My take on the Baltimore Coin Show

merz2

Copperhead and myself rode down together.We met up with Goose3,Tootawl,Halfnut,Sadysta,Fantasize.All of us seemed to have a good time.I picked up the last coin for my Registry Set.I also picked up my latest submission.The 1954 PR66 RD Lincoln that I was dissapointed in,I was even more dissapointed in.There was now a fingerprint on it that wasn't there when I submitted it.I believe the coin is a solid PR67,PCGS didn't and they fixed it so I can't even sell it for less than I've got in it.: Needless to say I sent it back for review by Mr Hall.Maybe he can explain the fingerprint and the low grade. I hope so anyway. I was thinking of sending my Registry Set in for Pedigree but after the fingerprint,I decided against it.If any of my high grade Lincoln Proofs were to come back with a finger print,I'd go balistic !!!!!!! As usual,I saw many nice coins.Some I would have bought,had I enough money.I did meet Mark(coinguy1).We had a nice talk.Andy(Angel Dee's) seemed to be doing brisk business,as did a lot of dealers.Again there were quite a few dealers packing up early and leaving.Most were talking about the upcoming Charrlote Show.I'll let the others add their comments.I didn't make any wrong turns this time.LOL!!!!!

cointagious

close to the best show we've ever had ( and it's only saturady!). charlotte, imho, will something of a bust compared to baltimore.

DMWJR

Just put a little sticker on the front of your slabs that says MERZ. That ought to be good enough -- and no fingerprints.

Mark

Com'n guys--what's happening? You slowing down or what? No wrong turns, no Hooters? Just coins? Given that I go to shows with my family, I depend on you guys for my thrills. And you ar eletting me down. Personally, I think HRH should ban all you guys from the boards until you do something wild and crazy!

But, more seriously, I hope the rest of the people who went post about the show. I think it's a real treat to read about shows. It's one of my favorite subjects on the board.

Mark

RYK

I agree 100%. The show updates are the primary reason I read these boards.

Pushkin

Merz2, really sorry about your experience. My submissions were a disaster too (bodybag thread).



<< <i>1954 PR66 RD Lincoln that I was dissapointed in >>



Fingerprint!!!

copperhead

Yes things were a little boring this time. No ONE WAY STREETS, No near miss accidents, No Hooters. But, Hey it was still a good time. I was all geared up to do some serious buying this time. But prices seemed to be quite high. I bought a few "RAW" Merc dimes, I hope I done well on the grades I done well on the only submission I was involved in (1942/1 Merc dime: Purchased as an XF-45, received an AU-50). I did notice there were not very many dealers there with supplies available. I had a few supplies I needed to purchase but the only dealer with supplies had prices "SKY HIGH" So, needless to say I came home without any supplies. I also got an education on the price of a 1919-D Merc dime in an MS-65FB. I thought here is one I don't have yet, wonder what the price is?????? "WOW" $52,000 I say just for my knowledge what is your price on this he says $24,000, Which really wasn't a bad price considering the book value. Its just that I can't afford a coin for $24,000. We had a safe trip home (although I think Merz was a little upset) Which I guess is understandable considering the bodybag and the figerprint) By the way I seen the fingerprint also, Its there no doubt about it. So, I will again look forward to the naxt Baltimore show and hope I can find a few more coins next time.

goose3

I looked at more coins this time than any previous time. There were scads of nice coins to be had but as someone noted prices were in the stratosphere.

I went to the show looking for 3 specific coins (that I have never seen at a show) and located 2 of them. The prices on both were so high that I ultimately passed on both. There was not much haggling to be done on anything from what I experienced and witnessed.

I submitted a nasty looking '72 DDO MS65RED for review for my stepfather. It is in an old rattler holder and was nice and red when he bought. It is now a reddish brown with some distinct fingerprints on both sides that have turned black. I will be truly surprised if they want that coin to remain in a 65Red holder.

I met some members that I have not met at past shows....Pushkin!, Mwoods, and Coinguy. All nice people. It was very nice to finally meet Mark!

I actually saw a dealer with some higher end stuff in his case and I noticed 2 PGS (Pushkin Grading Service) Slabs in the case!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I personally did not see much money change hands. I bought a 10.00 PCGS merc for my son and scored some freebie samples for him. Rick Snow gave me a neat token to give him. It seemed to me that the people were REALLY digging into and looking thru the raw/bulk stuff and that actual "junk" boxes. Anywhere this stuff was located, there was standing room only.

My uncle picked up a couple of items but went back to JJteaparty's table after lunch to purchase a 1799 dollar that she had quoted him a price on but they had packed up and left!

I saw VERY few Acg/Numistrust slabs but did see a fair share of PCI stuff in gold labels. I witnessed some dealer kinda slam a guy about moderns and kinda laughed because I was standing right there. I saw another dealer literally tell some very old woman basically to leave his table after she refused his offer on some common stuff. I also saw and heard another dealer talking to a fellow dealer.........he was swearing and using "GD" and other choice words. He didn't seem angry/upset so I would guess that he must just talk that way all the time.

There were actually several "little old ladies" in attendance. My uncle and I ran into 2 of them at a table. They were selling some common pieces to buy spoutings for their house. They were pretty funny gals.

I spent the entire day looking at stuff with my uncle and helping him out with stuff to watch for, etc...Never did see Ron (Flying56Eagle) did anyone else??????

I had a dealer offer me 4,000.00 for my chain cent. It was hard to pass up a quick 1,000.00 profit but I did after looking around. I saw a cruddy PCGS G4 chain with a terrible grainy porous obverse but a NICE reverse for 4600! The Chain appeared to be a very popular coin today. I always ask the copper guys to see them and most had sold them out!

All in all a good time as I enjoyed browsing. I hated leaving those 2 coins at the show though. Really hated it.

fantasiize

First the exciting part was that it was the first show I took my son to (with his friend) and both boys had a blast !!! I guess that was good for me to see (maybe) two young numismatists in their formative stages. That also meant I could not spend time with the other boys (the board members) and their lunch endeavors, but I still stopped by for a quick, hello and handshake before they set out to their lunch outing.

From my perspective, for my personal tastes, the show was not on my top five Baltimore shows. Dealers were too distant and too expensive. One particular dealer (who is a member on these boards) did not even make eye contact with me (which of course means no hi, either) when I stopped by their table 3 different times. I stopped to say hello, I am so and so from the PCGS forum and to browse some coins I was interested in, but again, not even a hi or eye contact ...

On the other hand, the most friendliest table was that of PCGS. I signed up for my pin (there were none to give out) picked up a few 2.5x2.5 flips for future submissions and the two boys each received a free state quarter sample slab.

Now for the business. Here was my want list (PCGS of course):
- 1900 to 1916 white (no toning) p mint Barber 10c in MS64 (looking for the cheaper mint mark for my type set) - 3 price checks, none less than $260
- 1900 to 1916 white (no toning) p mint Barber 25c in MS64 (looking for the cheaper mint mark for my type set) - 3 price checks (different tables than the Barber dimes) none less than $440
- 1900 to 1915 white (no toning) p mint Barber 50c in MS63 (looking for the cheaper mint mark for my type set) - 3 price checks (different tables than the Barber dimes and quarters) none less than $695 (and I did not like any of the coins, so they could have been $500, I would have walked)
- hard to find MS66 p-mint clad Washingtons (1965 to 1998) which I found two 1982p MS66's for $125 each, one had a good strike that other had good luster (I guess getting both strike and luster on one coin is asking for too much) so I reluctantly passed them up, did not see any others
- MS67 clad Washingtons (1965 to 1998) did not find any
- 1971p MS65 Ike, did not find anyone that had any business strike Ikes this time
- 1979s MS67 SBA, did not find anyone that had any business strike Suzies

In summary, eBay, eBay and one more time eBay (ok, and occassionally buying from board members as well, NOT the one that did not even look my way) ...

ms71

Great posts guys, I hope some more attendees put in a few words. The "show report" threads are a real highlight.

Tootawl

Like I said in another thread, something always happens with the Baltimore gang. Never a dull moment.

merysu

Well I got to see MS68's beautiful commems and his great inventory. While looking at this great stuff I said to Dave 'I can see why you are MS68 on the boards', just then I noticed Stewart standing at the table and after introducing myself I complimented him on his MS69 Lincoln and the nice photos by Shylock. He responded 'just call me MS69'. LMAO. Also got to meet Mitch, which was a pleasure; and I had a good time conversing with Bob Zaps. As for the show, several of my dealer friends said they did good, but to do so a dealer needed to price the coins to sale. One of them made an 1916 SLQ in MS67! from a deal he had just bought. Stopped to talk to Coinguy and Kathleen, they had some nice newps including a beautifully toned 1945s Walker in PCGS 66. -mark-

oreville

Merysu: You insulted ms71 here by not acknowleding him!!

ShoeshineBoy

This Baltimore show seemed a little different than past shows that I have been to. I didn't seem to do as well as I have in the past. Although many dealers had the types of coins that I was looking for, few seemed to have exactly what I was looking for. But that happens occasionally. After attending local shows throughout the year, it always fun to head to Baltimore and see many, many more dealers.

The strangest thing that I saw was a booth for Numistrust. I always thought it was some fly-by-night joke of a grading company located in someone's basement. But it appears as though it may be a real business-- a business that is a fly-by-night joke of a grading company, but an actual business.

The funniest thing I heard was while I was looking through coins a one table. Another customer was showing the dealer a coin that he was pretty certain was cleaned. When the dealer agreed that it was cleaned, the customer said that he supposed there was no point in sending it to one of the grading companies. The dealer responded by jokingly saying, "well, Numistrust has a booth here -- and then there's always ACG." All three of us had a chuckle over that.

Even though I stayed until about 4 o'clock, there didn't seem to be as many dealers leaving early this time. I'm not sure if fewer dealers left early or if they were just spaced out better this time so it didn't appear as bad as in the past. I was burned by one dealer leaving early. I was thinking about picking up a 2-1/2 dollar Indian Quarter Eagle. This one dealer had one that I liked but I wasn't sure if I wanted it. So I decided to think it over. When I returned half an hour later, he had vanished. Oh well, his loss.

The saddest thing that I heard at the show occured shortly before I left. I was at a table looking through some coins. The dealer at the table was shooting the bull with another dealer and discussing how the show was going for both of them. The dealer whose table I was at mentioned that he went to another dealer's table before the show looking to do some buying/selling/trading. The other dealer responded by saying, apparently in a nasty manner, "I only deal with 5 dealers at this show and you're not one of them." I have witnessed this type of attitude between some dealers and other collectors, and I have personally been on the receiving end of such nastiness. But this is the first time that I've heard of such things happening between dealers. It amazes me how some dealers look down upon others in the hobby/business who they believe are beneath them. But I agree with something the one dealer said. He said that at some point the coin market is going to change and that nasty dealer is going to come around looking for coins. When he does, there is at least one dealer who is not going to do business with him.

But that was the only truely negative thing I witnessed at the show. All in all, it was another fun show and I had a good time.

wingedliberty

Copperhead:
You can through out any price guide on the 1919D Merc in 65FB. Its a coin that better stand on its own merits and a super tough coin in that grade.


Brian.

gemtone65

Any chance an "L" is a prominent part of their identification? If so, I've had exactly the same experience. If not, I guess we ahve more than one jerk to contend with.

Funnny how someone can seem so accessible on these boards yet so remote in person. I suppose sometimes the opposite can be true as well.

gemtone65

fantasiize

Gemtone,

I have received about 10 PM's with their guess (4 of them guessed it, 3 others probably suspected it and wanted to confirm , 3 just wanted to know).

Since I do not like to post these type of items publicly, feel free to PM me for more details.

coinut1799

I have attended virtually every Fall and Spring Baltimore show since 1993. I go simply because there are lots of dealers, lots of coins, lots of fun, and the Inner Harbor is a great place to be. Most dealers I come in contact with are friendly, and are willing to talk coins. I remember meeting Mary Sauvain at one of my first Baltimore shows. This was before she affiliated with Gary Adkins. I told her I was becoming interested in colonials, and she spent well over one half hour talking to me about them.
One big bonus of this show was the fact that Heritage previewed the coins for the upcoming Charlotte sale. There are a lot of nice pieces in the sale. I also was blown away by Dave's (MS68?) collection of super high end commemoratives. His Cleveland is by far the nicest one I have ever seen. Can't wait to go to the summer ANA in Baltimore.

halfnut

I had a great time at this show got to met a few the board members and picked up a few coins for my type set. I found only a few Kennedys in 66 ( the grade of my set ) but passed on all of them. I did pick up a nice 1945 S Lincoln in MS66 RD and a 1954 S Washington in MS65, Nothing big. This most likely will be my last show for a few years ( stand by for a thread on this ) so it was nice to meet everyone and hope to do it again soon.