My Baltimore report

ksteelheader

I met quite few of the forum members here in Baltimore today. (Sorry, no names! I've got enough trouble remembering my own name!!) There was a lot of both buying and selling going on. The crowd was fair sized considering the weather!
I got what I believe to be a 1971 Kennedy PR69Dcam! Also another 1969 in 69Dcam in my opinion! And a 1964 in what I believe to be 69Cam!
The highlight of my trip was when a dealer was trying to sell a 1803 Large Cent to my 7 year old grandson for $10. My grandson studied the coin on both sides and said, "No thanks, there are too many scratches on the back!!!!!" Wonder where he learned that????.... .....
I'll post pics of the coins tomorrow. Need to get ready to go partying with the Little Lady!!!!!!....Ken

MICHAELDIXON

Ken,
How did I miss you? I saw Don, Tootawl, mdwoods and wolf. Did you see me and turn the other way?

ksteelheader

Mike, Sorry I missed you. Just didn't see you!!!....Ken

airplanenut

<< <i>"No thanks, there are too many scratches on the back!!!!!" >>

Now teach him that it's "reverse," not back

ksteelheader

Jeremy, I'm working on it. The grandkids have some books they are reading about basic terminology....Ken

mdwoods

Weather kept the public turnout for the show down over the usual December show in Baltimore. It really wasn't bad downtown but I talked to some members who drove in this morning and the conditions on the roads varied from excellent to slippery. I did a lot of talking and looking, but hardly any buying or selling at this show. It was still a good show for me, I am learning more and more each time I attend a show. In just talking to various dealers and members, something new (for me) invaribly comes up during the conversation and I am again reminded that half the fun in collecting is the people and the neat history you learn along the way. I had a very good lunch with Tootawl. We talked for quite a while about collecting and whatever other topics came up while we were enjoying our lunch. Saw MichaelDixon. Mike's a great guy, very funny and just a pleasant person to be around. Also Tootawl and I chatted with ksteelheader in the lobby outside the coin show for a bit. Ken is cool, he likes coins and he has Chestnut trees.


I stopped and visited with Andy Skrabalak of Angel Dees coins. He always has some of the nicest IHCs and Lincolns. One that caught my eye because of the luster was a MS67 Red 1928 Lincoln. It just had that really neat eye popping luster that I love to see on wheaties. He also has a fantastic selection of nickel coinage, including Shield, Liberty, Buffalos and Jeffersons, as well as some nice type pieces. I stopped by Pinnacles table and had a very nice conversation with Mark Feld, another of my favortite coinguys (pun intended). Mark showed me several newbies he had picked up at the show. As always, Pinnacle has some of the nicest stuff around. Quarterjack had a table at the show and I stopped and talked to him several times. He has somefantastic Washingtons, and other nice coins. He showed me a couple of very nice ANACS Feuchtwanger cents that he picked up at the show. Very nice coins, and close to choice for the grades assigned IMO. I ran into TBT and Jbstevens, they both had beautiful toners in their cases, I love to stop and see what they have. Jb had a gorgeous 67FBL Franklin with just an incredibly beautiful toned reverse. Speaking of which, so did MS68, as usual, he had some really pretty stuff. I stop and ask Dave for advice at most every show on one coin or another. He's has one of the best eyes in the business. That is his peers opinion of him as well as mine.

I stopped a couple by Njcoinkranks table. I met Bill at the PAN show earlier this fall. An encycolpedia of coin knowledge and a nice guy to boot. He has some really cool stuff, coins you don't see everyday. His table is now a must stop for me at any show he attends. He is another one of the good guys in the business and his eye is sharp. He has a bunch of nice British token from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Some of these "coins" are really cool with intricate neat designs. I am now looking for one in particular. It has a nice tree on it.

I got to see the 2 Proof Trade dollars that were on display. The obverses were the sides that were showing, and they looked pretty impressive. Nice toning and very nice mirrors. They are both true rarities with just a handful minted.

It seemed like there were a lot of nice Buffalo nickels for sale, at auction and on the bourse floor. I'd love to have a nice matte proof Buffalo. Especially a Type 1 with those textured fields and superb detail. However, they are a bit expensive.

There was a lot of gold, and a lot of Morgans. There seemed to be a lot of both slabbed and raw coins available. PCGS was grading tough from what I gathered talking to some of the dealers. NGC, ANACS, ICG, PCI, were also in attendance.

RYK

Excellent reports...please keep them coming for us show-deprived midwesterners.

merz2

Ken
Rather than start a new thread I'll just add my show report to yours and MD's.I too agree attendence was down.I drove down from Gettysburg PA.I had some harry moments with ice on the roads.I too met up with quite a few members.ie Michael Dixon,Tootawl,Dollars,Stewart Blay,Sadysta,Ksteelheader and grandson,as well as some dealer/members Tonekiller,Wayne Herndon,ellwood,walkerman,I tried to hook up with Coinguy1 but he had left the building.Sorry I missed you MD.There was plenty of submissions to PCGS.When I was submitting my (4) freebies,the PCGS rep said they were behind.I did hear later in the day they asked a whole list of people to come to their booth.It had to be same day submissions coming back.I saw plenty of PCGS and NGC slabs.I didn't see nearly as many of the other slabs as I used to.I was looking for Peace $'s,so I didn't look at much else.I did see a few Lincoln Proofs that I liked but were to pricey IMHO.I believe there was a wide variety of coins for every type of collector,from High end to circulated coins.I did purchase (2) Peace $'s.First was a SEGS MS66 1924.While the strike wasn't great,the luster was to die for.IMHO it made up for the strike.I also purchased a raw 1921 Peace $.Both went with (2) other Raw Peace $'s(1928-S,1927) that I'd bought at Michael Dixon's last Frederick Coin Show.All (4) were sent as my freebies to PCGS.What's funny is I had to borrow $3 from Sadysta for postage.I was flat broke,from buying the coins.LOL!!! Thanks Sadysta for helping a fellow collector!!!!!! It sure helps to be a member here. I hope you all find this helpful.For those of you that are going,at least the FUN show won't have to contend with snow and ice.

cladking

Thanks for the reports guys.

sadysta1

And now I have full right to tease you anytime, anyplace Merz2 . The show was not crowded (show). At one point even I almost turned around (the road was very, VERY bad in Delaware) Took me close to 2.5 hours to get there. Funny thing was that closer to Baltimore I was, faster I drove. First familiar face was Tootawl (he was easy to spot) then Merz2.

I run to Dick Osburn table (he had some coins on hold for me). He told me that many people called him saying they could not make it; he had a lot of coins on hold for people. I bought 3 out of 6 coins that he had saved for me. Then me and Merz2 went looking for peace dollars, PCGS (see the $3 story above, Merz2 flatly refused giving $3 worth of Sac dollars to PCGS, and lunch. I have to buy us lunch next time. It took him 3 trials (finally with my help) to get money out of ATM. Time is not kind for him while he ages somewhat gracefully, his hand-and-eye coordination leaves a lot to be desired....... just kidding Don.

We talked to a couple of forum members and then Don left. I bought steal penny and Indian cent (raw) this cent went to PCGS please keep your fingers crossed on this one.

Hey Merz2 I actually saw 1921 proof peace ANACS PF60, but it was very, very expensive. I almost cried when I saw one Indian cent. it was 1868 cent red. AND I MEAN RED. It jumped at you out of whole case. I spotted it from TWO CASES OVER. It was powerful bright orange color. This coin would grade MS67/68RD if it wasn't for one PVC stain on it. The best looking IHC I ever so ruined.. There wasn't much material of interest for me I came back with 900 bucks in my pocket that never happened before.

I also traded my 1897 1 in neck cent and my AU50 PCGS 1843 dollar for 1829 dime, Merz2 and couple other members saw it. I swear it looks like a proof. keep your fingers crossed on this one as well.

Whatever coins I have left I'll take pictures of them and post them separately.

fountainheadgold

Thanks for all the reports, if one cannot be there, its nice to hear about the show, i am snowed in in Connecticut.

Fountainhead

Namesake-gold, you did the right thing. I overheard one of the dealers talking about how he was a day late because he totaled his Volvo outside of Hartford. He said if it hadn't been a Vovlo, he might not have arrived at all.

Dollars

Ok I guess it is my turn, Had a great time today. Got to meed merz2, Tootawl, Mdwoods (sp) Wayne Herndon, and one of the Jade Boys. Looked mostly for Bust halves, but did pick up my last SBA to complete my raw set. I also got an Ike a 76 silver PR69 DCAM PCGS.

My Lady got her bust half a 1830 Small o in VF35 NGC.

She doesn't know it yet but but she will be getting another Bust Halve for Christmas A 1926 AU53 PCGS.