Antique Roadshow needs a coin show

xbob

I've been watching the Roadshow for a long time but I've never seen a coin appraisal. They need to do a coin once and a while or even one per show. People must be bringing them in.

It seems that even an all-coin special or a spin-off (or copycat) coin appraisal show would be cool. I'd watch it. Wouldn't you?

Maybe someone on the forum with the money, time, and connections could make it happen. Or is it just a lousy idea that nobody would care about except some of us collectors?

ziggy29

I'd think some of those ripoff home shopping shows would love to sponsor something like this to try to lure more suckers toward their siren's song.

pharmer

Neat idea, I'd watch it.

100proof1957

Coin Road Show !

id watch it !

just imagine the 30 smoething woman that brings a roll of morgs that her great granpappy left the family

and its just a pile o crappy au 93 S's

Watch her faint !

Thats some TV !

NumisOxide

That would be.

michael

it is a well known fact that the antiques roadshow states in its written policies

that the antiques roadshow will NOT DO APPRASIALS FOR COINS AND JAPANESE ART (samurai) SWORDS or the short word is nihonto

AND this is done for obvious reasons

michael

i would love an antiques coin road show but i thinks based on the appraisals that would be given out on the participants coins

there would be much anger and bad blood between the producers and participants in the show and also it would not bode well at all for the coin biz ad nausium

i would guesstimate that 99% of the people who go to the roadshow would be extremely disappointed in their coin apprasial

and i define an apprasial....................

as what the cash value is right now to an interested professional coin dealer who thinks he has a reasonable chance to sell such items within a 3 month period

xbob

But there could be quite a few undiscovered gems out there waiting to be revealed.

I am sure there is already a majority of their antique appraisals that create "bad blood" from people who wait in line all day out find that great-grandpappys belongings are worth pennies. They only show the good stuff (and a few stinkers) on TV. Could be the same for coins.

IMHO they are missing out on what could be a great addition to the show.

Longacre

I think it would be interesting if they showed coins occasionally. If I am reading Michael's comment correctly, does anyone know why coins are specifically exempted?

jdsinva

<< <i>it is a well known fact that the antiques roadshow states in its written policies

that the antiques roadshow will NOT DO APPRASIALS FOR COINS AND JAPANESE ART (samurai) SWORDS or the short word is nihonto

AND this is done for obvious reasons >>



I'm a bit dense today, what exactly are these obvious reasons?

Thanks!

Michigan

Can you imagine trying to explain the Mint State grading system to a novice in a three minute
(or even a 30 minute) segment so that it would make any sense to the viewing audience?

jimmyc

I recall seeing a genuine Jefferson Indian Peace Medal on one show. That's the closest they've come to having a coin.

joefro

I agree that it would be nice to see coins on the roadshow every now and then... I love the roadshow. However, there is sooo much pricing information out there already with the Red Book, Grey and Blue Sheet, Internet, etc etc... that anyone discovering a gem in their attic shouldn't have too much trouble at least finding out if it is rare or not. I like the roadshow because they appraise strange and unique items a lot that would be very difficult to price otherwise. Maybe every other episode they could do a coin... but I don't think a show dedicated to coins would bring in nearly as large an audience as the current format, IMO. I would watch it either way though, it's one of my favorite shows. Also, the new show "Find" on Wednesdays is cool. It is hosted by the furniture twins from the roadshow. They go to people's houses and showcase their entire collections, not just furniture. That would be cool to do an episode at a well-known numismatic collector's house. Nice thread.

Russ

<< <i>I recall seeing a genuine Jefferson Indian Peace Medal on one show. >>



Yep, that's the only one I've ever seen. It was in pretty bad shape, too. The edge seam was seperated.

Russ, NCNE

JRocco

You know its funny, my wife could see a beat up pair of costume jewelry earrings and ooohhh and aahhhh for 1/2 an hour over such gaudy things on Antique Roadshow. Yet when I show her a really cool 1834 bust half, she goes---yeah its a nice little coin, then walks away.....sheeeeesh. Maybe if she saw that bustie half on the GREAT Antique Roadshow then maybe she would look at it differently....( I see a plan forming in my head as we speak )

xbob

A lot of good points have been mentioned. There's still no reason that the Roadshow has to refuse coins. Many collectibles have subjective grading, different prices depending on what price guide you look in, etc..

The appraiser just has to give a value range as they do with any item. I am sure that there are some top notch people out there (as I have seen many even on this forum) that could give honest auction and insurance values on coins. I'm not sure how they tape the show but featured items sure do seem researched before the one-on-one rather than an on the spot appraisal with cameras rolling. No reason you couldn't do the same with coins.

Also, in regards to their rules - I just saw some Japanese art appraised the other night. Old souvenir artwork that is now worth thousands a piece. I guess they don't always stay strict to the rule of no Japanese artwork. If you show up with an extremely rare coin, would they do the same? Probably not if there isn't even a coin appraiser.

So many people collect or own old coins. There has to be an audience for this. I think I'll email them a link to this thread.

jdsinva

They do it all the time with most anything they feature on the show. I think grading could be explained enough that even that all but those with a mental deficiency could grasp the concept.

That doesn't answer the reason why they won't do Japanese swords or art or whatever either.


<< <i>Can you imagine trying to explain the Mint State grading system to a novice in a three minute
(or even a 30 minute) segment so that it would make any sense to the viewing audience? >>

KurtHorn

I agree 100%! Call someone at PBS?

Michigan

I would love to see them explain 11 grades of uncirculated on the show.

Couldn't be done so that it would make any sense I'll bet.

jdsinva

First off, for the purposes of the show, they wouldn't have to go into the nuances of the differences of the 11 mint state grades. They don't do that with antique furniture and other collectibles. The just comment on the state of preservation and whether anyone has messed with it in the past and give an approximate range the item might realize at auction. You are saying this couldn't be done with a coin?


<< <i>I would love to see them explain 11 grades of uncirculated on the show.

Couldn't be done so that it would make any sense I'll bet. >>

RedneckHB

i would guesstimate that 99% of the people who go to the roadshow would be extremely disappointed in their coin apprasial

DickyBetz

I think it is a good idea. I would watch it.

OKbustchaser

I asked this very question when the show appeared in Oklahoma City last year. I was told that they have over 2 thousand people show up for every show now--from which they select around 100 people to actually get an apprasal.

Everyone and their sister Clara has a "rare" coin (usually a worn-out 1921 Morgan) someone left them. Just imagine the crowds if coins were allowed.

jdsinva

Now that's a reason/excuse that I could relate to and understand.

Thank you!

morgannut2

Actually they give out around 2000 tickets, everyone gets a quicky appraisal, and around 100-200 are filmed. And you can bring a coin, but they'll just show you the Redbook and suggest it be sent in for authenication to TPG. The show generally is to promote antique dealers/big shows/auction houses/insurance companies and they don't care much about coins. If you think about it, they never have stamps either, and only the rare baseball card or comic book.

xbob

Even so, a one time only all coin hour special show could be done. They could even do it from a major coin show rather than the general public. That could eliminate a lot of the junk coinage brought to the tables. Would be very educational to the "Sister Clara's" out there about their "rare" coins. Could also inform current buyers about the major rip-offs out there. Heck, there are shows on TV just about everything else out there.

That's just another idea. My wheels are spinning on this whole topic. I emailed the show producers with a link. I hope they read this thread.

Weiss

We've discussed this before, and I think it is a great idea. It could do many positive things like create interest and inform people. But it could also save some people future heartache when they think they've got a fortune.

And if it keeps one person from scotch-brite-ing a chain cent or a Stella, it would be worth it.

joefro

<< <i>i would guesstimate that 99% of the people who go to the roadshow would be extremely disappointed in their coin apprasial

>>



I would estimate that 99% of the people who go to the roadshow are extremely disappointed in whatever they bring... period. You can always see those mile long lines during the episode and only a tiny handful make it on TV. So in that respect, coins wouldn't be much different... they could just feature that really rare nice one every now and then that shows up.

1946Hamm

On one of the early Roadshows they appraised a Franklin Mint coin that had silver that was carried to the moon in it. The coin was a 10mm silver coin that was given to Franklin Mint Collector Society members as a gift for joining the society in 1972 or73. I remember it because I had one. They appraised it at $50.00. I thought at the time, the appraiser knew nothing about coins and was just guessing about the value.

That was the only time I saw a coin or token on the show.

I would watch a coins roadshow but I doubt if it would be very realistic in the values given.

The moon silver coin mentioned above might be worth $5.00 or so.

magikbilly

I would not worry about it. Many times, the "experts" are so wrong or off-base it is funny. Especially re easel paintings and many other areas too.
I recall the famous Titanic menu "discovered" behind an old print at the show. It was evaluated by an older appraiser who made a big deal going into how he was a member of the Titanic Historical Society and a Titanic expert and as such could tell the real from the reproductions - he duly assigned a HUGE value to it - $75,000 to $100,000. It was, of course, a well known reproduction that bears many telling signs it is not real. Howver, that fact did not stop it from later selling at auction for $77,000 simply because of this televised appraisal. Despite the hard fact it had been debunked fully. I find that program has often given people unrealistic expectations when it comes time to sell.

Billy

PS - I do however like watching peoples faces when they explain how they "restored" that 200 year old chair because the "horrible old finish" was still there - $120,000 to $12,000 - all with Minwax on a Saturday afternoon. I saw one couple practically storm off the show when told they destroyed the original patina and thats where the bulk of the value was.

dizzyfoxx

<Antique Roadshow needs a coin show>



...and in case I didn't make my opinion clear...

Artist

I just went to the Antiques Roadshow last week - they were filming here in LA. It said on the tickets you had to bring something, but that it couldn't be a coin or stamp. My guess is that if you could, it's what everyone would bring - and for every 54-S $2.50 that gets discovered, I am guessing that there would be about a million steel cents, '22 Peace Dollars, and modern proof sets. It would be kind of a boring show.