WENT to my 1st Big Show! Update to July 9'er Post...

mheffner2

I made it there about 1030 this morning. Dizzying, overwhelming! My first thought with all of the people, tables, conversations and so on was that this was a bit much for a new collector to play around with. WOW was I wrong! Almost every dealer was not only friendly (as sales people should be), but they were willing to educate me even if they didn't have what was in my range or immediate want. I walked around chatting, looking, holding (had a $40,000 Saint in my hand - wowsers), and then of course - had to to do some buying.

Here's what came of some of your suggestions (THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THEM BTW!):




<< <i>Try to have a clear idea of what you are looking for & a clear idea of how much you want to spend. >>

-jhar
I made a list of a couple type pieces I wanted, and the price ranges for AU/lower MS I was willing to pay - it kept me in check!



<< <i>Pick up a free sample slab from the NGC table >>

-kranky
I went to 3 different tables and mentioned sample slab. You'd think I'd ask for hot loving the way they looked at me. The overall newbie experience with the grading orgs was weak. Seemed if you weren't paying for grades, you weren't getting acknowledged.



<< <i>Focus only on Morgans. >>

-numonebuyer
Until today I thought Morgans were mighty pretty, but I wasn't crazy over her. WOW did that change! So many of her sisters were hot! I can see why Morgan fans are Morgan fans! Isaw these orange-reddish Morgans (slabbed) that made me wanna break out my plastic; Wasn't on the list though - I beat temptation! :-(

The damage at the end of the day, all pieces for my type set, ended up being $280. Paltry to some, but I felt like I made my money work for pieces that were all AU-MS. Here's the list:

Walking Liberty 1943P MS65
Buffalo 1913D MS63 Type1 (pic attached)
Indian Head 1859 AU55
Monroe Comm 1923S Grade??
Lincoln 1909VDB MS62
Lincoln 1958P AU?
Bicentential Silver Proof Set

Odd assortment, but they work for the Dansco Type Set I'm chewing on.

Thanks for everyone's help - Hope I didn't overpay too much on anything. I'd almost rather not know!

mheffner2

WHOA - OK, I'm going to do a web search on coin photography - let me try that again!

mheffner2

Maybe this will be better?

Catch22

Sounds like you enjoyed yourself a lot. If you overpaid for anything, big deal...it wasn't by much if any. The experience will pay dividends later on.

numonebuyer

<< <i>I went to 3 different tables and mentioned sample slab. You'd think I'd ask for hot loving the way they looked at me. The overall newbie experience with the grading orgs was weak. Seemed if you weren't paying for grades, you weren't getting acknowledged.
>>



I hope PCGS was NOT one of those tables. If it was, then Homerunhall needs to hear about this.

The grading orgs need to wake up and smell their future (i.e., newbies). Who do they think they are and who do they think will be paying their salaries in the future? If there is ever a time to be polite to the newbies it is at a coin show for crying out loud. Someone needs to be smacked and smacked hard.

mheffner2

PCGS was so busy and with what looked like only 4 people back there, 2 graders and 2 admin. I gotta say though, NGC had a ton of slick info available on their table about their services, programs, etc. I guess if you're not regarded as the #1 though you need slick materials for the taking.

numonebuyer

You guys have commented more on facial hair.

numonebuyer

There is absolutely no comment by the members here as to why the grading services at the show blew off this newbie.

Conder101

Considering that NGC just changed their hologram you would think they would be freely distributing samples.