Mid-America show synopsis

longtimecollector

Arrived before the public opening.......... No coffee, no water fountain, and $5 to get in after $11 to park.............

Entered and turned to the right and began scanning cases........... "Collectors" were everywhere it seemed with want lists in hand. To me, it seemed that everyone was looking for low-mid range stuff......... The dealers with the safes behind them were looking a little like Maytag repairmen. I did get to see the 1792 half disme that was shown in LB a few weeks ago............ PRETTY............ The first dealer I talked to (who shall remain nameless....... not to protect him, but because I forget who he is) was probably the rudest dealer I have ever met ! I was looking at a seated half and had a question about something on the reverse, and I asked him to take a look at the coin........ He responded, "I've already seen that coin... You want it or not ???" I placed it on his case and got up without saying a word, but in my eyes you could see . The rest of the day went nicely....... Paul Padgett had 3 absolutely gorgeous 93 large cents (only 2 now, the "chain" came home with me......... I saw lots and lots of seated dollars at reasonable prices........ I saw absolutely NO ACG SLABS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO-HOO...................There was much more foot traffic than I expected there would be........ I think the "Big 3" missed out by not being represented there today........... Picked up a nice 39 proof set over $200 BACK of bid........... Dealers seemed VERY willing to negotiate......... Is the bubble about to pop?????????

jbsteven

<< <i>Is the bubble about to pop >>



far from it

darktone

<< <i>Entered and turned to the right and began scanning cases >>

never turn to your right- 95% of the people will go right when the show first opens- go to your left and you can look at much of the show without traffic. I was waiting around before the show opened for about 20 minutes. I looked over the Hummel collection and leaned against a pole. mike

NoGvmnt

I too thought it was a nice well rounded show. And the dealer witht the 1792 half-dime was the most personable high-end dealer I've ever met as he had no problem talking numismatice with poor lowly me for as long as I had questions.

I also received decent prices for the coins I was looking to sell.

Jason (JBSteven) also spent quite a bit of time educateing me in the intricacies of valuing specifics types of toning (Thanks Jason).

Tradedollarnut, thank you for the tip, she is now the new owner at $400.00.

Jim

jbsteven

my pleasure

Peaceman

Walked by Jason's table but he was busy... I had only a few hours so I couldn't chit-chat... a nice show even without coming home with anything....

LanLord

<< <i>Paul Padgett had 3 absolutely gorgeous 93 large cents (only 2 now, the "chain" came home with me......... >>



Well I believe a picture is in order

longtimecollector

I'm as talented with a camera as I am with a nuclear device.......... You don't want me near either one........... To describe it however....... An honest F18-VF20....... Full, clear (no squinting) 4 digit date....... LIBERTY is complete with tops of letters NOT running into rim...... Obverse portrait is complete, with weel defined eye and much detail in hair with hair ends NOT fading into field. There are NO distracting marks, nor is there any rim damage...... The reverse has the nicest, sharpest chain I've sen on a circ chain..... ONE CENT is sharp and clear.... UNITED STATE OF AMERICA is sharp, complete, and well defined........ at no point do the letters merge with the rim, nor is there any damage on the reverse...... The planchet is a nice chocolate brown with only extremely light micro-porosity which is even throughout..... I showed it to Marty at the show, but his drooling was getting obnoxious, and I had to put it away !!!

MadMarty

I have to admit, seeing Longtimecollectors REAL coins was a pleasant surprise.. The chain cent has me drooling all over myself!!

MadMarty

I drove up with NoGvmnt and Shutupandfish (soon to be a member). Ran into Jason and Greg, XpipedreamerX, Longtimecollector. Had a nice chat wil Laura before Jim Boinked her! I didn't get much, but for longtimecollector remember these... 8 of them!!!

longtimecollector

YOU STILL SUCK

mercurynut

Thanks for the observation.

EVillageProwler

I saw lots and lots of seated dollars at reasonable prices

Dates, service and grade please. Also, which dealers...

Thanks,

EVP

bushmaster8

I also noticed a lot of want list collectors.

Laura seemed in good spirits... we can all be proud of her!

Coolest coin I saw at the show:
1896 $1 NGC PR69*....looka like a man

longtimecollector

EVP........

I can't remember the dealers names, but what I noticed was 45's thru 58's at greysheet ar 10-15 back in some cases...... I was looking for a 50-P but came up empty.......... Most were ANACS, but a good portion were NGC........ I picked up 4 dollars (3-XF40's & an XF45) for around $1200........ Common dates, but thick skinned originals

EVillageProwler

Common dates, but thick skinned originals

Thick-skinned originals are hardly common. Congrats!

ccex

I spent 3 hours at the same show this afternoon with somewhat different experiences. Julian Liedman and Miller's Mint again had their same locations right in front of the entrance, but I wandered off to the left. I have now attended this show for three years in a row. I still saw some ACG slabs (including one dealer who sells practically nothing but ACG and his own slabs). PCI slabs were much more plentiful than in previous years, except for the conservatively-graded green-bordered variety. Every dealer's table received a 2004 nickel in a sample slab from a new service called PGS but no one I asked would sell theirs, assuming that this would soon become a prized curiosity.

I had made plans last fall to meet a coin dealer from Tennessee, who brings his wife, kids, and parents to Chicago for a week at this time every year. While his family prowled a huge shopping mall, e met at the table of a mutual friend and then sat down to trade a few coins and share observations, before we met after the show for a good Mexican dinner near my warehouse. He believes that PCI has taken over the position ACG once had, with SEGS not far behind. He brought me a couple of long-awaited upgrades for my Barber Dime collection, a 1950D nickel in Fine (!) and an 1839 dime which would slab as P0-1 if it could be discerned that there was no "O" mintmark present. (He refused to take any payment for this one, since he hadn't factored in any value for it when it came to him in a group of coins he purchased earlier.) He also recommended a few dealers, but a couple of them had tables so crowded with other dealers that I felt there was no room for a lowly collector who would buy only two or three coins.

My intention, as I wandered the floor, was to find some original mid-grade circulated Barbers to replace holes in my album filled with Good or cleaned coins. Goal #2 was to fill some holes in my sub-AG but uncleaned, undamaged type set. Apparently, quite a few other collectors were doing this too. Before I found anything I had intended to buy, I saw a Nebraska dealer with a selection of cheap slabs, and an NGC MS-66 40% silver Ike almost screamed at me to give it a more respectable home in my serious type set. I ended up with 4 Barber Quarters, 1 Half, and 1 dime, and only the PO-1 Dime from Tennessee in the low-grade category. I stumbled across 2 cheap but unc. early commemoratives I couldn't live without. I finally found a $5 Indian for my serious type set. At Central States last month, I couldn't find one that was up to my standards but within my budget.

ANACS' absence was consipuous this year. I also saw more tables with empty display cases than in previous years. There were still enough major players and incredible coins on display to justify the traffic, the admission fee, $11 parking and long walk from the parking garage.

Any dealer willing to acknowledge my presence was willing to offer a slight discount from the marke prices without my even having to ask. Last year, I had to ask first. Of course I didn't bother looking at anything like CC Morgans or proof type coins, nor did the dealers chasing the latest prices on these have any interest in me. If dealer had coins that get no respect, but which strike my peculiar tastes, it was easier than the past two years for me to get the dealer's respect and

SamThompson

can anyone tell me where to find listings for coin shows around the USA? especially the southeast? thanks.

cladking

Check out Numismatic News Coin Show and Auction Guide. It's printed weekly and once
or twice a year comes out as a supplement in Numis News and World Coin News. It's
available now in the current editions.