The Mexico City show is HOT
pruebas
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First show in over 2 years.
Earlybird is a great deal since it includes 2 meals in addition to early access to the show (lunch on earlybird day and breakfast on opening day). But few people used it in the past. This year, the line was out the door, I heard over 100 people for earlybird.
I spoke with 5-10 year collectors whose first show was yesterday at earlybird. It is really great to see so much enthusiasm. The downside is that there is little to no high-grade material. But it didn’t stop collectors here.
I have a table and usually sell nothing on earlybird day. My material is world coins, not Mexican, so the serious earlybirders aren’t interested. But I posted great earlybird sales this show, and even better sales today, opening day. It is shaping up to be my best show ever!
On a lark, I brought a Karl Goetz “Black Shame” medal to see what kind of reaction I would get. Only one woman knew what it was, but she couldn’t afford it. She was just happy to see one in person. But I sold it to another person shortly thereafter, only a few hours after I put it out.
I also brought 5 copies of Yonaka’s new book, which also sold out.
1.5 days left. To be continued…
Comments
I neglected to mention that the Mexican Mint and Bank of Mexico both did not attend, but their former locations were all taken by new dealers. Many new faces!
I hear next show (Sept 2022) will be in a larger salon at the hotel.
Sounds like a great time!!
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Great report! Does anyone have Jara’s new book on Guatemala there? He told me it would be in the US in May hopefully.
Latin American Collection
Little interest in Guatemala here, so no. Main interests in Mexico are North American coins, followed by ancients (including “ancient” Asian) and moderns from rest of world.
Had a guy ask me for some seated coins and a Trade Dollar. I told him I’ve never had that request ever, so I didn’t bring that material. So interest is expanding, which is good.
Good report- hope the positive trend continues. I would have anticipated greater interest in Central and South America. Just curious... what percentage of coins present and in dealer cases are graded? Does one service have a noticeable edge over the others? Just curious if buyers are gravitating towards higher end graded coins. I am also curious if there is an upward trend in high graded 20th Mid century Mexico. I have this feeling the high end population of what is considered to be common may not be as common as previously thought... could be wrong but I suppose over time we'll find out.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I wager you're right. I don't think it applies quite so much to copper but it does to silver and especially cu/ ni.
Even copper can be a little tough in red and Gem+ especially for some dates.
Now that’s a show I would love to attend.
Did they have much Mexico 2nd Republic Silver like in Unc? Can’t hardly find it anywhere. Any deals on Banco notes?
How are Caballitos doing?
Well, just Love coins, period.
North America ?
You mean as in US coins 😛?
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
North America = Canada + US + Mexico
Edited to add that there is a tiny outpost of France in North America, but I wasn’t considering that.
You aren’t going to find high grades here! The only reason details coins sell in the US is because the Mexicans buy them.
Bancos are pretty cheap everywhere for their scarcity.
I've wanted to go to Mexico City for some time, would really like to see what the chopmark scene is like down there. There are a few serious collectors in Latin America, but not sure how they are typically treated at shows down there.
No idea. Don’t follow them except the patterns.
There is a 50c Maximilian pattern in VF (probably Details, but I didn’t see the coin) coming for auction next week. I only know of 3 examples. Opening bid is USD 11,500 including the buyers premium.
I’m out as I already own an XF, which is the finest I know of.
My table-mate got 2 bags of red 1945 20c coppers. He brought one bag today (and I should have cherry picked, but failed to do so). He was selling them at 90 pesos each (US$4.50) and they were moving quickly. Later one new dealer came and bought all the remaining of the first bag in one swoop. They were in a small bowl, so they became a bit RB.
He is bringing the second bag tomorrow. I will be first in line!
IMHO people everywhere aspire to be better, and Mexicans, rightly or wrongly, associate that with the USA and to a lesser extent, Canada. Sadly, much of the Central and South American countries are basket cases, probably “aided” by misguided American policy. I think that has some effect.
Just curious... what percentage of coins present and in dealer cases are graded?
Overall, 5-10%. Some dealers more than others. (It’s not easy getting coins graded from Mexico.) Most are details graded. Followed by higher circ grades and some lower UNCs.
Something that I have only started seeing are (what I think are) NGC slabs without labels. Maybe they are counterfeit slabs because opening a NGC slab to remove the label would damage the slab and it couldn’t be reassembled.
Does one service have a noticeable edge over the others?
Probably NGC. One dealer even has custom labels.
Just curious if buyers are gravitating towards higher end graded coins.
As coin prices go ever higher, many collectors are priced out. So they gravitate to medals and other things. One dealer in particular is grading most of their medals and pushing graded modern medals. So no, they aren’t gravitating towards higher end coins. If anything, the opposite.
I am also curious if there is an upward trend in high graded 20th Mid century Mexico.
Twentieth Century is usually where a collector starts, because the coins are simple and available. I don’t see any upward trend, but maybe I don’t understand your question.
I have this feeling the high end population of what is considered to be common may not be as common as previously thought... could be wrong but I suppose over time we'll find out.
Very true! Many Twentieth Century crowns, for example, are dirt common in lower grade UNC, but rare over MS65.
Here’s a coin I bought in the auction tonight. It’s a (contemporary?) counterfeit but I liked it because it looked like a Soho Mint pattern. Very well made. (I hope it’s not a modern Chinese counterfeit!)
You guys could probably tell me more about it.
The low L in VLTRA and the curved crossbar in the A of HISPAN on the reverse are die markers I’ve never seen on a genuine coin.
Very strange counterfeit... looks to have this incused look in connection with the portrait. Not sure what to make of this one
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Neat counterfeit. I think you still see remains of a mercuric silver wash in some protected areas of the reverse. Could you post the edge all around? Is there a single overlap or no overlaps in the design?
8 Reales Madness Collection
Nice report. Thanks for posting it
So I realize it’s bad form to reply to myself (are you reading @KingOfMorganDollar), but I wanted to keep the info together.
At opening this morning, my table-mate gave me his second bag of 200 pieces of RD & RB 1945 Mexico 20c. I picked out 74 pieces that I liked and (voluntarily) paid him a 10% premium for first shot, even though we go way back. I just thought it was good form, and he appreciated it. Other people were breathing down my neck waiting for my “rejects.”
Anyway, tonight back at the hotel, here’s the stats: 1 RB lamination error, 1 RB mistake (I only wanted RD coins with no or minimal spotting), and 72 RD coins someday to be added to the PCGS RD pop.
This kind of thing turns up now and again with Mexican coins. Anyone remember the 1935 10c RD hoard that appeared ~10 years ago? Or the 1951 20c RD hoard that NEN sold ~15 years ago?
Given that my friend alone handled 400 of these coins, and the mintage is almost 27 million, it’s not like they are rare, but collectors will love them as beautiful type coins.
I imagine that most will grade at least 66, with many higher.
After 2 years of not speaking much Spanish, I realized how bad I had become and need to brush up before September.
The show is over. Unfortunately, Black Friday held true to its name. Not many sales (that’s why it’s called black). And the final half-day (Saturday) was a bit slow for me. I usually do quite well on Saturday with the general public.
Overall, a decent show that started out gangbusters and fizzled a bit toward the end. Still, many new dealers and new collectors, which bodes well for the future of the hobby/business.
Oh and that lady who knew about the Black Shame medal came back for another look. Unfortunately it was already gone. She will have to remember that fleeting glimpse!
@pruebas
Sticking to the subject of the 20 centavos series... I see the 1955 small eagle also known as the older type I eagle as the most difficult in GEM - Thoughts?
seems the duration of the intensity at shows might be narrowing somewhat
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
About those 20C with the pyramid of Teotihuacan, when I bought the bunch of 1935 10C and two of the lot came up as MS67, the guy had also a box filled with the 20 Centavos coins all in way excellent condition, and yes I did not buy any. This was some few years ago, now I have seen this go for a 1K, like this one as example:
Are you kidding me? Is that a $1000 coin?
@pruebas That coin is avail at apmex:
Since everyone liked the food photos last time, here was my last supper in Mexico.
We went to a hip local taqueria a half block from the hotel. I had an Indio dark (on draft!), a doblada with pastor negro, and a fantastic spicy bean soup.
I feel like “The Penny Lady” with my food pics at the coin show!
I loved your show reports and I really love the food pics, but your going to need a whole heck of a bunch more photo's to get up to "Penny Lady" status.
Seriously though, I don't know of anyone other than you who has offered us an international show report. It brings a perspective that we don't get elsewhere and I, for one, appreciate the effort.
Charles III Album
Charles III Portrait Set
Charles IV Album
Charles IV Portrait Set
Spanish Colonial Pillar Set
That looks like La Casa De Los Trompos, Mexico City food it is great, thanks for sharing these photos, the last time I visit Mexico city (was still named Mexico DF) was in 1994. Have a nice trip back,
Sounds Great that Mid 20th Century Mexico is finally getting it's Due respect, it has always been so underrated,
I wonder how many silver 5 & 10 pesos hit the melting pot, Great Report
Steve
ewwwuu....!
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
How did you know?
For those who want to learn more about this great taqueria, check out this YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liYPUBS1qoE
@pruebas Was a simple guess, I asked my daughter, she was in Mexico City a few weeks ago, and it happened that she also went to that place.
Great report thanks for sharing would love to one day go to the annual one on Arizona.
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Those who attended the coin show would you care to upload the videos to youtube for the benefit of people like myself who have never had the privileges of attending one.
@pruebas nice looking coin. Almost zero wear on the high points on the coin with the rectangles and rounds on the edge neatly arranged and evenly spaced out. What's the weight of the coin?
There are a couple of very boring YouTube videos here. Nothing exciting nor professional.
I have not had a chance to weigh nor photograph the coin yet.
For those pictures, I hate you @pruebas
Wait till you see the TrueViews of my 1945-Mo 20cs!
I guess I'm getting a bit away from coins, so I won't post on this anymore. But here is a great YouTube that shows how the "trompo" for tacos al pastor is made.
And in fact, they are making pastor negro, but the taqueria is a different one than I tried. It's in Polanco, a classier part of town.
The videographer is a Korean guy (he calls himself the coreano pastorero) with perfect Spanish!
The 'Recado Negro' that it is the black paste that they use to marinate the pork beef, for what I know it is original of Yucatan one of the states of Mexico, and the real ones or original Tacos Al Pastor are Red made with Achiote as base paste. That by the way are one of the best tacos for sure.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd get into Spanish colonial something. The catalog is so expansive, ranging a millennium or more, interesting designs, global history, incredible variety. It's a strange thing to guess, but my gut tells me there's no more diverse series than Spanish and Spanish colonial. You could spend a lifetime on any little corner of the catalog.
Well, IMHO the German States trumps them all as far as being expansive.
@pruebas Hi if you don't mind, just want to confirm few things with you. For the 1818 Mo 8 reales which you won the bid, did the organizer informed beforehand that the coin was indeed a counterfeit before the auction started or how?
Or you did realized that it was a counterfeit coin after you bought it?
The coin is copper!
Yeah which you realized after you bought it or is it already stated in the auction details before start bidding process as part of item description to inform potential buyers