Nashville Show Report

golden

This will be my first attempt at a show report.I arrived at the Nashville Convention Center 30 minutes before the 10:00 AM opening.I walked down 2 flights of stairs to reach the basement where the show was to be held.The Whitman people were getting everyone quickly registered.At 09:45 the opening ceremonies began.After a few brief remarks by a show official the microphone was was turned over to Dennis Boggs who appeared as Abraham Lincoln.He made an excellent speech and then recited the Gettysburg Address.I was moved by his remarks! He cut the opening ribbon at 10:00 and we were off.I went first to see Greg Culpepper and John Powers from Music City Coins,who were located near the entrance.I quickly spotted a 1923 Peace Dollar in PCGS 65. I have looked at a couple of hundred of these in the last two years and have not found a single one that I liked.This one was a blast white coin with very clean fields and cheek. Greg said that they had bought it a week ago and that I could have it for Gray Sheet bid.That was very fair so I added it to my collection.
I then began a systematic search of the bourse floor for coins that I needed.I was looking for Bust and Seated coins in PCGS 58 or possibly 55 and a few Large Cents in the same grade.I saw an 1860 Seated Quarter in PCGS 53 with nice toning. I would lower my standards a little for a nicely toned coin but since the price was $400 I decided to wait for the right coin.Continuing on it looked like slim pickens ( I always enjoyed him in the movies ) for me.After completing my first tour of the floor I had not only not bought anything else but had not seen anything that I was interested in taking a second look at!
It was now time to make a second run around the floor.I spotted an 1879 pattern Morgan Dime in a PCGS holder.I have attended hundreds of shows, both major and minor, over the last several decades and do not recall ever seeing one of these before.I think it is one of the most intriguing coins that was never produced for circulation.I did not look at the grade or ask the price.Now that I have had time to think about it I regret not asking to see it and asking how much it was.
I looked at a 1911 $5 Indian in PCGS 58 at Harbor Coin's table.It was an original coin with very clean fields and no problems.After thinking about it for a short time I decided to pull the trigger.
Next I spent a few minutes talking to Julian Leidman.He stated that he has, in the last week or so, gotten possession of 90% or more of the coins that were stolen last year.Certainly great news!
There were a number of Large Cents in PCGS holders on the floor but none that really screamed buy me.
My total purchases for this show..........2.
Now a few remarks about my observations at the show. I counted 7 or so empty tables.This has been a problem at most shows for a couple of years.Collector traffic was light, there being about 30 people waiting to enter at 10:00.They had a Kid's Corner on the floor where youngsters could get free coins.Since it was a school day I only saw one little girl.Hope that they have a good turnout on Saturday.On Friday and Saturday there is a long established coin show in Gallatin,Tennessee only 30 or so miles from Nashville.Why would Whitman go up against another show??????????And lastly why did our host cancel out on a large show that had been on their schedule for several months?
I wish Whitman and all the dealers that have a bourse table at this inaugural show good luck on Friday and Saturday.

joebb21

thanks for the report!

ricko

Good report... sounds as if the show did not quite live up to the hype. Cheers, RickO

RYK

Nice report!

The 1879 Morgan dime would almost certainly run north of $10k.

Longacre

Nice report. That Abe Lincoln guy is interesting.

291fifth

You were wise to be picky when it came to buying the 1923 Peace Dollar.

bushmaster8

I enjoyed your report!

In a few years i hope to move to Bumpus Mills, TN and then will be a regular attendee.

mustanggt

thanks for the report

EagleEye

The show seems slow by all accounts, but I had some collectors come specifically to see some coins, so sales were decent (However all sales were done through my office - see below). They likely would have sold had I not come. Whitman did a great job at making this great venue look and feel professional. The have lots of fun things for kids. Abe Lincoln is here signing autographs. One interesting gift was a "Hatch Poster". These are hand-printed show posters by Hatch Show Prints saying "I was a star at the first ever Nashville Whitman Show" It would be issue number 1 if this type of show print catches on as a collectible. Might be rare too. Some people were running around getting signatures on theirs. Whitman gave out goodie-bags with CD's of Country singers Ashlyne Huff, Tim McGraw and a DVD by Jimmy Buffett. There was also a "Goo Goo Cluster" which is a Nashville staple. You shove one in your mouth and forget about talking for 15 minutes.

There is a 9.25% sales tax. If it stays in play, this will be the ONLY Nashville show ever. Whitman is looking to get an exemption for next time, I am told.

ThePennyLady

Thanks for the reports - How does the city look from the flooding, especially around the convention center area? Do you think it has it affected the show's attendance much?

EagleEye

There was hardly any damage noticeable in the downtown area. Probably due to the fast response. The Broadway Honky Tonks and Karaoke Bars were all very busy. Last night I want to dinner with Chuck Daughtrey and his girl friend. It was out by the Gaylord Opryland which was totally dark with all the roads blocked off. There is a lot of flood benefit concerts and events going on. The show is at the Convention Center which is right across the street from the Ryman Auditorium (The real Grand ol' Opry) in downtown. All the great night-life places are in easy walking distance.

It is one of the more fun venues for a coin show.

CaptHenway

<< <i>The show seems slow by all accounts, but I had some collectors come specifically to see some coins, so sales were decent (However all sales were done through my office - see below). They likely would have sold had I not come. Whitman did a great job at making this great venue look and feel professional. The have lots of fun things for kids. Abe Lincoln is here signing autographs. One interesting gift was a "Hatch Poster". These are hand-printed show posters by Hatch Show Prints saying "I was a star at the first ever Nashville Whitman Show" It would be issue number 1 if this type of show print catches on as a collectible. Might be rare too. Some people were running around getting signatures on theirs. Whitman gave out goodie-bags with CD's of Country singers Ashlyne Huff, Tim McGraw and a DVD by Jimmy Buffett. There was also a "Goo Goo Cluster" which is a Nashville stable. You shove one in your mouth and forget about talking for 15 minutes.

There is a 9.25% sales tax. If it stays in play, this will be the ONLY Nashville show ever. Whitman is looking to get an exemption for next time, I am told. >>



Stable?

RWB

There was also a "Goo Goo Cluster" which is a Nashville stable. You shove one in your mouth and forget about talking for 15 minutes.

Man -- you cent dealers are mightier than the rest! I’d never shove anything from a Nashville stable in my mouth...not even from a Kentucky stable!

EagleEye

Oh, I was wondering what the Good Captain was talking about. I'm going to blame it on the spell checker. GooGoo Clusters look like they came from the stable floor too.

guitarwes

did anyone see any Country music stars or prominent record Execs there that were buying or looking?

nice report.

etexmike

Not only a good show report for a first attempt but a good show report in general.

Thanks for taking the time to post and a very nice read.


Mike