Austin, TX club report (Are local coin clubs worthwhile?)

Blade

The local coin club (Austin, TX) is meeting this evening and I am considering attending. Does anyone else belong to one of these? This board is kind of like a coin club on speed, so I'm not sure how interesting it will be locally. Giving up a few hours to talk coins is never a bad thing though. Please share some experiences if you have them.

Edited Title.

Pushkin

Do bears deficate in the woods?

IMHO, usually VERY worthwhile. Go, Go, Go - you can always leave if its a bummer. Although I have never been to a Texas coin club meeting.

Blade

Pushkin - Looks like not too many people are involved with these, but what the heck, I've got a free evening so I will take your advice and give it a shot. Maybe they will be raffling off PR70DCAMs as a door prize (wishful thinking).

lathmach

Hey man, you're gonna be late for the meeting.
That coin club is real. Go there. This will still be here when you get back.

Ray

Bear

Pushkin - I beg your parden. I resent your reference to my utilization of personal hygene facilities.
we bears are not barbarians you know. We enjoy comfortable accomodations no matter what
it is, that we happen to be doing at the time. Bear

MikeSettles

Went to my first last week and was very happy.

Blade

I went and it was very interesting. Demographics were an older crowd (50%+ over 70), 2 women, 1 guy my age (30's) and 2 pre-teen girls that were accompanying their Dad. As far as I could tell, no one collects slabbed coins, just raw stuff. A few people got up to show recent acquisitions and there was some really cool fractional currency, bank notes and scripts all from Texas (my home state). One of the notes from the 1870's was $100 - a lot of scratch back then - and was signed on the back that it was an advance on an estate settlement estimated at $25,000.

Later in the evening they had an auction for about 30 coins. Some great deals were to be had. Russ - Don't fall out of your chair. I bought a 1964 50c in solid AU grade for $1.00. I haven't checked the spot prices lately, but I'm pretty sure a 90% silver 50c coin has a higher melt value than $1.00. Then again, this type of arbitrage would take about 100 years to make any money, but it was fun. Also got a 1971-S 10c proof that has toned a beautiful blue. Hammer price = 50 cents.

They had approx. 100 books for sale at $1.00 each. I picked up a couple of ANA/Heritage auction catalogs.

Finally, I did join at a cost of $3.00. One nice perk is an end-of-the-year dinner at a local restaurant that is pre-paid by dues, donations and auction proceeds. It includes a guest as well. Not a bad deal.

Next time I hope to have some deeper conversations with the old timers. Someone who has been collecting for 50 years knows one heck of a lot more about coins than I do.

heavycopper

Nice you found a coin club. I started going to the central Florida coin club in Orlando. I asked people on this board and they knew about it and their web page www.centralfloridacoinclub.org They get about 40 to 60 a meeting twice a month. Then we also have 10 to 20 kids so it is a large club. They give away gold coins as the membership drawing. If you are there and they call your name you get a mexican gold coin.

Blade

Heavy copper,
Austin also does a drawing. Cool stuff like 20 year old ANA convention posters, etc. One guy got his number pulled from the hat and everyone started chanting "3 legger!". I was in shock thinking this guy just landed a 3 legged Buffalo. Then I learned that the 3 legger is a multiple drawing. If you draw the 3 legger 3 times in a year, you win a gold coin. That cracked me up.

numobri

Coin clubs are cool.I go to a meeting every first and third Monday of every month.I'ts just as you say.The meeting starts at 8 oclock and ends at 9 oclock.The new b's and most regulars leave at 9.The old timers and intrested people hang around,play card,drink pop(beer),make deals,and talk "coins".If you get "involved" coin club can be very fun.I even put on a Coin Show(With the help of MY fellow coiners)to help raise funds,to run the club.Please,GO FOR IT,it's Fun.