Thursday at Long Beach
Elcontador
Posts: 7,568 ✭✭✭✭✭
I bought one item; Breen's book on early large cents published by Bowers in 2000. I was looking for Large & Half Cents in MS 65 RB & a Seated No Motto Half in 5.
I saw four of the latter. Two were acceptable. One was an original coin without much eye appeal, and the other was a dipped coin with a flashy obverse and a dull reverse. I considered buying the latter. These coins were fairly priced. The other two were nasty coins and will grow moss on their north sides unless the dealers reduce their prices.
I saw two really nice RB Large Cents. Heritage had a beautiful RB 6 Coronet Large Cent in its Signature Sale, but with floor bidding starting at $3,200 plus the juice, I passed. I also saw an attractive 1838 in RB 5, but at a $3,100 asking price, I passed. Most of the rest of the RB copper was the typical NGC material with IMO either too many contact marks in grade sensitive locations, or with 'questionable' spots in places where I did not think they should be. I did see a few PCGS pieces which were generally unattractive for the grade.
For the first time at Long Beach, I saw two attractive Seated $s in 4. I also saw plenty of high end (MS 65-7) later date business strike and proof Seated material. Attractive, high end proof Trade Dollars were also available. I also saw many high grade Barber Quarters.
I was also looking for a generic PQ FH 6 SLQ. One dealer was more concerned talking with his friend than showing me his coin, so after 45 seconds of being ignored, I left his table. Another one I saw was borderline FH at best. Two others were dipped and looked fine until I put them under a magnifying glass. The nicest 6 I saw was an original coin, but at $1,600, no thank you. It was nice, but not THAT nice. This is a tough coin, as from what I've seen, the difference between a 5 & 6 is often the price, period.
The nicest coin I think I saw at the show was a 20 P SLQ in FH 5 at J. Cline's table. It was an original coin that was as fully struck as a typical 5 FH 17 Type I. It had all rivulets on the shield and the inner shield was complete. The coin also did not have a single mark on it. I think it was in a 5 holder because PCGS did not like the darker toning around Miss Liberty's head (I have a 28 S in FH 5 that did not upgrade for this same reason). No one knows his SLQs like Cline, and this coin was priced accordingly.
As usual, there were lots of high end common date Mercs, Walkers, Morgans and Peace $s.
I finally met Mark at Pinnacle (he's as nice in person as he is a gentleman on these forums) and left him and Kathleen Duncan with a want list. Carol completely changed her hair style, and apparently is trying to disguise herself so that she won't be recognized by various board members.
There seemed to be fewer exhibitors than the last time I was there. I left several hours earlier than usual.
I saw four of the latter. Two were acceptable. One was an original coin without much eye appeal, and the other was a dipped coin with a flashy obverse and a dull reverse. I considered buying the latter. These coins were fairly priced. The other two were nasty coins and will grow moss on their north sides unless the dealers reduce their prices.
I saw two really nice RB Large Cents. Heritage had a beautiful RB 6 Coronet Large Cent in its Signature Sale, but with floor bidding starting at $3,200 plus the juice, I passed. I also saw an attractive 1838 in RB 5, but at a $3,100 asking price, I passed. Most of the rest of the RB copper was the typical NGC material with IMO either too many contact marks in grade sensitive locations, or with 'questionable' spots in places where I did not think they should be. I did see a few PCGS pieces which were generally unattractive for the grade.
For the first time at Long Beach, I saw two attractive Seated $s in 4. I also saw plenty of high end (MS 65-7) later date business strike and proof Seated material. Attractive, high end proof Trade Dollars were also available. I also saw many high grade Barber Quarters.
I was also looking for a generic PQ FH 6 SLQ. One dealer was more concerned talking with his friend than showing me his coin, so after 45 seconds of being ignored, I left his table. Another one I saw was borderline FH at best. Two others were dipped and looked fine until I put them under a magnifying glass. The nicest 6 I saw was an original coin, but at $1,600, no thank you. It was nice, but not THAT nice. This is a tough coin, as from what I've seen, the difference between a 5 & 6 is often the price, period.
The nicest coin I think I saw at the show was a 20 P SLQ in FH 5 at J. Cline's table. It was an original coin that was as fully struck as a typical 5 FH 17 Type I. It had all rivulets on the shield and the inner shield was complete. The coin also did not have a single mark on it. I think it was in a 5 holder because PCGS did not like the darker toning around Miss Liberty's head (I have a 28 S in FH 5 that did not upgrade for this same reason). No one knows his SLQs like Cline, and this coin was priced accordingly.
As usual, there were lots of high end common date Mercs, Walkers, Morgans and Peace $s.
I finally met Mark at Pinnacle (he's as nice in person as he is a gentleman on these forums) and left him and Kathleen Duncan with a want list. Carol completely changed her hair style, and apparently is trying to disguise herself so that she won't be recognized by various board members.
There seemed to be fewer exhibitors than the last time I was there. I left several hours earlier than usual.
"Vou invadir o Nordeste,
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
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Standing Liberty Quarter but he said he would find one for me and send it on approval.
I purchased Mr Clines latest edition of his wonderful book and he was kind enough to
sign the book and inscribe it to me. The show seemed slow, not that many people, but it could
have been the rain. For myself, bought some lovely toned Morgans, a PCGS MS-67 Std Lib Quarter with
even gold toning both sides. In addition got a superb Lincoln A BTW toned red orange both sides an
awsome oregon with light gold toning around edges and the faintest whisper of gold evenly across
the obverse and reverse. The six coins I sent in to PCGS for review came back same grade, really
dissapointed. One of the graders for PCGS bought the Forum members all lunch , which was very nice
but I would rather had a couple of upgrades instead. The PCGS Pin given out to Forum members looks
great. PCGS obviously went to a lot of troube on our behalf to do it right.
NGC was giving out Free samples of their wonderful storage boxes as well as neat cups.
If you are looking for an honest specialist in commemorative half dollars, Try Larry Shepherd
owner of Simco Numismatics. 513 947-0730. He really knows his stuff and all he deals with is
commemorative half dollars the Isabelle Quarter and lafayette Dollar ,many toned in awsome colors.
Dealers seemed to be selling a lot of material, but were not getting in a lot of choice coins to replace
their inventory. The shortage of choice Barber half dollers seems to be worsening. I couldnt find
one to meet my standards either in Proof or Mint State. Regards Bear
Camelot
Camelot
Thanks for pointing out that SLQs in 7 (FH & non) WERE available. They probably looked a lot better than most of the FH 6s I saw, though at the prices the 7s fetching, I'll pass.
Jay Cline is "Mr. SLQ." As far as I am concerned, he knows this series like Doug Bird knows Large Cents. You're going to find the nicest selection of SLQs at his table. He is an excellent resource if you are willing to pay strong money for nice-for-the-grade coins.
Apparently, I was excluded re the PCGS & NGC giveaways. I am considering a class-action suit, as I feel that I have been discriminated against because I am a Portuguese speaker and was wearing a shirt from one of Río De Janeiro's samba schools at the show.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Thanks Coinguy1 and glad we finally met. I know I'm a picky grader but it's good to know I'm within reason and someone active in the industry agrees.
Got a great GSA CC toned Morgan from Gsaguy. Another great guy I'm glad I finally met. I've heard about his collection and spent a lot of time with him showing me what I would call the nicest CC Toned Morgans I've ever seen and probably will ever see. I think him and I even agreed ( finally
Met many other forum members and it was a pleasure to meet all of you. If I can remember the names, Bear, Frattlaw, TBT, Wondercoin, Toningintheblood, Nucklehead, Flash, Greg ( mean & nasty) by the way looks just like his icon, Coingame2000, Cameron Kiefer, JB Steven, M&M Coin, and a few more I can't think of the names off hand. All in all a fine show.
I didn't get to the show until 5:00 (and I had to sneak out of work to even make that) so I barely had time to zip up and down the aisles looking for my coin (see related post for my Bust Quarter). I only ran into Nucklehead, his girlfriend and Frattlaw likely because I could recognize them from the local shows.
I'll be back there tomorrow for a more leisurely day and hope I can match some faces with the online personas.
-JamminJ
There were a tremendous number of better date RED indian cents at the show. FAR, FAR more than I could ever hope to afford. Very few nice ones under $500
Maybe I'll go again today.
Tom
I told Tom (5 times) that we didn't handle the type of coins he showed me, not because they were unworthy, but because I wanted him to realize that I don't know how to grade them very well.
I met a number of forum members Thursday - each and every one was a pleasure to visit with, though I wish I'd had more time!
Thanks for pointing that out! I read tjkillian's statement 5x before I understood...I think.
The other day, I was looking at a bunch of Bust material that were all raw and likely in the AG to F range. I had little idea what was what... I really needed Braddick!
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
<< <i> met a number of forum members Thursday - each and every one was a pleasure to visit with, though I wish I'd had more time! >>
Even ME
I'm hoping you all are having a wonderful time while some of us have to slave away
I would like to know why a coin dealer in mimnneapolis asked me where i'm going to by burried when i told him my pretty 92 S barber half would be burried with me [lol] Sorry to here some of you are having the same difficulty I've had in finding nice barber material, but don't give up the search, the rewards when you find one with that special "look" can't be measured in money alone [keep trying]
<< <i>I'd really like to see what one of the famous PCGS pins looks like, if someone could scan it in.... >>
See my sig line