Baltimore Whitman Show Recap w/New Piece
Catbert
Posts: 7,378 ✭✭✭✭✭
This was my first big show in many years and the first time I attended the Whitman show in Baltimore. While the show doesn't have the bang that Winter FUN has in terms of scope (exhibits, club meetings, etc), it is well attended by dealers and there was lot viewing available for this week's Stacks auction.
Lot Viewing. While waiting to get in, I went up the escalator to see certain lots that were of interest to me. The PCGS MS65+ CAC 1837 large cent was gorgeous to my eye with olive toning and great luster. However, there may be a question as to it's originality. That said, I'd like to own it but won't be bidding. I also viewed a very attractive 1802 PCGS VF30 CAC Bust Dollar that has original even gray/brown toning. Another great looking coin that I thought I'd like to bid on, but I later bought a coin at the show that will nix that idea.
Roaming the Bourse. Once into the hall, there was the exciting hum of activity:
I decided to visit Bonnie Sabel's table since her inventory always has colorful coinage with great eye appeal. We had a very nice conversation about her business, new website, grandkids, and the whereabouts of @MarkFeld . We speculated that Heritage has him nose to the grindstone, caged since we did not see him at the show, and missed seeing him around since he used to be a fixture at big shows like this one. Bonnie had a wonderous proof quarter that you just have to see in hand. It is deserving of a premium given it's distinction, but I decided it was a little too much for me and I had yet to see what else was available at the show.
I then visited The Penny Lady and Charmy is always her charming self. We had a good talk about her business, chatted about a few dealers in attendance, got an update on her lounging fat cat and her husband's doings in retirement. She had a really attractive 1955 DDO PCGS MS64 BR with lots of red. I've always wanted one of these, but again passed to see the floor's other attractions.
I visited other dealers and thought that maybe I would walk away without a purchase. It's not that there weren't lots of coins offered, I just hadn't seen a coin I had to own (yet!).
The One. I knew that visiting CRO might yield a great coin and I had decided to visit them last. John and Mary Ann were at their booth and were getting attention as one might expect. John and I had a nice chat about PCGS and CAC and shared constructive opinions about various matters not to be posted here (sorry). Alas, I did not see anything on display that was a fit for me. I did ask John, however, if there was perhaps a new piece that I might be interested in.
And so, out came this:
And BANG, that was the coin for me. Want to guess the grade? I have been enamored with @Elcontador 's colorful proof halves and this, while not possessing lots of color, is a beautiful cameo (not indicated on the OGH) that even @ricko could love. This coin will do nicely as my Barber half type coin!
Departure. And so I left the show, after about 5 hours, feeling great and satiated with my new coin only to get lost trying to find the parking garage where I had parked my car. After much circling of a few city blocks, I saw something familiar and found the right place. Whew! Unfortunately, my parking ticket would not validate and I had to beg the remote attendant to let me out of the garage. Happily she did and I did not pay for parking!
All in all, a fantastic show for me. Up next is FUN and I'm excited to be able to attend shows once again.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Comments
Wow that half! What a coin. 65 CAM?
I see one of my coin dealer friends in your pics.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
@Catbert
Thanks so much for the report.
That '93 half is drop dead gorgeous.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Thanks for your report.
Beautiful looking. 65 DCAM but as you said not marked CAM on holder. I like the rim toning. Not sure @ricko would like the tarnish.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Thanks for the show report. I love the strike on the Barber half, but not a fan of the tarnish.
That would be a beauty if it were blast white!
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
@Catbert.... Wow.... That is an impressive coin. As y'all know, I am not a fan of tarnish.... However, I have frequently mentioned an interest in what has been termed 'circam'... and that coin has that look...Almost to the point of looking as if it were made that way... Thanks for the report and the pictures. Cheers, RickO
Catbert, That is a superb addition. Love that coin. Big congratulations!
Will guess 66 on the barber. It’s gorgeous!
Catbert, you give me too much credit. I have a few nicely toned Liberty Nickels and other type coins, but I don't have any PF Barber Halves. I do have a nice 05 O in MS 65 I bought from Brandon Kelly many years ago, though.
Bonnie Sabel did sell me a 28 S FH SLQ twenty some years ago. I think it's attractively toned, and it's the only branch mint type II SLQ I've seen with full obverse detail.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Gorgeous coin! Congrats
@Elcontador i think @Catbert meant to say @Eldorado9
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
You are so right and thanks for correcting me! 🙃
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
@Catbert I knew who you meant because I am in awe of so many of his beautiful coins.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Hey Guys...Nice words! @Catbert congrats on the new Barber Half in proof....I like! Very pretty coin! I'd be carrying that around in my pocket for a few days just to stare at it in various light conditions! I've got a few in the collection that PCGS did not designate as cameo, and yet they have strong cameo contrast as much or more than cameo designated coins....Yours looks absolutely Cameo.
Congratulations on acquiring that eye-grabber!
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Great report! That Proof 1963 quarter is MIND BLOWING.
Dave
Well someone might pay 2k for the Washie……ya never know.
That Barber 1/2 is niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice ….. even nicer in the OGH. Congrats. ⭐️
Great report!!
I enjoyed reading it.
Nice pictures, too.
That Barber is a beauty.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Thanks for the report, Catbert! Beautiful addition to your type set.... PR64?
Gorgeous coin, @Catbert !! First thought was 65CAM, but not sure it wouldn't make DCAM. Congrats on snagging the one.
That quarter is simply stunning!!!!! Wow!
Agree with all the above comments, nice report and great new pickup.
Since it’s in a vintage holder, I’m going to guess PF65, but if resubmitted, would go 6 Cam.
The price is certainly stunning! Somehow, I don't think "NT" when looking at it. YMMV.
@Catbert I really enjoyed being able to chat with you and catch up after what seems like years since we've touched base. Glad you found such a beautiful coin to add to your collection. Please do stop by again and say hi at the FUN show.
The Penny Lady®
This certainly fits Bonnie's tagline:
It's nice to have dealers that focus on high end toners.
Here's the link:
https://sabelrarities.com/1963-25c-washington-quarter-pcgs-pr67-106705089.html
Here's the slab shot from her website:
That slab shot misrepresents that coin and I don’t understand the point you are making by posting it.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
You nailed it. 🙂
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
AT? Perhaps....I'd like to believe it's natural however. Hard to say.....It is pretty though.
Congratulations on the gorgeous new acquisition!
Beautiful coin!
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Since you and I are the only ones that posted slab images in this thread, I'll assume your post is directed at me.
The slab image I posted is from Bonnie's website, so it seems like your concern regarding misleading photos should be directed at her. Have you raised your concern with her given that you had "a very nice conversation about her new business, new website":
I posted the image because I like straight-on slab shots with a neutral background and all yours, while nice, are angled with a hand and show floor in the background. Straight-on slab shots are what many sites use including Heritage, Stack's Bowers, Great Collections, Doug Winter, Legend, CRO, Sabel Rarities, and others. I hope that makes it easier for you to understand now.
I think this shows how difficult it is to buy coins not in hand. Unfortunately, not all of us are able to go to major coin shows and search for the finest. Instead, we buy through the mail.
This may be why the demand for high grade and top pop coins is so strong. Will "sight unseen" 63s and 64s actually have that "eye appeal" that draws one in?
Thank you for the short and dynamic report and intensely stunning toner!
That was quite the catch.
It's great that @Catbert went to the show and was able to see and post this coin.
That being said, in my experience toners like this can look like the expo hand photos or Bonnie's slab photos depending on the angle of the light. So I don't really think Bonnie's slab photo is misleading and I would be surprised if @Catbert raised the issue with her, which he has yet to confirm.
The way to solve this is with videos of tilting the coin in the light but I haven't seen a good automated approach for this yet.