Strongsville (Cleveland) show report
kranky
Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
I waited patiently because I always am eager to post a thread about a show, but it's now late Sunday and that's all the longer I'm going to wait. 
Went up on Friday and met up with keets (and his dad) and beartracks42 (and his wife) for lunch before the show. At the show, I saw clevegreg and quarterjack at their table, PTVETTER and his wife at their table, and vam44 cruising the aisles as usual. It was the first time I had been to that show and it had a nice mix of material. Saw one table offering self-slabbed coins that used the ACG system (these had robin's-egg-blue inserts with CCC as the letters before the number). The crowd seemed fairly heavy early but tapered off a lot around 3PM (show hours Friday were 1-6). I thought there would be a lot of gold for sale considering the recent run-up in gold prices, but I didn't notice very much of it.
I stopped to tease a dealer I know who always has really nice coins because he had two proof Morgans - one ACG, the other NTC. He got stuck with them as part of a larger deal he bought. Actually the ACG looked pretty nice but those are too expensive for me to make a mistake on.
Grabbed a book on Roosevelts and a used copy of Tomaska's book on cameo proofs 1950-70 from my favorite book guy, John Burns. Also picked up a 2003 SAE for 6.75, a no-date BU 70% off-center Jefferson for $5, a 1996-W Roosie from PTVETTER, and a 1941 proof Merc which is what I was looking for (a proof Merc, not necessarily a 1941).
Had a nice talk with the dealer (Mike something-or-other) who sold me the off-center Jefferson about die trials vs. grease-filled dies and how to determine the difference. He was quite knowledgeable about the minting process and explained that the two diagnostics for a die trial are (1) non-existent or very weak reeding, and (2) a rim that looks like the ones on a blank planchet (very thin).
Went up on Friday and met up with keets (and his dad) and beartracks42 (and his wife) for lunch before the show. At the show, I saw clevegreg and quarterjack at their table, PTVETTER and his wife at their table, and vam44 cruising the aisles as usual. It was the first time I had been to that show and it had a nice mix of material. Saw one table offering self-slabbed coins that used the ACG system (these had robin's-egg-blue inserts with CCC as the letters before the number). The crowd seemed fairly heavy early but tapered off a lot around 3PM (show hours Friday were 1-6). I thought there would be a lot of gold for sale considering the recent run-up in gold prices, but I didn't notice very much of it.
I stopped to tease a dealer I know who always has really nice coins because he had two proof Morgans - one ACG, the other NTC. He got stuck with them as part of a larger deal he bought. Actually the ACG looked pretty nice but those are too expensive for me to make a mistake on.
Grabbed a book on Roosevelts and a used copy of Tomaska's book on cameo proofs 1950-70 from my favorite book guy, John Burns. Also picked up a 2003 SAE for 6.75, a no-date BU 70% off-center Jefferson for $5, a 1996-W Roosie from PTVETTER, and a 1941 proof Merc which is what I was looking for (a proof Merc, not necessarily a 1941).
Had a nice talk with the dealer (Mike something-or-other) who sold me the off-center Jefferson about die trials vs. grease-filled dies and how to determine the difference. He was quite knowledgeable about the minting process and explained that the two diagnostics for a die trial are (1) non-existent or very weak reeding, and (2) a rim that looks like the ones on a blank planchet (very thin).
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.
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Comments
The best thing of the show is no one took anything
I heard that the location maybe changed due to the fact of the cost of the room.
I couldn't buy anything for a bargin I had to pay full boat.
speaking of paying full boat, we were talking at lunch about how shows can be good cause you can often pick stuff up a little cheaper than at a shop. not the case for me. i looked through one guys mint sets and picked out three, fully expecting him to pull out a greysheet for prices. he pulls out a notebook and was about $2-$3 over sheet on all the sets!!! bummer!!!
i can't figure why a dealer or collector tries to squeak out that last buck or two. i made a mental note of the guy, seen them there before, and now i'll avoid them. i mean it's not like i was buying something tough to locate. they were mint sets for kripe sake!!!! another seller had a 1935 canadian dollar slabbed in a green PCGS MS65 holder and wanted way over sheet. is that normal or do you think it has something to do with this show and the promoters costs??
i saw the slabs kranky talked about. couldn't figure them out. some of the coins looked nice, a few jeffersons that i got a closeup of, but i sensed i was buying raw at a steep markup so i moved on. my search for a well struck 1947 raw walker continues. since i looked at some slabbed ones, i know all the nice coins haven't been certified!! DOH!!!
al h.
The show was much as the others have described. They did open up an annex this year which provided more room and we did not get run down in the aisles as much as usual. I only saw one ACG dealer, who was not too busy. He also had NTC coins!! DOH!
My wife and I stopped back Saturday morning before heading home...had to pay $4 apiece again to get in.
All in all a decent show with the best part being the meeting and making of new friends.
Gary
Pat was great to meet you, as well as seeing everyone else again.
Yes prices were strong, no one was budgeing at all. Nice material was scarce.
Unfortunatrly i believe i did lose an early proof quarter 1938, it was an NGC holdered piece but it still hurts the bottom line!
Overall pretty good show.
Once again, great to have seen everyone.
Dave
It was a pleasure to see the usual "motley" crew
Greg
Buying for me was next to non-existant, I managed to buy only $200 worth of circ. stuff to resell.I spent substantially more than that at the small 30 table show last Sunday up in Cleve..
Even though I hit the floor this Fri. at 10:00 with a bunch of fellow dealers, as soon as a dealer put something out, there were 2 or 3 earlybird dealers(like me) scooping up anything that looked round and shiny!
At the beginning of any show, it is the early(and aggressive
Good things do come to those that wait.
Sincerely,
jadecoin
step forward and identify yourself!!! how else will us average Joe's know how to come flock around your table to suck everyone else there in our slipstream!!??
al h.
Dave
One – The show was well attended and could turn into a regional show if they have more space. I believe people, like Jim Sprankle, will tell others how successful the coin was and they in turn would come.
Two – Ron Nelson did a great job promoting the show.
Three – From the dealers I talked to, all said this is one of the better shows to come to.
Four – I do want to thank Jim Sprankle for coming and bring all of his Lincoln cents.
Fifth – The only negative was the daily cost to attend. I would suggest Ron come up with a three day cost instead four or five dollars each day.
Todd
800.954.0270
Our table was in the exact center of the room. You may recall our table by the type of material that we vend: Early US coinage (pre-1839) and colonial material. We had 3 cases and all of our coins were in Eagle holders. We had 1 case of colonial coppers, 1 case of bust coins and 1 case of early Federal copper.
We had a stellar show and would like to say thanks to everyone who stopped by our table, not only for business but also just to talk coins. Cleveland has a great collector base!
jade Coin Company
Our Web Site
Jim Sprankle did have a nice pile of Lincolns, for sure.
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.
At the next show would be willing to buy you and some of the other Cleveland gang lunch – on Cameo CC.
Todd
800.954.0270
oh yeah, TGI Friday or Applebee's would work for me!!!
al h.
Todd
800.954.0270
Ithink that the expense for two tables of moderns may be too much, but one table should do just fine
I had two tables and needed them, but not enough buyers to pull the triger. I really don't know why? It seems with the economy being the way it is just maybe why?
All in All not a bad show, made expenses and had a good time meeting all
PAT
Todd
800.954.0270
You can call your shop and have coins delivered if necessary. Just adjust day to day with the traffic.
This is more difficult when you are doing a show in Cleveland and are from Pittsburgh
Why get even one table???? How about just standing in the isle with your pockets full of change? After all, it is only pocket change.
No good deed will go unpunished.
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