subtle, attractive toning. I did see a fingerprint below the toning on one of them.

If you want nice Liberty Nickels in MS 66, they're cheap, but not plentiful. About 1/2 of what I paid for them years ago, and that's with a CAC sticker to boot.

Many more modern high grade coins. Lincoln Cents, Jefferson Nickels, Franklin Halfs, Lots of them. Plenty of Unc. Morgans, but not as many as pre-Covid. Ditto re Unc. gold of all types. Saw some Capped Bust Halves, and Rick Snow and the Penny Lady had plenty of nice IHCs. Noticed more currency this time around. Not as many booths buying / selling foreign coins / currency this time around either. A few booths were selling ancients.

I brought four coins with me to see about potential upgrades. I was told to leave the one in the OGH alone, as a plus to lose an OGH didn't seem to be worth it (coin has a CAC sticker, but we didn't think is flashy enough for the next grade up.

The other three coins were sent in for reconsideration. We think 2 can get a +, and one may get a full upgrade. As my contact said, "I've seen worse coins in a holder the next grade up than this one." We'll see.

Note: there are two parking lots next to the venue, owned by the same company. If unfamiliar with the area, one has sections listing the number, then the letter of the section; ie., 2B. The second lot has sections listing the letter, then the number of the section: ie B2. Write the section where you park on your ticket. You don't want to be looking for your car in the wrong lot.

Smudge

Thanks for your report.

daltex

So were you able to sell your friends' coins?

stockdude_

So vax passports AND face diapers. No thanks.

stockdude_

Good report though

Elcontador

@daltex said:
So were you able to sell your friends' coins?

Yes. They were turn of the 20th century low value British Commonwealth coins, and U.S. and foreign generic silver. Except for silver eagles and the like, you're always able to get more at a show than at a brick and mortar establishment.

PeakRarities

Thank you for the report! Although I now am wondering, is the proof of vaccination going to be customary for ALL coin shows, or is that localized to certain shows? Would anyone happen know if you have to show proof of vaccination at the FUN show in January?

PeakRarities

@daltex said:
So were you able to sell your friends' coins?

In paragraph 7, he did mention that he sold the aforementioned coins

daltex

@DeplorableDan said:
Thank you for the report! Although I now am wondering, is the proof of vaccination going to be customary for ALL coin shows, or is that localized to certain shows? Would anyone happen know if you have to show proof of vaccination at the FUN show in January?

Not just coin shows. In one suburb of Boston a movie theater requires it, another in the suburb practically next door doesn't. It's preposterous to pretend to know what the legal requirements will be three months out.

golden

@DeplorableDan said:
Thank you for the report! Although I now am wondering, is the proof of vaccination going to be customary for ALL coin shows, or is that localized to certain shows? Would anyone happen know if you have to show proof of vaccination at the FUN show in January?

At the summer FUN show you were required to sign a waiver, get a temperature check and wear a face mask upon entering the show. 99% took off the mask once they were on the bourse floor. No one said anything about it.
I have been to about 10 coin shows since Covid started. I believe temperatures were checked at only 3 and masks were only required at 2 shows.

RichieURich

Nice and detailed report, thank you for posting it!

Namvet69

Thanks for the report, looking forward to Baltimore. Peace Roy

coinbuf

@DeplorableDan said:
Thank you for the report! Although I now am wondering, is the proof of vaccination going to be customary for ALL coin shows, or is that localized to certain shows? Would anyone happen know if you have to show proof of vaccination at the FUN show in January?

Impossible to know what the rules will be in the future, one thing that does play a part is the politics of the state where the show is. Summer FUN was far less restrictive than this LB show partly due to the individual state restrictions, this will likely continue to be a factor going forward.

MilesWaits

Thank you for the articulate show report!
It’s refreshing to hear a show report absent self-promotion.
And a very thoughtful coin-selling trip for your friends!

Walkerfan

Thanks for interesting and honest report.

Justacommeman

There was a good crowd.

The current norm. I can live with it. It beats a lot of alternatives. Nice to have a big regional show in So Cal

mark

Elcontador

@MilesWaits said:
Thank you for the articulate show report!
It’s refreshing to hear a show report absent self-promotion.
And a very thoughtful coin-selling trip for your friends!

The father in laws of two good friends died, and my friends had these coins sitting around for a number of years. They both knew I collected coins, and asked me to help out. The first collection had all sorts of British Commonwealth nation coins from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was neat because they all had the sovereign on the obverse on coins of 3 pence or more, so I was able to learn how to grade them more or less; ie., if you can grade a Seated Half, there's not much of a learning curve in grading a Seated Dime.

Found a 1927 (large) Australian penny which would grade MS 63 RB, and an English fourpence coin called a Groat. Also, found a Shilling with Queen Victoria on it which would grade on the lower end of AU. Most of the stuff I was able to sell.

Could not sell the rest, and couldn't get started with the second collection because Covid closed down the shows. So it's nice I can now finish giving the first guy his money, and sending the second guy his money also.

skier07

Overall I was disappointed with the show.

The show has a different location in the convention center with no signage for directions. I seemingly walked forever along with multiple other folks trying to find the new entrance. The show space is smaller and people were more densely packed with aisles that seemed to be more narrow and with less open space. Proof of vaccination is required. It was a two hour wait to submit at the PCGS table. The line the entire time I was at the show was long and slow. After submitting I was very happy to call it a day.

ricko

Thanks for an interesting show report. Surprised they are still requiring masks.... Most places here no longer require them... especially if vaccinated (usually a sign posted saying that). Anything below N95 is useless anyway against a virus. Cheers, RickO

pcgscacgold

Great report. I enjoy reading these. Makes the 75 table show this weekend seem like a semi-pro game compared to the big leagues.