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Has anybody here ever been to the Pacific NW Coin, Currency & Bullion Show in Tacoma?

RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
It's coming up the 20th through the 22nd. I really hate Tacoma as a city, but if this show is worthwhile, I might brave the trip.image

I'll be hitting my first show (a small one, about two blocks from me) on the 14th, so I'll get a little warmup/practice.

Russ, NCNE

Comments

  • Russ--
    Ive been to a couple of the Pacific NW Coin shows. They are worthwhile. By no means the biggest coin shows around, but there should be a few dealers represented who will have things of interest to you. It's a whole different side of the coin experience that you can't get sitting at home, reading or looking at scans. I think you would have a great time and heartily recommend you go. I am trying to figure out when I can get down there. The wife just informed me that we have some obligations the time and day I thought I might go, but a coin show is, at the very least, worth ruining your marriage for.
    Carl
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    IF you have nothing to do but watch paint dry, the lawn grow, or the M's pathetic offense try to score a run THEN it's worth a ten minute drive. image

    It's ok, but not worth going too far out of your way.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    I hate painting, the lawn was just mowed, and the Mariners suck. But, it is a 20 minute drive. Decisions, decisions.image

    Russ, NCNE
  • Russ, I hear good things about that show and will go Saturday after work (work in Tacoma, live in Kitsap), hope I have some money left after the post card show in Kent the weekend before. Bob
  • TDN--
    You may be right. But, to us show starved guys up here in the Northwest, it's better than drinking too much coffee and searching through Heritage's entire auction archives.
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Brave the Trip... Russ you killed me on that one. You are correct Tacoma is not a real Jewel but its one heck of a lot nicer than it was in the 70's. Its only 150 miles for me to the show.

    The first year I went it was real decent with Dealers from even back east there. Last year I was a little disappointed but the show was still worth the trip. With the renewed interest in coins in the last year the show should be decent. Just a opinion as it could be worthless also.

    If My money is not spent this weekend at the Portland Show I will venture up into the Evergreen State for the show.
  • Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,528 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Russ –

    I more or less agree with Carl (except for the “ruining your marriage” part!). It would take an ANA show to do that. imageimageimage

    But it’s not a bad show, and clearly worth a visit.

    Normally there is a card show going on at the same time (and yes, the card show is packed – wall to wall tables of cardboard, and broken baseball bats).

    They split the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall into two sections, half for coins, half for cards. The last two shows were a little on the weak side (several major dealers didn’t show). Man I hate walking along and seeing empty tables, wondering what should have been there waiting for me under the glass. But the dealers that were there (including some guys from California) has some really nice stuff. As I recall, I picked up several PCGS Barber quarters, and a bunch of circulated rolls of 49-S halves.

    As usual, Friday is the best day, and Sunday is dead. I’m going to be there on Saturday.

    Good luck –

    Dave
    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    The other issue is will there be anything left on Sunday? I work both Friday and Saturday. The show that's coming up a couple blocks from me on the 14th is a Saturday, but since it's so close, I can hit it before I open the shop for the day.

    I suppose I could talk to my jerk boss about closing Saturday the 21st, though.image

    Russ, NCNE
  • stmanstman Posts: 11,352 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Russ, I'm driving 4 hours to a show this weekend. But I'll be making a weekend of it .

    Like other people have said. Get out there and get your feet wet.

    Heck with all your kennedy halves you should be setting up some tables.image Edited to add: I left Vancouver Wa. 4 years ago. If I was still there I would go.

    stman
    Please... Save The Stories, Just Answer My Questions, And Tell Me How Much!!!!!
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Russ - Drive to the show at 95 miles an hour. Not only will you get there faster, but you will have a nice conversation with the pleasant policeman who will probably stop you. Who knows,
    he may even own Proof Kennedy Half Dollars and be willing to sell them to you when you get out of jail
    for speeding.image
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • I haven't been up to the Tacoma Dome show. Most dealers that I have talked with who attend the show say that it is OK. This weekend I'll head over to Dave Schmidt's show in Portland. One can never predict whether a show will be good or bad before hand, just like you can't predict whether the fish will be biting or not. That's why you go.
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Clankeye - I hear ya! My only local show is the Couer d' Alene show with about 10 tables! Of course, last few times I've gone I've managed to find an old holder upgrade to buy to make it all worthwhile. image
  • My first coin show, I took a train down to Portland. I was looking to buy a Gettysburg commemorative. I found one (NGC 63). Stared at it the whole trip home, thinking how cool it was. Kept thinking to myself "wow, only 26,968 of these exist. And not many of them as nice as this!"
    When I got back I showed it to my friend (and mentor) the late William E. Spears and he explained a few things to me about that coin that I could not see and was ignorant of. Didn't ruin the coin for me. It was a learning experience. Ah, I'm getting nostalgic.

    Russ! Go to the darn coin show! At least you'll be going with more information than I intially had. Unless you're going to go off and buy some bust halves or something...
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The other issue is will there be anything left on Sunday? I work both Friday and Saturday. The show that's coming up a couple blocks from me on the 14th is a Saturday, but since it's so close, I can hit it before I open the shop for the day.

    I suppose I could talk to my jerk boss about closing Saturday the 21st, though.image

    Russ, NCNE >>




    You know, I have a funny feeling your boss will be OK with it. image

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • I use to live in Tacoma, worked in a coin shop there ( hope I didn't just tip off who I am) and the shows suck. Don't waste your gas.
  • AgentJim-- why the grumpy face?

    (Note to The Agency: Have established former employment and residency of AgentJim. Current location only matter of time)
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare

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