Large shows to attend . . .

Russell12

Cross posted on CoinTalk . . .

My wife and I are retried and incorporate coin shows into our travels. Looking for larger coin shows, over 75 tables. we've been to FUN, ANA, PAN, Baltimore, Central States. Planning on the IMEX show in Nashville, anyone know any other larger shows?

1madman

Dalton

Russell12

@1madman said:
Dalton

Half an hour from Chattanooga, it's on our list, thanks

lilolme

The PCGS show link (below) has the TNA (Texas) and GACC (in rosemont this year) on their attendance list (and others already noted).
And note there are two different ANA and FUN - the major one and the minor one. But perhaps that doesn't count.

https://www.pcgs.com/shows

EDIT
Looking back and it has been far to long since I have attended these so I can not comment on their status now but the websites may give some information and maybe others know.

Denver - Rocky Mountain Expos / Denver Coin Expo (link for past dealer list which looks good but can to go home page)

https://www.rockymtnexpos.com/dealer-list.html

Houston Money Show (this was in December when I last went years plus ago - now Jan.)

http://www.houstoncoinshow.org/

Saint Louis - I believe this was the old Silver Dollar Show and now CoinX. This webpage is not up to date as showing old 2024 (so not sure of status) but the show is normally around October.

https://www.coinxrt.com

And there was a Mike Orlando show which looks like it is this Great American coin fair. Link for show via coinzip webpage.

https://www.coinzip.com/greater-american-coin-show

If you don't mind a visit to Las Vegas then the CK shows used to be attended well.

https://www.ckshows.com

wayneherndon

Here is a chronological list of shows with over 75 booths (usually there are 20-30% more tables than booths due to corner booths having 2 tables). Table and booth counts were from a recent prior show floorplan or show publicity so consider them approximate. First number is tables, second is booths. I'm sure I've missed a few but this should be most of them.

Florida United Numismatists 902 610
Houston Money Show 160 126
Long Beach Coin, Stamp and Collectibles Expo 464 300
The Tennessee State Numismatic Society Coin Show 212 138
ANA National Money Show 328 202
Whitman Baltimore Coin & Currency Show 381 315
Battlefield Coin Show 107 75
Las Vegas Numismatic Society 161 105
Georgia Numismatic Association 323 206
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association 85
New Hampshire Coin and Currency Expo 177 155
Central States Numismatic Society 538 325
Denver Coin Expo 158 123
Pennsylvania Association of Numismatics 309 215
Whitman Baltimore Coin & Currency Show 328 200
Raleigh Money Expo 206 152
Florida United Numismatists 488 329
Annandale Coin Show 114 85
The Vegas National Coin Show 161 105
Blue Ridge Numismatic Association 301 213
ANA World's Fair of Money 771 497
International Money Expo 326 207
Battlefield Coin Show 107 75
Great American Coin Show 439 281
Virginia Numismatic Association 140 108
NCNA Coin Show and Convention 170 113
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association 100 85
Denver Coin Expo 158 123
Pennsylvania Association of Numismatics 309 215
South Carolina Numismatic Association Convention 239 189
Long Beach Coin, Stamp and Collectibles Expo 447 279
New Hampshire Coin and Currency Expo 177 155
The Vegas National Coin Show 161 105
Whitman Baltimore Coin & Currency Show 381 315
The Tennessee State Numismatic Society Coin Show 227 151
Michigan State Numismatic Society Fall Convention & Coin Show 120 104
Annandale Coin Show 114 85

cinque1543

@lilolme said:
The PCGS show link (below) has the TNA (Texas) and GACC (in rosemont this year) on their attendance list (and others already noted).

Can any PCGS member attend a PCGS show? Can non-members attend?

cinque1543

There is the World’s Fair of Money show in Oklahoma City in August, which claims to be the “biggest, most educational coin show in the country.” Anyone been to that one in prior years?

Russell12

@wayneherndon said:
Here is a chronological list of shows with over 75 booths (usually there are 20-30% more tables than booths due to corner booths having 2 tables). Table and booth counts were from a recent prior show floorplan or show publicity so consider them approximate. First number is tables, second is booths. I'm sure I've missed a few but this should be most of them.

What a great list, THANK YOU!

lilolme

@cinque1543 said:

@lilolme said:
The PCGS show link (below) has the TNA (Texas) and GACC (in rosemont this year) on their attendance list (and others already noted).

Can any PCGS member attend a PCGS show? Can non-members attend?

.
Since I linked the PCGS show schedule I want to clarify that PCGS attends other shows (like PAN, TNA, Dalton...) for submission and those are normal shows open to that specific shows rules. The PCGS members only shows (which there are only two so far this year 2025 in May LV and October Irvine) are as noted members only. This means dealers or collectors that are 'members' of PCGS via some type of PCGS registration. However, members can get other people in as guest (I have done it and in the distance past had others do it for me before I was a pcgs member). Hope this helps but otherwise contact PCGS for specifics.

@cinque1543 said:
There is the World’s Fair of Money show in Oklahoma City in August, which claims to be the “biggest, most educational coin show in the country.” Anyone been to that one in prior years?

The Worlds Fair of Money changes locations from year to year but sometimes it is in the same location in consecutive years (semi-recently Rosemont). It is normally the only show competitive with the Winter FUN (the two largest shows). However, the choice of OKC for this year appears to have some angst to it and questions of how good (or bad) it will be in terms of dealer and collector attendance. The ANA should probably still have (TBD) a somewhat normal amount of seminars and things for the education part. Again, hope this helps.

alefzero

The ANA World's Fair of Money is the biggest show. As said before, it changes location annually and is in the late summer. It is often great, but I have been to some real duds, like in Los Angeles. Rosemont (Chicago O'Hare) seems to be their most popular location and my favorite. Larry Shepherd is doing a show (Great American Coin & Collectibles Show) there in September which I am doing and have hopes will be good. The ANA National Money Show in the Spring also moves around the country. It is by no means close to the size of their WFoM, but is respectably big. It is hit (Colorado Springs) to miss (Portland) for me.

FUN, in Orlando in January, is the annual benchmark show. It is also huge. I have never had a bad show there. Attendance is strong and, like Rosemont, there are lots of hotel and dining options.

Central States (CSNS), in April, in Schaumberg (Chicago), is large but dwarfed by the previously mentioned two. It is a bit away from the city but a good show.

Long Beach was a great show that dwindled and is now dead. Its later East Coast peer show, Whitman Baltimore, is next week. I had not done it in years, but am looking forward to setting up there this time. Someone who does that one regularly could speak to its quality better. The neighborhood leaves much to be desired, though the Inner Harbor itself is fairly nice. Just need to be careful straying more than a block or two. I do plan to visit Poe's grave this time (very close by) anyway.

The PNNA Tukwila (Seattle) show is a good regional show. It is larger than one would expect from the Google StreetView of the community center. I don't think hotels are very close. Same with restaurants. Usually, there is a convenient food truck. The area has a lot of retail money, but it does not seem to consistently show up.

The Denver Expo is another favorite of mine. As a dealer it can range from great to mediocre in sales, but always has a good vibe. Set up is unique. You drive into the bourse, setup, and drive out. Best bourse food in my experience, if you like burgers. Good quality and not outrageously priced. Sales tax at this one, but buyers won't know it generally.

I do the Las Vegas National, but only the October-ish one. I cannot imagine doing Vegas in July. It is a hit or miss one. The Tuscany location is MUCH better than the old Palace Station. Dealers like it because it is a few days in Vegas, but don't because of sales tax. Again, it is usually hidden from buyers and all.

I finally started doing the Buena Park show. It is a medium-sized show and I am not sure it meets the size cutoff. Have not counted the booths. But it is now the biggest one in Southern California, an important region for coin shows. I really liked the show. It strikes me as a hybrid of what you find in bigger annual club shows and the traditional coin shows. A buyer might find a fresh coin that has not been seen circulating the market or might end up empty-handed if trying to fill just one or two album holes in a lesser popular series. Just never know. But there is good material. It is not overwhelming like the huge shows at all though.

I have heard raves about the Dalton show, but have never done it on either side of the table. It has always been a matter of personal scheduling and the long flights. That newer one, I think in Tennessee, sounded interesting but I keep forgetting to look into it to integrate it into the schedule. I had wanted to do a big one in Texas as well as the Silver Dollar one in St. Charles for years, but it has not come together yet for me.

golden

For me the ANA, FUN and CSNS are must attend shows.

BStrauss3

@cinque1543 said:
There is the World’s Fair of Money show in Oklahoma City in August, which claims to be the “biggest, most educational coin show in the country.” Anyone been to that one in prior years?

Many times. The main ANA show (the smaller one is the National Money Show) has been in Rosemont, IL and several other sites for the last decade+.

Russell12

@alefzero said:
The ANA World's Fair of Money is the biggest show. As said before, it changes location annually and is in the late summer. It is often great, but I have been to some real duds, like in Los Angeles. Rosemont (Chicago O'Hare) seems to be their most popular location and my favorite. Larry Shepherd is doing a show (Great American Coin & Collectibles Show) there in September which I am doing and have hopes will be good. The ANA National Money Show in the Spring also moves around the country. It is by no means close to the size of their WFoM, but is respectably big. It is hit (Colorado Springs) to miss (Portland) for me.

FUN, in Orlando in January, is the annual benchmark show. It is also huge. I have never had a bad show there. Attendance is strong and, like Rosemont, there are lots of hotel and dining options.

Central States (CSNS), in April, in Schaumberg (Chicago), is large but dwarfed by the previously mentioned two. It is a bit away from the city but a good show.

Long Beach was a great show that dwindled and is now dead. Its later East Coast peer show, Whitman Baltimore, is next week. I had not done it in years, but am looking forward to setting up there this time. Someone who does that one regularly could speak to its quality better. The neighborhood leaves much to be desired, though the Inner Harbor itself is fairly nice. Just need to be careful straying more than a block or two. I do plan to visit Poe's grave this time (very close by) anyway.

The PNNA Tukwila (Seattle) show is a good regional show. It is larger than one would expect from the Google StreetView of the community center. I don't think hotels are very close. Same with restaurants. Usually, there is a convenient food truck. The area has a lot of retail money, but it does not seem to consistently show up.

The Denver Expo is another favorite of mine. As a dealer it can range from great to mediocre in sales, but always has a good vibe. Set up is unique. You drive into the bourse, setup, and drive out. Best bourse food in my experience, if you like burgers. Good quality and not outrageously priced. Sales tax at this one, but buyers won't know it generally.

I do the Las Vegas National, but only the October-ish one. I cannot imagine doing Vegas in July. It is a hit or miss one. The Tuscany location is MUCH better than the old Palace Station. Dealers like it because it is a few days in Vegas, but don't because of sales tax. Again, it is usually hidden from buyers and all.

I finally started doing the Buena Park show. It is a medium-sized show and I am not sure it meets the size cutoff. Have not counted the booths. But it is now the biggest one in Southern California, an important region for coin shows. I really liked the show. It strikes me as a hybrid of what you find in bigger annual club shows and the traditional coin shows. A buyer might find a fresh coin that has not been seen circulating the market or might end up empty-handed if trying to fill just one or two album holes in a lesser popular series. Just never know. But there is good material. It is not overwhelming like the huge shows at all though.

I have heard raves about the Dalton show, but have never done it on either side of the table. It has always been a matter of personal scheduling and the long flights. That newer one, I think in Tennessee, sounded interesting but I keep forgetting to look into it to integrate it into the schedule. I had wanted to do a big one in Texas as well as the Silver Dollar one in St. Charles for years, but it has not come together yet for me.

Great report, thanks!