The Baltimore show & race car (pick-up) drivers from Ohio.

mdwoods

I spent many hours on Friday and Saturday wandering the floor looking mostly for MS Franklins. My first stop was at Andy Skrabalaks (Angel Dees), table. He and the Mrs. had the usual fantasic display of IHCs, Lincolns, and Buffalos. Beside the friendly welcome, I got a goodie from them, and a chance to see to super Lincolns. First a 1909 VDB Matte proof Lincoln in PCGS 67RD and a (my memory fails me here) 1930 D ? newly made in PCGS MS68. What a coin. It had that peach fuzz that Stewart Blay describes on his 1919 SUPER MS69 Lincoln. Andy is one of the few people I have met who has a real eye for quality Lincolns.

I met up with Mitch (wondercoin) and Jamey (Telecoin on ebay) Thursday night and again on Friday night. I could spend days listening to their numismatic stories. Both are very, very knowledgeable on coins. I felt like a real amateur in their presence. I picked up a pair of superb 99 P & D Kennedys in PCGS MS68 from Mitch. Both are just gorgeous. I also bought several MS Franklins, from various dealers. I tried to find ones with some color on them. I found several very nice specimens including a NGC MS64 1962 Franklin, very flashy with splashes of lustrous gold on each side. It was in an older holder. Or a sun faded one a least. I also purchase a couple of PCGS Buffalos, a 1936 S PCGS MS66 with a Benson pedigree, another nice coin from Mitch, and a nice common date PCGS gem Buffalo for a gift from Angel Dees. One of my favorite purchase is a Darkside coin. A bronze about the size of a Sac dollar but thicker. From Thrace around 200 AD. Grades about VF. I also got to see BrokenCCs, broken CC Morgan dollar. Amazing, broken almost exactly in half, with both halves slabbled by PCGS.

Their were quit a few nicely colored Morgans, a lot of gold. I saw few Mint state Clad era coins . I did see a lot of nice Franklins including a 58 D in PCGS MS67. Gorgeous pastel rainbow toning, no hits, and the bell appeared to be fully struck. There were lots of beautiful Classic coins in a wide selection of grades. There seemed to be a lot of people, but a lot of the dealers were gone Saturday afternoon. I saw on dealer, who stayed, get handed a 4 inch stack of bills (cash) with many that I glimpsed being hundreds.

I didn't have any bad experiences with anyone I talked to. I saw goose3 and his Chain Cent (gorgeous). I saw him later as a blur going by me on the PA turnpike. I am pretty sure it was him, he honked and waved, but I must admit that the turbulence caused by his passing had my little pickup spinning so I only caught a quick glimpse. I also ran into tootawl next to the PCGS booth. We ended up talking for a least 1/2 hour, about many things including his love, and vast knowledge, of airplanes. I think he might be into flying machines more than coins.

Baltimore's Inner Harbor is a great place for a coin show. Tons of hotel rooms and great eating within walking distance of the venue. Plus a zillion historical sites within a couple hour drive. I plan on returning in July for the ANA show. I recommend the show to anyone.
mdwoods

goose3

see my post on the open forum bud!
that was me.

I slowed way down and waited for you to catch up but ultimately had to drop out to the passing lane and do about 45! you drive SLOW!!!!!

Ronyahski

Thanks for the report on Baltimore. I saw the 58D in 67 as well. Did you happen to ask the price?

Did you stop at #857, Zaps Coins? They had a case full of Franklins.

mdwoods

I bought a Franklin at Zaps. The asking price for the 58D was 6K+.

wondercoin

Mark: It was really great meeting you as well. And, let's tell the truth - most of the incredible stories we were discussing were not coin related but centered around Telecoin's "death wish" of vacationing wherever the park ranger posted the sign: WARNING: GRIZZLEY BEAR ATTACKS!! That is where he would set up tent for the night armed with nothing other than "bear spray"

I should also mention I picked up the PCGS-MS69 state quarters from Mark I purchased and, overall, the quality was wonderful. Thanks again Mark.

And, speaking of that 1930(p) Lincoln - it was in a first generation PCGS-MS67 last month at a Long Beach auction. A typical PCGS-MS67 might command $500 or $750. I bid the particular coin up to around $6000 as part of the coin lot it was in. After around the $2,000 level, I was simply bidding against Andy. The lot fetched over $8,000 and I was the underbidder. That coin was close to a "lock MS68" and I tip my hat to Andy for outbidding me. Next time, I need to keep bidding for at least a couple more increments

Wondercoin

dbldie55

<< <i>Mark: It was really great meeting you as well. And, let's tell the truth - most of the incredible stories we were discussing were not coin related but centered around Telecoin's "death wish" of vacationing wherever the park ranger posted the sign: WARNING: GRIZZLEY BEAR ATTACKS!! That is where he would set up tent for the night armed with nothing other than "bear spray" >>



Hey, I just bought a coin from telecoin tonight. If he wants to hang out in griz country, he should come my way (we have the largest population of the things in the lower 48 states. Read about someone getting killed by one many times a year. I refuse to go where they hang out without anything smaller than a 44. Pepper spray is worthless unless they are closer than you really want to be to them.

I must be a long way from Baltimore. (but this mentioned race cars too, we didn't have a speed limit until a few years ago either)

mdwoods

I refuse to go where they hang out without anything smaller than a 44.

Hopefully full auto too!!!

dbldie55

<< <i>I refuse to go where they hang out without anything smaller than a 44.

Hopefully full auto too!!! >>



Naw, it only takes one. At least that was the story I got from a person who shot one charging at about 15 feet. Not something I really want to test out. I still avoid areas around the park until hibernation time. (that's Yellowstone park)

telecoin

Mark, it was nice meeting with you and getting to see your superb quarters. As for the wild animals, I find facing down man-eating predators is good practice for transactions with dealers at coin shows.

Tootawl

Mark, The name of the other P-38 pilot we were talking about is Thomas McGuire. I remembered his name when I was sitting at a stop light (of all places). You did look very surprised that I knew Richard Bong's name.

I was right about Bong's airplane. He did have a photo of his wife with her name on it:


Hope to see ya at the ANA show in August.

mdwoods

Yes, I forgot to mention that while talking to tootawl, I remembered seeing a museum in northern Wisconson in a small town. I stopped in on an impluse. It was the hometown of Major Richard Bong who was a top ace in WWII. He flew P-38s. I could not remember Major
Bongs name, but after only a brief hesitation tootawl said "Major Richard Bong". I was impressed. When he started talking about the museum at WPAFB in Ohio, his eyes lit up with a fire very similar to that gleam a coin collector gets when she/he sees the coin of their dreams. Tootawl is very interesting to talk too. mdwoods