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Coin show disappointments

Maybe I'm too picky of a buyer, but every big coin show I've been to has been a let down in terms of coin selection.

When I was looking for trade dollars, seated dimes, and double dimes, I couldn't find anything worth buying. The trade dollars were mostly overpriced, hairlined proofs or super coins well outside my budget. Decent AU-58 to MS-63 coins were nowhere to be found. The 20 cent pieces I saw were cleaned or way overgraded.

I had some luck selling coins, though. I hope I can sell at trade dollar or two at Long Beach so I'm not just going for the forum luncheon.

Who else had a similar experience?

BTW, who's a good buyer of nice MS-60 to 63 trade dollars? I wonder if Larry Briggs is the only one who would appreciate varieties.
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Comments

  • Well Shiro,.............

    A lot of persons do that same thing as you, look for good coins.

    Sometimes when they do that is because the cins they actually have a great.

    So that leaves only a few people as sellers, and maybe their coins aren't what you want.

    I had that experience in the last coin I got to...........I cuodn't Find good Liberty Walking....When I said

    good is just AU to VF..I don't ask for to much...just coins to fill holes.

    Hope I helped in something.
  • VeepVeep Posts: 1,437 ✭✭✭✭
    I'm continuously disappointed by shows. My Want List is quite specific. As such, I probably don't buy anything at 80% of the shows that I attend. Large regionals like Central States produce better results. I've just about given up going to the 30-40 dealer local shows (unless I'm in need of a Sunday morning coin fix).

    The better coins sometimes show-up at the regionals, of which there aren't enough around here, or in major auctions. The auction problem is not being able to see the coins "live" without travelling. I'm hesitant to bid a few thousand bucks on something that I haven't seen live.
    "Let me tell ya Bud, you can buy junk anytime!"
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,310 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Similar to my experience. At several major shows in 2002 I basically located nothing on the bourse sitting out in plain view. The only real source other than having some good dealer contacts on fresh deals is the auction route. My instincts tell me that the good coins just do not get put out on the bourse. You have to know a dealer who will show you fresh coins (newps) or you're pretty much out of luck. I've been fortunate to buy a bunch of nice pieces this way from Legend.

    roadrunner

    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • I am very easy to please I always have a couple sets going. My gold love is first no gold then onto type, no type then pick up a nice morgan or peace none of those, find something toned none of that, then I look to make a profit in some cheapo stuff.
    image
  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
    Me too. If I can find one coin at a show, I consider it a success. I wish I could find about 10 per show.

    Tony

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • wayneherndonwayneherndon Posts: 2,356 ✭✭✭
    Dealers typically only bring a small portion of their inventory. It helps if you can contact dealers of the type of material you're interested in in advance and have them bring some coins in that area. I know I'd rather bring something that I know someone will look at rather than trying to get a little of this and little of that hoping to get people to stop and look.

    Also, often you need to just meet dealers and build relationships. Find the ones that are most likely to deal or otherwise have access to the type of coins you're interested in. Stop and chat. Indicate your interests. Share you want list and contact information. Let them know that you'll be at the such and such show and are interested in XYZ.

    Sometimes, I get frustrated just sitting behind the table with people looking but I have no idea what they're interested in. When they ask you if they can help you or show you anything, use that as an opportunity to express what you're really after.

    Also, remembers dealers often have some dealer only time before the show. So, even if the dealer you're talking to doesn't have the coins you're interested in, he can likely tell you who at the show does if given an opportunity. Also, they likely know the other dealers' specialties and again can point you to the right person even if the coins aren't at the show.

    WH
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,242 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Since I can't buy all too much, I am very pickey... both shows I've gone to have ended with my main purchase being made online... and me being VERY happy with the result image

    Jeremy
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • jomjom Posts: 3,458 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You're right, Shiro. In fact, I blame this lack of material on the reason I end up buying other coins from series I'm not really concentrating on. I usually end up spreading myself too thin....

    No more, however. No matter what happens this week at Long Beach I will NOT buy anything unless it's an Indian gold. Of course, this pledge will last about 10 min. into the LB show when I see a toned SLQ I just GOT to have. lol

    jom
  • Shiroh-han
    You should collect something more popular. State quarters would be a good start...I have a few in case you need...image
    Seriously, I experienced the same thing when I flew to ANA show last summer...I ended up buying a few dipped half dimes .....nanimo kawazuni nihon ni kaerunoga ahorashikatta node........
  • If you want good coins look where dealers fish ===> auctions!

    Overpriced coins remain overpriced only for so long. Maybe you don't know what the true value is?

    From what I have seen sitting at a dealer's table: most collector's buy crappy coins in dull series or non highly liquid coins and then expect Grey Bid. Not going to happen. Buying desirable coins requires deep pockets or be prepared for lower grade material. Simple.

    As for dealers hold back their "good stuff" this is ridiculous. Dealers are in the business to move inventory and that's all what coins are to many. If they leave anytthing at home it is usually the junk no one buys anyway, and they know it so they leave it behind.
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
    Overpriced coins remain overpriced only for so long. Maybe you don't know what the true value is?

    The "BU" double dimes I saw were whizzed, scrubbed, or dull as raw aluminum, though they had "MS-61" and "MS-62" written on their 2x2's. I think the last trade dollar I got at Long Beach was one I saw at a B&W auction lot viewing. I was high Internet bidder on it (it was an Internet only auction), so I guess I did find a decent coin at Long Beach last year.
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius

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