The ULTIMATE LONG BEACH Thread - Post reactions, thoughts etc. here
kieferscoins
Posts: 10,017 ✭
As most people know, the show opens up today for the general public and alot of members are going today through saturday. During the last few shows people posted things they bought, thoughts on the convention, good deals, bad deals etc. in many different posts which made it hard to read and talk about the show. Lets post in one thread which should make it easier for everybody.
Cameron Kiefer
Cameron Kiefer
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I wish I could make it down to that show, too many other things going on right now. I look forward to everyones experiences and stories. Please post lots of pictures.
In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
Cameron Kiefer
Obscurum per obscurius
Cameron Kiefer
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.
Cameron Kiefer
Met BJ and Gail at PCGS - great people! Also ran into Texas Bullion Traders (Brian)- he really has beautiful coins. I was drooling over a toned Ike - just too far out of my price range. Great guy. I'm sitting here with Knucklehead (Paul) and his girlfriend. He has run into a couple of peolpe and he's going to post right after me.
Too much to see in one day. I'm going to try to drag my wife down here on Saturday for more.
Unfortunately, there's not much for me here. Not many slabbed moderns (Ikes SBAs ect) Did manage to snag a couple of cheap toned Ikes and a raw proof 79 SBA Type II that I'll submit to PCGS at the show.
Gotta go, Knucklehead is waiting to use the computer!
Michael
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Cameron Kiefer
Cameron Kiefer
The coins:
Lots of toned Morgans all over the place. Not many monsters, but lots of nice looking coins. Other than that not too many toned coins. Lots of type this time. Many dealers were commenting that their nicely toned stuff was still flying out the door at insane prices.
The place didn't seem too busy, but at the same time the dealers weren't dealing on prices. I did hear a few of the bigger dealers talking that the current auctions sucked so much money out of the hobby that they weren't surprised by the slow show.
The people:
Met Tonekiller (Brian @ Texas Bullion Traders). Nice guy. Great coins. He was kind of disappointed that he can't hate me. Got to see the toningintheblood/anaconda's Roanoke again. It's got beautiful toning!
Also met gsaguy there. Not at all what I pictured, but also a great guy.
Saw a bunch of other forum members, but didn't have time to stop and talk. Saw PQPeace and rkfish at the Pinnacle table, but they seemed busy so I didn't interrupt them. Saw toningintheblood, but he was busy dealing. Ran into Jom at a couple of tables.
Ran into braddick and his wife. Spent a bunch of time talking to both of them. Very nice people. We spent some time looking at coins.
Met David Lange (NGC). He was nice enough to look at a coin of mine to give me his opinion.
Saw Carol. Waved to her. Too busy to stop and didn't have time to go back and visit. Maybe Saturday.
Asked about Charlie (Customer Service guru) and was told he wasn't at the show? They referred to him as a "card guy".
The ugly:
One of the coins that braddick and I looked at was a PCI slabbed gold $10 Liberty. It was labeled as a "Presentation Piece". In my opinion it had its fields plated.
The best part about this show:
That the annoying PCGS pop-up ad for "It's A Showdown" will no longer be around after this weekend.
Elizabeth and I tried even talking to the one and only guy at the Accurgrade table but he didn't have much to say- and his coins didn't offer much to look at. Needless to say it was an uncomfortable 20 seconds.
The PCGS tables looked busy. It still amazes me there are still so many coins to be submitted! I sent in the 1976-D type2 FA02 Ike along with that 0.5BasalState Seated dollar (and also one nicely toned Morgan Greg and I have a running bet on).
I usually try to make it back up the next day or Saturday, but think I'll pass this time. The stuff I like- Rainbow toned Coinage seems to have doubled in price lately. I saw tons of holdered MS65 or MS66 common date Morgans with that magical toning with asking prices of between $1,100.00 and $1,800.00. It makes me very grateful for the coins I've purchased before this craze and still own.
If was fun having Greg point out that $400.00 coin in a Red Labeled PCI "$20,000.00" holder! "Presentation Piece". What a joke! Unless of course 'presentation' now means 'plated'.
All in all a good, enjoyable show for us, but not nearly the best as of late.
peacockcoins
<< <i>Elizabeth and I tried even talking to the one and only guy at the Accurgrade table but he didn't have much to say- and his coins didn't offer much to look at. Needless to say it was an uncomfortable 20 seconds. >>
I spent the moring there with Nucklehead and spotted the ACG Table/Booth. The guy behind the table slabbing coins looked like some kind of geek and not very friendly looking either. As he put the slabs with coins in them into the press, they made a high pitched screech. Nucklehead says to me,"The coins are screeming DON'T PUT ME IN AN ACG HOLDER!." Nuck wanted to go over and heckle the guy but I talked him out of it.
The Indian Head Showdown was great. I've never seen so many perfect IHC's all in one place before. Absolutely Beautiful! Of coarse meeting Carol was the highlight of the day. Being I'm going back Saturday, I just browsed the place. Overall, it's a great show.
I've had a GREAT show so far. I was kind of disappointed I couldn't buy anything at the Goldberg auction because prices were so strong. Of course, at the same time I had over 20 toned pieces in the auction and they all did well so I shouldn't be disappointed.
As for the show itself, it's been a lot of fun so far.
I've gotten back a beautifully toned ASE from NGC in a MS67 holder and should be able to find a nice home for it. I've also bought a MONSTER TONED Kennedy half in PCGS MS67. This coin is amazing. Someone just ask Strat about it. Finally, I've also picked up 5 or 6 really nice toned Morgans. Three of them are headed for my collection, the others will be sent to current clients or held for resale. Did I mention that MONSTER TONED Kennedy?
GSAGUY
Oh, it was good to meet gmarguli! Not at all what I expected....his icon is much more handsome!
First let me say the Heritage folks know how to do an auction!!! Staff at the viewing tables are SUPER efficient and friendly!! Where do they find these people?!
Callers [male/female] are both friendly and entertaining. Unlike Goldberg auction, many lots here are selling....at strong prices! The 65+ RED cents were hot hot hot. Could not touch them.
Huge assortment of Buffalos were also strong.
Did just a quick view of the floor and most dealers were accomodating, not the nastiness of NY or FUN shows. Does that mean they are making money?
Lots of great books for sale. Buy a book and learn a new series I say.
More on Friday or Saturday.
If you have never been to a major show you must go and leave the check book at home on day 1 !!!
stman
TRUTH
Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello, whether it was just to chat or to do business. All I can say is that the show is verrrrry busy, and I'm tired. But, back at it in the morning, I love what I do! Also, GSAguy's toned SMS Kennedy is an amazing coin, looking more like a cherry red/blue toned Morgan than a Kennedy Half.
In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
GSAGUY
Cameron Kiefer
WSM:
I don't know the specifics of the PCGS copper warranty, but you may want to check it out. Maybe you can recoup a bit financially...
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Are there any other requests for pics? Keep it clean --
Michael
I've never been to one of these. Can you (or someone else) take some pictures of the general layout, or a table setup. I'd like to see what one of these shows look like. Thanks in advance.
Oh, and what about a group picture of all those on this forum you can get together.
Proof Dime Registry Set
<< <i>Somebody please take some pictures!! >>
I took my camera with me thinking to post some pictures but just before I walked onto the floor, there was a very large sign there stating,"Absolutly no video or camera photography will be allowed" I never took it out of the case. Anyone want to venture a guess on the reason behind that?
<< <i> never took it out of the case. Anyone want to venture a guess on the reason behind that? >>
Probably for security reasons that way you don't have pictures of the whole inside of the building and plan out a robbery. That would be one big heist, but the robbers would probably get shot before they left the building.
Cameron Kiefer
<< <i>I'll be there around noon. I'll look for you. >>
May I take your picture?
Having suffered a sprained wrist trying to keep gman from smashing TJ's camera, I wouldn't recommend trying it. He goes nuts.
Obscurum per obscurius
<< <i>I'll be there around noon. I'll look for you. >>
Cool,I saw you from behind as I was talking to Carol and she pointed you out as you were running buy. She said you must be on a mission to be in such a hurry. Lee I think we can do photos in the lobby,but not in the hall.
<< <i> I wouldn't recommend trying it. He goes nuts >>
I think that explains it all.
I was on a mission to find one nice coin for my set. While I didn't find exactly what I wanted, I was able to purchase a Lincoln commemorative with nice light rainbow toning.
Shiroh, it was only a thumb. Don't make it into a big deal. BTW, there was a table with a bunch of shopmarked coins there. Are you going to go on Saturday?
A lincoln commemorative with light rainbow toning? I want it! That coin is right at the top of my list. Send me a PM if you get the chance and tell me about it.
Carl
peacockcoins
Judging by all the background noise, the show (or at least Rick's table) sounded very busy.!
It was an expensive phone call. I'll post something on it when I get something in the mail.
Obverse: From 4:00 to 10:00 there is a nice rainbow around the letters. Light purple, dark red, orange, yellow, sea green, and aquamarine. The rainbow extends between a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch into the coin depending on the area.
From 11:30 to 3:00 there is speckleds and lines of color. Basically the same colors as above.
Reverse: Basically the same colors around the entire rim. Not nearly as vivid. More like a light dusting that gives the reverse a nice look of originality.
The coin currently is in an ICG MS64 slab.
I would jump at any Lincoln the way you described it.
Are shopmarked coins ones that have been tooled? I ain't goin' nowhere soz I can mow my lawn and Armor All the tires on my trailer.
Obscurum per obscurius
Cameron Kiefer
I stopped to talk with Mark Feld (Pinnacles), Steve Deeds( Superior), and Ira and Larry Goldberg. Mark has been particularly generous with his time and candid opinions. Steve had brought a coin for me to look at which was a great coin but not quite right after a heavy week of auctions. Ira and Larry showed me some of the coins that will be in the next Benson sale. These are all great people in my book. I stopped in at Heritage to look at a few coins in the bullet auction . 3 of the 4 coins that I was interested in were quite nice ( one really so ) and one had a great description that must have been for another coin.
I also stopped by Bowers/Kingswood/Hall to look at a coin in the Kingswood auction and decided that the coin I was interested in was a very nice specimen.
I then went to NGC to deal with some coins in my problem drawer. I talked to NCS (NGC) to discus a coin that I had not been stored well (by me). I bought it 40 years ago and it was "stained" ( really had moisture haze). It will be an experiment to see what they can do. I looked at their book of "before and after". They did a great job on some coins but others I sort of liked better in their original state. I also left them ( NGC) a bunch of very ordinary gold coins bought from my local banker when I was a kid. Might as well be in slabs. Lastly, I submitted two recently ( last 5 years) purchased raw coins. One was a no problem coin bought from Superior , the second a Rarities coin bought sight unseen from Bowers. The Bowers coin was a rare Canadian AU that was expensive. I can't remember what compelled me to bid on it but it was not my type of coin. I hope it is received well and can ultimately go into a collection of someone more appreciative of its merits. Incidentally, I no longer buy coins sight unseen ( God, can I keep thios promise)
Lastly, this was a remarkable week of viewing and bidding on some very nice coins . All but my wife will be pleased to know that I now have more coins and a very small bank account.
The one thing that I was disappointed about was the the lack of fine book dealers. I miss the shows where a thousand Numismatic publications could be perused.
I was sorry that I didn't have time to talk with other friends and forum members. Hopefully next time.