Lakesammman's show report, PNNA's Tukwilla Show, 4/8 to 4/10/22.
Lakesammman
Posts: 17,416 ✭✭✭✭✭
Decided to get a table at the Spring PNNA Tukwilla show this year. It's a very well run show and thanks to the organizers.
I asked Bochiman to join me - it was a very enjoyable time chatting with him about all sorts of things, not all coin related. He has a way of connecting with collectors that is fun to watch, especially good at helping newbies and giving them great advice. I was impressed with the breadth of his knowledge.
Had nice visit with Airplanenut - he picked some very interesting currency. SeattleSlammer came by with some beautifully toned coins to drool over. SwampBoy was kind enough to laugh at my dumb jokes and update us on his concert schedule. Charmy had a 35th Ann. medal that she showed me, one of the tougher ones to find. Had a great visit with the So Called Guy. If I'm forgetting you, please let me know and I'll update.
Was able to buy a few things. Was really happy to pick up a PCGS 35th Ann. medal with the caption "Thanks from PCGS", given to PCGS employees. Airplanenut turned me onto it. Bought a little bullion, gold and silver. Other than that, I didn't see anything interesting in the way of samples or rare holders, except in my case.
Being behind the table is interesting. There were many delightful people I was happy to see, with the occasional person that you hope they don't stop. One of the collectors who pulled up a chair wanted to know more about rare holders. After showing him what I had, we then looked at a silver bar I had hidden away from Treasure City, NV, 1870. He was fascinated by it and has been sending me links to help figure out who the owners were (Lee). Looking forward to corresponding with him in the coming months.
During the slow times, I was streaming the Masters on my laptop. A new friend at the next table pulled up a chair and joined me. Used up my data limit for the month (Verizon) very quickly and had to scramble to get it on my phone when they cut me off.
As usual, Friday was a good dealer and serious collector day. On the weekend, there were more casual collectors and families. It was nice to see the kids there getting freebies from many dealers - I was giving out Kennedy 50c pieces.
The last person at my table today was a young man of about 10. He asked if I did moderns, so I said sure, show me what you got. He then proceeded to tell me about a PCGS graded $1 Sac, wounded eagle variety. He made a very polished and professional presentation to include the PCGS price guide on his phone. His grandfather was beaming the whole time! I was really impressed.
The intent was to have fun rather than make money and in that, I think Bochiman and I were successful. Overall, a great way to spend the weekend. 
Comments
Making this the priority of shows was a revelation for me. When I was first going to shows, they felt like a disappointment if I didn't go home with something, and that led to regrettable purchases. Now I go to shows hoping to catch up with folks I see a few times a year to maybe a time or two in a decade, and if in the process of that I find something nice, it's a bonus. Glad we had some time to chat!
Great report
Thanks for writing up the report. Gets me in the mood for the upcoming Central States in about 2 weeks.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
@Lakesammman... Thanks for an interesting report. We only met once when I lived there, and it was at this show... back in the early 2000's. @Bochiman introduced us. I sure miss this and the Boeing show there.... There were always lots of small shows as well in the area. Cheers, RickO
Always nice to hear about the view from behind the table as a non full time dealer. Nice report.
If you don't mind me asking, what are the table costs at a show like that?
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
Table with 2 cases was $380 - brought my own lights (Ott).
You folks be proud of your tables! That's $5 less than I paid for my corner table(2 tables) at the GNA show!
Edit to add....I just noticed my contact for next year and it's $380! So I paid the same for a corner table next year!
Great report ... and some interesting observations from being on the other side of the table. Very cool!
Dave
It was great to see you and your wingman Bochi in action and drool over some of you guy's offerings. I can't stop showing my friends the pics I took of your doily trade. My Oh My.
It was also cool running in Slammer. I hope his Hawaiian found a nice new home here on the mainland.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Nice report.
Great report, thanks for posting it!
Lakesamman is too kind.
I was PRIVILEGED to be invited to share the table with him.
I'd pay to be around him and his coins anyway, but this way, I also got part of the table and a case!!!
I still wasn't prepared with what I wanted to sell as i winnow down my collection, and so nothing was initially priced.
I also sold about 90% of what I sold to dealers, so I obviously underpriced ... LOL
(that's ok though, I didn't have to sell anything, so anything I sold, I was fine with selling at the prices I did)
As for connecting with the newbies and collectors, I hope I helped some of them. I remember what that was like, and I am still like that for any item I don't know...I always enjoy learning and sharing...just not the arguing that sometimes comes from people that always have to be right or think the know everything. None of the ones that dropped by the table, to ask questions and look, were that way though, so it was enjoyable. One newish collector, being at his first show he said, asked about the 2010 5oz pucks I had. I explained them to him, quoted a price, and he said it was between that and a cheaper 2021 SAE "special in a presentation box". I explained SAEs, and 2021 types to him a bit, as well as bullion and proof/burnished, etc and wished him luck and my price would be good for him if he did come back. 20 minutes later, he came back and said he wanted it. Glad he liked it and I did give him a pretty good price.
Others that stopped by asked about toning, and different series, and some had never seen half cents (I had my dupes in the case). Was fun talking to the YNs and some of the parents that were also interested.
Over the years, I have been blessed with forum members that sent extra goodies for my son (who is in college now) so, since I had accumulated some dupes and other items for beginners, I took them along and gave out some slabbed golden dollars (Prez bucks) and 2009 lincoln cents (all PCGS slabbed) to YNs that appeared interested in coins. Should have seen this little (about 5-6 years old) girl's face light up! She had just shown us her WW2 time cardboard of cents and some forum coins (things the show's sponsor and maybe some other dealers had given the kids) and so I gave her, and her siblings, the PCGS coins mentioned above....wow! What a smile! And the parents were happy too...they were sooooo patient with their YNs (5 of them....3 boys, 2 girls).
Loved seeing SeattleSlammer/Swampboy/Airplanenut drop by. I sat on my butt most of the time, but did get up to go say hi to Glenn Holsonbake (Americana Coins). What a great guy he is! So knowledgeable. So friendly.
Loved having Lakes sitting next to me. If I had to get up, I had someone I could fully trust with my coins. And always great chatting with him about life as well as coins. I did like to keep poking him about his golf watching during the show though.
On Sunday morning, I said, "Hey, Lakes....show ends at 5pm. What time do you want to finish?"
He said, "Show's done for me when the Masters is over".... LOL....because of his bandwidth downgrade, it actually ended a little earlier....hahahhaaha
I noticed that some of the dealers are such pros at shows that their setup/takedown is super quick and super polished. Kudos to them!
We also lucked out by being seated next to some cool people (dealers). We could have been in much worse company at that show but we were next to some pretty cool people.
To finish, and to spring off what Lakes said about what was out there.....there was a lot, but nothing just jumped out saying "TAKE ME HOME WITH YOU!!!"
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Nothing worse than having a techie laugh at my incompetence!
Enjoyed watching Bochiman haggle with "Mr. Greysheet" for 10 minutes, wanting to buy NICE coins at GS bid.
Learned enough that, when he came back to my case the next day, I was able to tell him that, no, I didn't have what he was looking for, though I did. Good lesson for any future coin show attendee on how to behave.
LOL....he was a nice guy but....
I still sold to him as, once he bundled, I got the price I was ok with, but to be quoted "$83 greysheet for that toned PCGS 1893 IHC PROOF!" was quite something to hear (and no, that didn't sell as part of the bundle).
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Glad you took the time to share your knowledge. It's not always about the metal disc. But also the info. surrounding it.
Dude! That silver bar is outrageously cool. ⭐️
Great reports! Sounds like fun.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set