CNS Show Report---or---the show, the meal and the breakdown!!!!!
keets
Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
I went down to the Columbus Numismatic Society Coin Show yesterday. My plan was to stay overnight but one afternoon proved to be enough. Besides, my buddy Mdwoods wimped out on me and RGL had to go to cover the Florida hurricane for the Columbus Dispatch. What a bummer, sent to Florida to observe a hurricane and forced to miss the biggest local show of the year!!!! Sorry about that Randy.
I stopped early on at the ANACS table to get an opinion on the Washington medal I bought at a show last weekend. They thought it was indeed genuine and we talked a bit about some other medals I had. What a great oppurtunity they offer for opinions and authentication. Surprisingly, the table wasn't very busy all day. I spotted member Bothuwui in his cigar studded hawaii shirt and we talked for a bit, making plans to break at 2 PM for lunch. he showed me some stuff he'd picked up including some nice thick/thin Norse American medals. Man, he'd been at the show only an hour before me and was sure busy. Neat to meet new members and friends.
I made my way around the floor and probably the sharpest impression was the larger than usual percentage of ANACS holdered coins. That's sensible since they're local, so I assume the service gets used more than the other majors by the local dealer/collector population. On the downside, with a larger pool of ANACS slabs to view, I noticed some glaring dogs/overgrades. The biggest was a lovely PanPac gold dollar holdered as MS61 and offered for slightly over $400 by a dealer who commented that BU is BU and he doesn't get wrapped up in the number game!!! I should have spent more time at his table, right?? But the PanPac, though it had great luster and no rub with minimal contacts, had noticeable hairlining on the laborers cap. I wonder why it wasn't noted and net graded??
That experience seemed to set the tone for the day. Whether I'm getting too picky or too price conscious, I found several nice holdered coins that seemed overgraded and hence, overpriced. Another one was an NGC MS67 Ike dollar, 1973-D. Just beautiful color on both sides with clean surfaces, but there were some easily seen black spots scattered above the head and the coin was priced at $1000 with an eager seller. Another guy had a 1907 Lib Nickel with lovely rainbow tone, PR65 in a PCI holder. The grade was right but the color had some abrupt changes that didn't appear natural. He dropped his price to $385 with no negotiation on my part, way to ready for a sale. With other examples like that and from some of what overheard between dealers, though sales were actively taking place, I think collectors are starting to become more cautious.
Several outstanding coins were on the floor. I noticed one guy that had some Assay coins/medals from the mid 1800's along with some Kellogg's. Those were impressive and heavy in my hand!!! Another guy had a raw proof set from the mid 1880's in a Capitol type holder. There were several early Jefferson proofs holdered NGC PR68 with beautiful tone. One dealer had two cases full of rainbow toned Morgans ala TBT. I checked out a 1910 Lib Nickel holdered at PR67 that was unbelieveable.
I happened to notice a curious looking gentleman sitting and talking to John Burns, a book dealer who regularly sets up at area shows. He turned out to be none other than conder101!!!!! We sat and talked for a while and made plans to have lunch together. I also ran into Beartracks 42 and his wife Bev, the lunch party getting bigger by the moment!! But for a short time it was coins, coins, coins. I happened to find several examples of wrong reverse Jeffersons, two 1939 R.40 and one 1940 R.38 which was unusual for a show this size. All were NGC holdered. Another guy had perhaps eight 1942 Type 2 Jefferson proofs that I was able to pick a coin from---these were all NGC PR66's.
Two-o'clock rolled around and we met at the entrance and entrusted Jim---Bothuwui---with picking a restaraunt since he's local. We ended up at a place called the Rusty Bucket that had a college campus feel to it and a pretty good menu. I managed to coax conder101 into signing my copy of his slab book and we enjoyed some laughs at the expense of Gary and Bev as they told us of the antics that go along with having a college aged son!!!!! Funny stuff, but on to the breakdown..............when we tried to return to the show, Bev's car wouldn't start, probably a starter or electronic module problem. Thank God we had a local with us and that mankind invented the cell phone!!!!! Jim called a friend who came and got us back to the show for another car and Gary got ahold of a tow service. Nothing like car trouble two hours from home at 3:30 on the Friday of a holiday weekend!!!!! We made the best of it and my heart goes out to Gary and Bev, I hope they made it home OK. Many thanks to Jim's pal for baling us out, also.
Back at the bourse I decided I should probably head for home and pass on the overnight hotel, so I circled the floor and stopped at some tables I had marked in my book. I snagged a raw VF 1942-D/Horizontal D Jefferson but passed on a nicely toned 1953 Washington. It was just to grossly overgraded at MS65, bad PCGS!!!! My best score happened on the way out the door where I picked up a first generation PCGS Jefferson, a 1950 Type 1 holdered at PR67 with wonderful red-blue rim toning. Breen described these in his Encyclopedia as having a much softer, satin-like finish for all denominations in 1950. Evidentally the Mint began much like they did in 1936 and changed over during production to the more familiar brilliant finish. The appearance is similar to Modern MS commemoratives and the 1990 SMS Jeffersons/Kennedy. There are still easily seen mirrors, but the finish is different. None of the services recognizes the variety and probably never will which is OK with me. Who else has an example of this in any denomination?
I looked around the thinning floor and couldn't see anyone I knew, so it seemed a good time to exit. What a mistake!!!! I hit the Columbus rush hour and sat in traffic for close to an hour just to get outa town. What a lousy freeway system they designed and the holiday traffic made it crowded almost the entire two hours up I-71. I pulled in my driveway shortly before 9 PM and it was nice to be home.
Hopefully Mr. & Mrs. Beartracks42 made it home OK and the repair bill isn't too high. It was nice to meet a few of the guys, especially conder101. Mike is quite a knowledgeable guy and his book has been interesting and helpful. Hey Jim, how the heck do you say that name, Bothuwui?? Oh yeah, one last thing. Gary, please tell mom I said Hi!!!
Later all.
Al H.
I stopped early on at the ANACS table to get an opinion on the Washington medal I bought at a show last weekend. They thought it was indeed genuine and we talked a bit about some other medals I had. What a great oppurtunity they offer for opinions and authentication. Surprisingly, the table wasn't very busy all day. I spotted member Bothuwui in his cigar studded hawaii shirt and we talked for a bit, making plans to break at 2 PM for lunch. he showed me some stuff he'd picked up including some nice thick/thin Norse American medals. Man, he'd been at the show only an hour before me and was sure busy. Neat to meet new members and friends.
I made my way around the floor and probably the sharpest impression was the larger than usual percentage of ANACS holdered coins. That's sensible since they're local, so I assume the service gets used more than the other majors by the local dealer/collector population. On the downside, with a larger pool of ANACS slabs to view, I noticed some glaring dogs/overgrades. The biggest was a lovely PanPac gold dollar holdered as MS61 and offered for slightly over $400 by a dealer who commented that BU is BU and he doesn't get wrapped up in the number game!!! I should have spent more time at his table, right?? But the PanPac, though it had great luster and no rub with minimal contacts, had noticeable hairlining on the laborers cap. I wonder why it wasn't noted and net graded??
That experience seemed to set the tone for the day. Whether I'm getting too picky or too price conscious, I found several nice holdered coins that seemed overgraded and hence, overpriced. Another one was an NGC MS67 Ike dollar, 1973-D. Just beautiful color on both sides with clean surfaces, but there were some easily seen black spots scattered above the head and the coin was priced at $1000 with an eager seller. Another guy had a 1907 Lib Nickel with lovely rainbow tone, PR65 in a PCI holder. The grade was right but the color had some abrupt changes that didn't appear natural. He dropped his price to $385 with no negotiation on my part, way to ready for a sale. With other examples like that and from some of what overheard between dealers, though sales were actively taking place, I think collectors are starting to become more cautious.
Several outstanding coins were on the floor. I noticed one guy that had some Assay coins/medals from the mid 1800's along with some Kellogg's. Those were impressive and heavy in my hand!!! Another guy had a raw proof set from the mid 1880's in a Capitol type holder. There were several early Jefferson proofs holdered NGC PR68 with beautiful tone. One dealer had two cases full of rainbow toned Morgans ala TBT. I checked out a 1910 Lib Nickel holdered at PR67 that was unbelieveable.
I happened to notice a curious looking gentleman sitting and talking to John Burns, a book dealer who regularly sets up at area shows. He turned out to be none other than conder101!!!!! We sat and talked for a while and made plans to have lunch together. I also ran into Beartracks 42 and his wife Bev, the lunch party getting bigger by the moment!! But for a short time it was coins, coins, coins. I happened to find several examples of wrong reverse Jeffersons, two 1939 R.40 and one 1940 R.38 which was unusual for a show this size. All were NGC holdered. Another guy had perhaps eight 1942 Type 2 Jefferson proofs that I was able to pick a coin from---these were all NGC PR66's.
Two-o'clock rolled around and we met at the entrance and entrusted Jim---Bothuwui---with picking a restaraunt since he's local. We ended up at a place called the Rusty Bucket that had a college campus feel to it and a pretty good menu. I managed to coax conder101 into signing my copy of his slab book and we enjoyed some laughs at the expense of Gary and Bev as they told us of the antics that go along with having a college aged son!!!!! Funny stuff, but on to the breakdown..............when we tried to return to the show, Bev's car wouldn't start, probably a starter or electronic module problem. Thank God we had a local with us and that mankind invented the cell phone!!!!! Jim called a friend who came and got us back to the show for another car and Gary got ahold of a tow service. Nothing like car trouble two hours from home at 3:30 on the Friday of a holiday weekend!!!!! We made the best of it and my heart goes out to Gary and Bev, I hope they made it home OK. Many thanks to Jim's pal for baling us out, also.
Back at the bourse I decided I should probably head for home and pass on the overnight hotel, so I circled the floor and stopped at some tables I had marked in my book. I snagged a raw VF 1942-D/Horizontal D Jefferson but passed on a nicely toned 1953 Washington. It was just to grossly overgraded at MS65, bad PCGS!!!! My best score happened on the way out the door where I picked up a first generation PCGS Jefferson, a 1950 Type 1 holdered at PR67 with wonderful red-blue rim toning. Breen described these in his Encyclopedia as having a much softer, satin-like finish for all denominations in 1950. Evidentally the Mint began much like they did in 1936 and changed over during production to the more familiar brilliant finish. The appearance is similar to Modern MS commemoratives and the 1990 SMS Jeffersons/Kennedy. There are still easily seen mirrors, but the finish is different. None of the services recognizes the variety and probably never will which is OK with me. Who else has an example of this in any denomination?
I looked around the thinning floor and couldn't see anyone I knew, so it seemed a good time to exit. What a mistake!!!! I hit the Columbus rush hour and sat in traffic for close to an hour just to get outa town. What a lousy freeway system they designed and the holiday traffic made it crowded almost the entire two hours up I-71. I pulled in my driveway shortly before 9 PM and it was nice to be home.
Hopefully Mr. & Mrs. Beartracks42 made it home OK and the repair bill isn't too high. It was nice to meet a few of the guys, especially conder101. Mike is quite a knowledgeable guy and his book has been interesting and helpful. Hey Jim, how the heck do you say that name, Bothuwui?? Oh yeah, one last thing. Gary, please tell mom I said Hi!!!
Later all.
Al H.
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Comments
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
ttt
i think someday we'll walk the floor together at a show and the experience will be a true pleasure, much like meeting Mike was. i'm willing to drive 4-5 hours distance if i have the time, i'm planning on heading to KC next April. we need to make a plan!!!
al h.
Besides the car troubles, I had a few other exciting moments. I stoped at my Credit Union to get some cash for the show. On the way out, I turned back to ask if they had any halves (they never do). The teller said, "sure do, just got a bunch in." I bought the halves, along with some Ikes that came in from the same person. Got $15 in Ikes, and $7 in halves. There were 2 '64 halves and 2 franklins. I hadn't even been to the show yet, and I already had silver.
I had a nice breakfast at Bob Evans, and tipped and paid for the bill with the extra halves. The waitress and cashier had never seen them before. I had to explain that they were 50 cents. I'm starting to feel old.
Well I got to the show about 30 mins early. They let us onto the bourse about 10 mins ahead of time. I went to the back, and the first table I went to had a couple of Norse Medals. I've been watching these on EBay for some time, but they've always ben too expensive. Suffice it to say the price was right, so I now own a nice MS63 thick variety, and a thin that's an AU58 or an MS62 (not sure of it has a light cleaning or not, ANACS couldn't tell either).
My next target was a nice 19th century proof. I wanted to find a lower grade, sharp looking proof lib nickel, 2 cent, or 2 cent piece. Keets helped me pick out a solid PR63 liberty nickel. Good strike, nothing spectacular, but a solid coin. Those were my big purchases, but I did pick up several other hole fillers for my low grade sets. I upgraded a few Morgans, and got some great eye appeal coins for my type set too.
Well that's it for now. I'm out today, so can't do pics yet. I'll show off a few of my purchases when I get back in town.
great post, i agree wholeheartedly!!!!!!!!!!!!
al h.
thanks for the PM about beartracks making it home OK. BTW, you got the scoop of the show with that LIB Nickel. i really thought the strike was exceptional, better than some PR65-66's i've seen. were it not for someone's accident and the resultant nick on the cheekbone, it would've been much more expensive.
good luck on the Norse medals.
al h.
<< <i>hey Sam
i think someday we'll walk the floor together at a show and the experience will be a true pleasure, much like meeting Mike was. i'm willing to drive 4-5 hours distance if i have the time, i'm planning on heading to KC next April. we need to make a plan!!!
al h.
I have to believe it will happen eventually but it's more likely to be my pleasure than yours.
The show was not bad, even though I only bought 4 circulated Buffalo's for my Whitman albumn, I got to meet two forum members for the first time and keets, who I run into everywhere there is a show.
The meal at the Rusty Bucket was very good...too bad I drove. It turns out that the battery went south on our 2002 Toyota!! Never had that happen before to a 2 yr. old car. Towbill, battery and all took $180 and 4 hours. We got out of Columbus about the same time you did Al.
I really enjoyed the time spent with conder101 and bothuwui and look forward to seeing them again, soon.
Gary
my sister had a FWD Chevy with the starter wedged up where the radiator should have been, surounded by all sorts of hoses and crap. i think i spent about two hours trying to get the thing out and it ended up being a dead cell in the battery!!! when i looked under your hood, that green light on the battery was glowin' bright and the terminals were nice and clean so i assumed it was OK and the starter was bad. i guess you got off pretty cheap and i'm glad to see you're both home safe.
if you let me know when the Marietta Show is going to be, Nov. 13-14 maybe, i might show up!! it was kind of a bummer that your trip was cut short, but it's always nice to see you guys. did you have anything you'd seen that you missed an oppurtunity to buy??
al h.
I really did not see anything that stirred me. One guy had a raw 1942 5-coin proof set that was decent, for right around bid. I probably would not have bought it though, because I could not see why he had it priced low. Who knows, maybe I saved a $1000 due to the car problem.
Our show in Marietta is November 13 and 14. Hope you and any other forum members are able to attend. It is in the Comfort Inn right off Interstate 77 in Marietta, OH. for those who have not been in this area.
Gary