My views on Baltimore

Tootawl

I noticed that everybody and their mother had Morgan GSAs - both graded and "raw". I never seen so many GSAs at one show. One thing that upset me a bit was the number of dealers packing up at 2pm. I was planning to sell some proof $10 GAEs at the show, noticed that gold is down a lot, and decided against it.

The only mess-up was when we went out to lunch. We went across the street to the same place that we encountered the Singing Santas a year or so ago. The place was filled with attendees of a Mary Kay Cosmetic convention. So we went to the bar next top that one. Again Mary Kay invaded that place too! We went down the street and found a Burger King and Italian fast food place. Even though the courtyard there was also filled with Mary Kay people, Cooperhead made a bealine to an empty table. As he was standing there, a woman (I can only guess from Mary Kay) took the table right from underneath Cooperhead. We finally found a table that wasn't being used. At last year's spring show, Mary Kay also invaded Baltimore. I have to feel bad for Merz2. He wanted a certain sandwich which only means one thing: They were out of it.

The only disappointment (other than NOT going to Hooters) was that the PCGS table did not have any CU pins for us. One of the nice ladies there did take our names and addresses and said that the pins would be mailed to us.

We were waiting for the show to open when a total stranger come up to me and asks "Are you Tootawl?". I said that I was and the guy introduced himself as Rittenhouse. He said something about seeing me from across the floor. I guess it pays to be tawl.

Late in the day, I was making one last round and ran into MDWoods. We had a very cool talk about airplanes.

Purchases: I ended up getting the last few SAEs for my raw uncirculated set, a 1995 SAE Proof in the Mint box, a very cool 1797 large cent and a 1856 half cent (thanks for the tip Goose!). I also managed to get a few more very circulated Lincolns. I walked past the ANA table and they had a special deal that if you sign up, you can either get a 10x loupe or their Grading Mint State US Coin video. The lady asked if I wanted to sign up. I told her that I wish I had waited to sign up to get the video. She sold the $29.95 video for $6. Couldn't beat that deal.

The next show in Baltimore is the ANA Fair of Money July 30 to August 3. The next Baltimore Coin and Currency show will be December 5-7. I asked why so late. I was told that starting next year the Baltimore show will be three times a year instead of 2.

airplanenut

<< <i> We had a very cool talk about airplanes. >>


Cool

Tootawl

It was mostly about WWII airplanes. MDWoods was very surprised that I knew who Richard Bong was.

airplanenut

Commercial Aviation is the way to go!

kranky

Good deal on that Grading video!

Nice detective work by Rittenhouse, too.

copperhead

Tootawl,
That is pretty close to the way it happened. Although you forgot to mention in trying to find something to eat, prior to going to Burger King we went to a deli which was "CLOSED" It was only open Mon thru Fri. And yes Mary Kay ruled Baltimore today. In all it was a great time though. Then again my motto is "If I ever go anywhere and don't have a good time its no ones fault but my own"

Tootawl

I forgot all about the closed deli that Halfnut wanted to go to. I also forgot to mention about you trying to pick up those Mary Kay girls.

Dog97

Hey that's cool on the 1797 large cent. I try to buy those and I can tell you a decent one is hard to find.

Tootawl

The guy I bought it from had some real great ones....with the price to match. This is a low end 1797 but you can still see the date clearly, some detail in the hair, the Liberty is clearly seen. I wish it had more detail in the face but I'd rather eat this week. Even though it's a low end (~G8), I still think it's a cool addition to my type set.

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.


Tootawl....you get those large cents from that guy I told you about? tom Reynolds I think it was?? nice guy.

Tootawl

Goose, yes I did. He finally showed up. I picked up the half cent and the 1797 large cent from him. Still wish I had the bucks to get one of the high end early large cents he had. Yes, he was a nice guy and treated me well.

fantasiize

Adding the same post to Tootawl's thread as Merz's ...

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) ...

Tootawl

The surprise of the day was to see Fantasiize at the show along with his son and his son's friend. After Fantasiize missed the past few shows, I was happy to see him back.

goose3

I wanted to add that I was really shocked at the number of empty tables prior to lunch and really so after lunch. I feel sorry for anyone that makes a trip across the street to go there tomorrow.

Tootawl

Goose, you're right. I noticed alot of empty tables when we got back from lunch. I was talking to one of the dealers and he said that Sunday afternoon is a ghost town when it comes to dealer tables. If parking wasn't $10 and I didn't have a 2 hour drive, I would like to see for myself how much a ghost town the place really is.