Milwaukee Show Report

Veep

Today was the first of the three-day South Shore Coin Club Annual Show in Milwaukee. It was weird that it started at 3 PM which I believe was responsible for quite a few empty tables that will probably be manned the next two days. There were perhaps 45 dealers with another 10 having signs up in their booths but no one around.

What struck me was the overwhelming number of raw coins. I'd guess that it was 70-80% of the total. Of the slabs, there were probably 30% NGC, 20% PCGS and the rest a mixture of ANACS, SEGS, etc. One dealer had several hundred coins from all series (but mostly Morgans) that were all ANACS. I was looking for a nice Carson City DMPL in his case, but didn't find one that excited me. I did see a couple that I thought were no way DMPL.

One dealer had four cases chocked full of ACG slabs. I took a quick look for something special I'm seeking (a secret) but didn't find it. As it so happens, just then the dealer sent a kid, about 16 years old, around to the other tables to try and sell an ACG MS64 '09-S VDB. My path crossed this kid's several times over the next half hour. THe story was alwyas the same. Kid asks dealer if he wants to look. Kid says his boss will guarantee the coin to cross at MS65 at any other service. Some dealers glance and say "No thanks." Some take a good look and suggest he gets it re-slabbed first. Some see the holder and say, "Not interested." Some just snicker.

As for my finds, I was disappointed, as usual. I tried to make a deal for a very pretty MS66 California commem, but couldn't quite get together on a number with a very nice dealer from Iowa. All that I brought home was another Civil War Patriotic token for my collection (with the Monitor on it) and a 3c Fractional Currency note. Both items are very cool and I'm glad to have them. I was just hoping to find more.

All in all it was a nice show and a very pleasant time. If you live in the area, I'd suggest that you stop in.

Veep

Coppernicus

I was there this afternoon, 3-6. Veep is right on with the description. Tons and tons of raw!! Pretty good traffic considering it was a weekday afternoon. I wasn't very impressed with the inventory, although there were plenty of slabbed Morgans (NGC, PCGS, PCI - mostly MS64s) at reasonable prices - What else is new?!?

Got a real kick out of the CCC booth with case after case of, you guessed it, CCC slabbed coins. Who're they trying to kid? ACG in drag....? A 09-S VDB in MS65 RD!! Do I bite? Naah - Afraid of it being fake, tooled, cleaned, whizzed, and who knows what else. It did have great eye appeal though, but for a key like that, I need a PCGS, NGC, or ANACS.

A lot of dealers sitting at other dealers tables talkin' shop and elbowing out some of us retail buyers.

I bought a 42-S Mercury, PCGS MS65 FB from a dealer from far western Illinois - asked for his card, gave me one, but said his 800 number was no longer in service! I paid cash for the Merc and felt like I was helping him with gas money to get home. Beautiful coin, though!! (I think I over paid a bit but it jumped off the table at me!! - superb flash!!)

Ran into a Dad, Mom and son who I met last month at the first meeting of the Cedarburg Coin Club (C-burg is a small town (suburb) about 30 minutes north of Milwaukee) The son (Matthew, about 10 years old) remembered me from last month mainly 'cause I gave every kid at the meeting a 57-D Lincoln (MS RD, of course) in a 2x2 to help stimulate interest in the next generation of collectors. The kid had a "want list" of Lincoln wheats today at the show and his parents had to put him on a budget! The next meeting is April 10th (we meet the second Thursday of the month) and I am going to put together a bag of about 450 wheats (about 3 pounds) for the kid to search through. He will fill a lot of holes in his Whitman since I will make sure that he gets a lot of dates and mintmarks (no keys though!!!)

Anyway, I may go back to the South Shore show tomorrow and see if some of the other stuff I was interested in is still around and maybe try to work a deal or two.

All in all, I thought the show was pretty decent, but as always, you have to be picky. I spent two hours on the bourse before I even started to try and make a deal.

I felt sorry for some of the newbies - they were too naive to be there without some expert guidance. When I see the slicked back hair, imposing gold watches and flashy pinky rings on some of the dealers, I know the score but some others do not. Buyer beware!!

Perhaps I will add to this report tomorrow.

Mike

If you're intotoned pieces, check out Paragon coins from Thiensville, WI. Almost every piece in the case was toned and several were drop dead gorgeous - not my cup of tea but I can see why many of you freak over these!

stman

<< <i>When I see the slicked back hair, imposing gold watches and flashy pinky rings on some of the dealers, I know the score but some others do not. Buyer beware!! >>



Just made my laugh of the day.

Coppernicus

stman - You're the first one on these boards to think that anything I've said was funny!! THANK YOU for helping my self image! (It's so true about the dealers though....)

Mike

stman

I was reading your detailed report serious, but wasn't expecting the part I quoted and started LMAO.

michael

this thread deserves a ttt

sincerely michael

Coppernicus

Thanks for the ttt michael - It really was a pretty good show, notwithstanding a certain "sleeze" element - but then again, name me a show which doesn't have this "element!"

Mike