Why St. Louis is an excellent city for coin collectors

RYK

In another thread, WTCG takes some shots (again) at my current city of residence, St. Louis.

Besides, if the traveling mostly for a vacation were really true, we wouldn't be taking so many trips to places like St. Louis, Houston (or anywhere in Texas) or even Baltimore. Believe me, St. Louis (or any other CSNS convention city) are some of the last places I would ever go for vacation.

I have heard, over and over again, why St. Louis and other midwestern cities are lousy coin towns.

Let me offer a few points to support St. Louis (and many of these apply to other midwestern cities) as an excellent coin town:

1. Home of Eric P. Newman and the Newman Money Museum. (How many other cities boast a numismatic museum?)
2. Rich coin tradition including the fact that all of the 1913 Liberty Nickels once resided in St. Louis, at the same time.
3. The Silver Dollar Show brings national dealers, Heritage, and PCGS to St. Louis every year.
4. Additional winter and summer coin shows which bring regional and quite a few national dealers to St. Louis every year. (I have run into Wei at St. Louis shows.)
5. Low cost of living and low taxes, compared to many other metropolitan areas, which mean more money to spend on your collection.
6. Ease of travel in metropolitan area with good highways and shorter commuting times, which mean more time to spend on your hobbies.
7. Relatively inexpensive and hassle-free travel on Southwest Airlines to Baltimore and Orlando for national coin shows, Dallas for Heritage lot viewing, and Chicago for future ANA shows.
8. No sales tax on coins and bullion.
9. The finest collection of Liberty $20's lives in St. Louis and has for at least 10 years.
10. Riverboat gambling (which is popular among coin folks--but not me)
11. You will not have a conflict between going to an NFL home playoff game and the FUN show (except for a a three year aberration from 1999-2001).
12. You will not run into Wei Chang vacationing here.

I am obviously poking fun at Wei, but to be serious, while not glamorous or exciting, St. Louis is truly an excellent place to live as a coin collector.

Other midwesterners (and let's include Pittsburghers in that group), feel free to chime in.

JBN

I attended grades 8-12 in the 'burbs of St. Louis. Many times I went in to the city. Often to watch the football and baseball Cardinals.

Yes, it was a long time ago, but I can't say a bad word about St. Louis. As I got my license, I took full advantage of the 'St. Louis rolling stop'. This was where it was generally accepted practice for two cars to go through the stop sign at once - a lot of intersections had four way stops and this informal practice really eased traffic.

First job with a paycheck was in St. Louis. Best summer job was at the Chrysler plant in (IIRC) Fenton MO. Helping to inspect those Dodge vans, and Dodge Diplomats and Chrysler LeBarons.

Nice memories. Nice city.

I hope it still is doing well today.

Coinosaurus

Wash U. has some ancient coin collection in one of their libraries, which RYK forgot to mention.

But once you are away from the east coast, I don't think there is much difference in one city or another being "better" for collectors.

bidask

I will second all that RYK had to say and add the municipal outdoor theatre, the st louis zoo and botanical gardens which are among the finest in the world, the italian 'hill' for great dining, forest park which is larger than central park, and interesting museums featuring the starting point for the lewis and clark expedition.

Not to mention the cardinals and rams.

JCMhouston

The only thing I remeber from my few months in St. Louis was it was hotter than Texas in the summer, and freezing cold in the winter. Unfortunately we didn't even get enough snow to do winter things, just enough to make frozen mud. Don't you guys have perssonal property taxes and state income taxes also?

But as far as coin stuff goes it does have a lot to offer, much better than Houston for example.

BAJJERFAN

I don't think that Wei is knocking the coin connection to St. Louis or any other CSNS site at all. All he is saying is that if it wasn't for the shows that he would never have a reason for him to go there. To each their own. A lot of folks from the midwest probably feel that same way about various other parts of the country. Then again a lot of Coasties would leave in a heartbeat if they had a way out.

Tdec1000

Don't forget there is also a decent coin shop and auction house there too!

baddogss

<< <i>I attended grades 8-12 in the 'burbs of St. Louis. Many times I went in to the city. Often to watch the football and baseball Cardinals.

Yes, it was a long time ago, but I can't say a bad word about St. Louis. As I got my license, I took full advantage of the 'St. Louis rolling stop'. This was where it was generally accepted practice for two cars to go through the stop sign at once - a lot of intersections had four way stops and this informal practice really eased traffic.

First job with a paycheck was in St. Louis. Best summer job was at the Chrysler plant in (IIRC) Fenton MO. Helping to inspect those Dodge vans, and Dodge Diplomats and Chrysler LeBarons.

Nice memories. Nice city.

I hope it still is doing well today. >>



Grew up there in south county area.
I didn't know about the new museum, sounds like it will be very nice. I'll have to check it out next time I'm there.

BTW the Chrysler plant in Fenton closed.

PCcoins

I believe any city or rural area is good for coin collectors... as long as there is internet access. I do about 90-95% of all coin related transactions online... so anywhere's good IMO.

Rollerman

Not to mention the National Bowling Hall of Fame and just across the river, Gateway International Dragway where national NHRA and other events are held....they did just lose two Nationwide NASCAR races..
Pete

Bear

No its not.

RYK

<< <i>No its not. >>


Y?

jmski52

Did you mention Ted Drews? Or the Central West End, the Riverfront, The Hill - lots of good Italian food, Soulards, The Brewery Tour, Grant's Farm, the Galleria, the St. Louis Blues, Union Station.......great sports town......good restaurants.......nice family places......parks........lots of other attractions if you should care to look around.....

Longacre

Being a short train ride to the Center of the Universe (NYC), Longacre cannot imagine living anywhere else than the leafy suburbs of Connecticut.

kranky

Being only a short train ride to the place that thumbs its nose at just about everything I value (NYC), kranky cannot imagine living anywhere near the leafy suburbs of Connecticut.

I've never been to STL but I think RYK makes a good case for it and I do see some parallels to Pittsburgh...
2. Rich coin tradition (George Clapp, Thomas Elder, and the Beck hoard of 1856 Flyers; also, hosted very successful ANA conventions). The Carnegie Library does have an extensive numismatic library, but the numismatic displays in the museum are not extensive. The Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society has been in existence for over 130 years.
5. Low cost of living but not so much low taxes
6. Decent commutes
7. Southwest is here, direct flights to Baltimore, Orlando, Dallas and Chicago.
8. No sales tax on coins or bullion!
10. We have land-based casinos, not riverboats. But give them time, because we do have riverfront available.
NOT 11. We always have to be prepared for January home playoff games.

timcoin

Just depends on what you like. If you are looking for bluntness and a complete disregard for service, the St. Louis area isn't for you. If you are looking for bugs in your hotel bed or lizards in your shoes, the St. Louis area isn't for you. If you are looking for heavy traffic, long stop lights, and long waits for a cab, the St. Louis area isn't for you. If you are looking for a lot of men in dresses or women in tuxes, the St. Louis area isn't for you. If you are looking for toll bridges, potholes, and endless one-way streets, the St. Louis area isn't for you. If you are looking to pay $8 for a gin, or $20 to park, or even having to search ages to find a spot, the St. Louis area isn't a place for you. Otherwise, it is perfect!

garrynot

<< <i>In another thread, WTCG takes some shots (again) at my current city of residence, St. Louis.

Besides, if the traveling mostly for a vacation were really true, we wouldn't be taking so many trips to places like St. Louis, Houston (or anywhere in Texas) or even Baltimore. Believe me, St. Louis (or any other CSNS convention city) are some of the last places I would ever go for vacation.

I have heard, over and over again, why St. Louis and other midwestern cities are lousy coin towns.

Let me offer a few points to support St. Louis (and many of these apply to other midwestern cities) as an excellent coin town:

1. Home of Eric P. Newman and the Newman Money Museum. (How many other cities boast a numismatic museum?)
2. Rich coin tradition including the fact that all of the 1913 Liberty Nickels once resided in St. Louis, at the same time.
3. The Silver Dollar Show brings national dealers, Heritage, and PCGS to St. Louis every year.
4. Additional winter and summer coin shows which bring regional and quite a few national dealers to St. Louis every year. (I have run into Wei at St. Louis shows.)
5. Low cost of living and low taxes, compared to many other metropolitan areas, which mean more money to spend on your collection.
6. Ease of travel in metropolitan area with good highways and shorter commuting times, which mean more time to spend on your hobbies.
7. Relatively inexpensive and hassle-free travel on Southwest Airlines to Baltimore and Orlando for national coin shows, Dallas for Heritage lot viewing, and Chicago for future ANA shows.
8. No sales tax on coins and bullion.
9. The finest collection of Liberty $20's lives in St. Louis and has for at least 10 years.
10. Riverboat gambling (which is popular among coin folks--but not me)
11. You will not have a conflict between going to an NFL home playoff game and the FUN show (except for a a three year aberration from 1999-2001).
12. You will not run into Wei Chang vacationing here.

I am obviously poking fun at Wei, but to be serious, while not glamorous or exciting, St. Louis is truly an excellent place to live as a coin collector.

Other midwesterners (and let's include Pittsburghers in that group), feel free to chime in. >>



I recall there is also a military museum downtown. I visited St Louis many times and I always enjoyed it. The "Landing" section was a good place for food. I was there when the Omni Hotel was there. The military museum was on the same street. It is the hotel that was built on the site of Union Station. I assume there is another hotel there now.

rld14

Hmmm..

I used to live in St Louis (Also in the leafy suburbs) although I too am a Native of the NYC area (The leafy suburbs of New Jersey, kind of like Connecticut but with better Pizza, but, alas, no Longacre)

St Louis is a neat town, but god they CANNOT make a Pizza.... I used to have to drive 30 miles to find an edible pie.

RYK

<< <i>Hmmm..

I used to live in St Louis (Also in the leafy suburbs) although I too am a Native of the NYC area (The leafy suburbs of New Jersey, kind of like Connecticut but with better Pizza, but, alas, no Longacre)

St Louis is a neat town, but god they CANNOT make a Pizza.... I used to have to drive 30 miles to find an edible pie. >>



While I generally agree, there have been some recent, excellent entrants to the pizza marketplace.

I forgot to add "coin auctions" to the list. Scotsman, based in suburban St. Louis, holds 2-3 live coin auctions per year, and a couple of years ago even had a mini Eliasberg gold coin collection consignment.

rld14

<< <i>

<< <i>Hmmm..

I used to live in St Louis (Also in the leafy suburbs) although I too am a Native of the NYC area (The leafy suburbs of New Jersey, kind of like Connecticut but with better Pizza, but, alas, no Longacre)

St Louis is a neat town, but god they CANNOT make a Pizza.... I used to have to drive 30 miles to find an edible pie. >>



While I generally agree, there have been some recent, excellent entrants to the pizza marketplace.

I forgot to add "coin auctions" to the list. Scotsman, based in suburban St. Louis, holds 2-3 live coin auctions per year, and a couple of years ago even had a mini Eliasberg gold coin collection consignment. >>



Racanellis. Used to drive to U-City from Edwardsville just for Pizza

It's funny in that there is a slight chance I may move back to the area... how often are there decent local shows?

timcoin

<< <i>Hmmm..

I used to live in St Louis (Also in the leafy suburbs) although I too am a Native of the NYC area (The leafy suburbs of New Jersey, kind of like Connecticut but with better Pizza, but, alas, no Longacre)

St Louis is a neat town, but god they CANNOT make a Pizza.... I used to have to drive 30 miles to find an edible pie. >>



Come on!!! You can't be serious!?! Their cracker-crust-style pizza is delish. But, if someone is use to an Americanized, bready-yeast crust pizza, then I can understand them not enjoying St. Louis pizza.

PTVETTER

You will not have a conflict between going to an NFL home playoff game and the FUN show (except for a a three year aberration from 1999-2001).

I think I would rather have the conflict, or better yet watch the home team on TV at the coin show.

Needless to say there is some Great food in the Pittsburgh area.

jmski52

Imo's cracker thin crust with tomato sauce is definitely NOT pizza.

Coinosaurus

<< <i>Imo's cracker thin crust with tomato sauce is definitely NOT pizza. >>



I went to school (Wash U.) with Eva Imo. She was studying to be an electrical engineer, not a pizza maker.

Imo's was great for college pizza. Whether I would like it today I am not sure. Sounds like a road trip to RYK's bank box is in order

RYK

<< <i>

<< <i>Imo's cracker thin crust with tomato sauce is definitely NOT pizza. >>



I went to school (Wash U.) with Eva Imo. She was studying to be an electrical engineer, not a pizza maker.

Imo's was great for college pizza. Whether I would like it today I am not sure. Sounds like a road trip to RYK's bank box is in order >>


I received another similar comment via PM. The current finest collection of $20 Libs is owned by a St. Louisian, a retired physician, who is well-known in the collecting community. He may store his coins in the same bank that I do (in fact, I live very close to him--and close to Eric Newman BTW, I pass EN's house on my weekday morning runs), but I cannot guarantee that viewing my collection at the bank will gain you admission to see his.

I never cared for Imo's. I never buy it, and when it is served, I always pass.

Connecticoin

Places that are nice to live are not necessarily good places to vacation. I love living in suburban Hartford, but would not vacation here unless I lived close by (and might not even then).

Also, the convention center in St. Louis sucks. (It is a nice place to live, though, for the reasons cited by RYK).

Fairlaneman

Is there really any kind of life east of Green River, Wyoming? I suppose if you are a coin nerd maybe so.

Ken

jakeblue

Racinelli's New York Brick Style pizza is as good as it gets for well-baked midwest pizza.

Makes the trip across the state on 70 much easier and more palatable.

dirtybird

The Silver Dollar Show is now held at the St. Charles convention center and is much better than the convention center that was located in downtown St. Louis. It also has free parking and good security.

joecopper

a second why not?

DoubleEagle59

<< <i>In another thread, WTCG takes some shots (again) at my current city of residence, St. Louis.

Besides, if the traveling mostly for a vacation were really true, we wouldn't be taking so many trips to places like St. Louis, Houston (or anywhere in Texas) or even Baltimore. Believe me, St. Louis (or any other CSNS convention city) are some of the last places I would ever go for vacation.

I have heard, over and over again, why St. Louis and other midwestern cities are lousy coin towns.

Let me offer a few points to support St. Louis (and many of these apply to other midwestern cities) as an excellent coin town:

1. Home of Eric P. Newman and the Newman Money Museum. (How many other cities boast a numismatic museum?)
2. Rich coin tradition including the fact that all of the 1913 Liberty Nickels once resided in St. Louis, at the same time.
3. The Silver Dollar Show brings national dealers, Heritage, and PCGS to St. Louis every year.
4. Additional winter and summer coin shows which bring regional and quite a few national dealers to St. Louis every year. (I have run into Wei at St. Louis shows.)
5. Low cost of living and low taxes, compared to many other metropolitan areas, which mean more money to spend on your collection.
6. Ease of travel in metropolitan area with good highways and shorter commuting times, which mean more time to spend on your hobbies.
7. Relatively inexpensive and hassle-free travel on Southwest Airlines to Baltimore and Orlando for national coin shows, Dallas for Heritage lot viewing, and Chicago for future ANA shows.
8. No sales tax on coins and bullion.
9. The finest collection of Liberty $20's lives in St. Louis and has for at least 10 years.
10. Riverboat gambling (which is popular among coin folks--but not me)
11. You will not have a conflict between going to an NFL home playoff game and the FUN show (except for a a three year aberration from 1999-2001).
12. You will not run into Wei Chang vacationing here.

I am obviously poking fun at Wei, but to be serious, while not glamorous or exciting, St. Louis is truly an excellent place to live as a coin collector.

Other midwesterners (and let's include Pittsburghers in that group), feel free to chime in. >>



Off-setting your good points is the fact that St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the US.

Something one needs to consider if you're thinking of setting up base there.

Coinosaurus

<< <i>Off-setting your good points is the fact that St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the US.
>>



I understand that "Escape From New York" was filmed in East St. Louis. Now I know that all the St. Louisians are going to chime in here saying that "East St. Louis isn't St. Louis." Just sayin'.......

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>

<< <i>Hmmm..

I used to live in St Louis (Also in the leafy suburbs) although I too am a Native of the NYC area (The leafy suburbs of New Jersey, kind of like Connecticut but with better Pizza, but, alas, no Longacre)

St Louis is a neat town, but god they CANNOT make a Pizza.... I used to have to drive 30 miles to find an edible pie. >>



While I generally agree, there have been some recent, excellent entrants to the pizza marketplace.

I forgot to add "coin auctions" to the list. Scotsman, based in suburban St. Louis, holds 2-3 live coin auctions per year, and a couple of years ago even had a mini Eliasberg gold coin collection consignment. >>



There must be more than 1,000 places in the greater St. Louis metro area that serve pizza and every one is exactly the same and they are all bad? Effen amazing.

timcoin

<< <i>

<< <i>In another thread, WTCG takes some shots (again) at my current city of residence, St. Louis.

Besides, if the traveling mostly for a vacation were really true, we wouldn't be taking so many trips to places like St. Louis, Houston (or anywhere in Texas) or even Baltimore. Believe me, St. Louis (or any other CSNS convention city) are some of the last places I would ever go for vacation.

I have heard, over and over again, why St. Louis and other midwestern cities are lousy coin towns.

Let me offer a few points to support St. Louis (and many of these apply to other midwestern cities) as an excellent coin town:

1. Home of Eric P. Newman and the Newman Money Museum. (How many other cities boast a numismatic museum?)
2. Rich coin tradition including the fact that all of the 1913 Liberty Nickels once resided in St. Louis, at the same time.
3. The Silver Dollar Show brings national dealers, Heritage, and PCGS to St. Louis every year.
4. Additional winter and summer coin shows which bring regional and quite a few national dealers to St. Louis every year. (I have run into Wei at St. Louis shows.)
5. Low cost of living and low taxes, compared to many other metropolitan areas, which mean more money to spend on your collection.
6. Ease of travel in metropolitan area with good highways and shorter commuting times, which mean more time to spend on your hobbies.
7. Relatively inexpensive and hassle-free travel on Southwest Airlines to Baltimore and Orlando for national coin shows, Dallas for Heritage lot viewing, and Chicago for future ANA shows.
8. No sales tax on coins and bullion.
9. The finest collection of Liberty $20's lives in St. Louis and has for at least 10 years.
10. Riverboat gambling (which is popular among coin folks--but not me)
11. You will not have a conflict between going to an NFL home playoff game and the FUN show (except for a a three year aberration from 1999-2001).
12. You will not run into Wei Chang vacationing here.

I am obviously poking fun at Wei, but to be serious, while not glamorous or exciting, St. Louis is truly an excellent place to live as a coin collector.

Other midwesterners (and let's include Pittsburghers in that group), feel free to chime in. >>



Off-setting your good points is the fact that St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the US.

Something one needs to consider if you're thinking of setting up base there. >>



And O'Fallon, Missouri, a suburb of STL, was found to have the second-lowest crime rate in the nation. I guess they do a good job of keeping their crimes isolated to the Arch area, lol.

RYK

Off-setting your good points is the fact that St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the US.

Those stats are from the City of St. Louis, which is about 10% of the population of the metropolitan area. Some of the lowest crime rates in the country are also in the St. Louis metropolitan area (see O'Fallon, MO). For St. Louis County, the crime stats are well below average for metropolitan areas. In my neighborhood, folks routinely leaves their cars unlocked, often the doors to their homes open, etc. I have lived in suburbs of Miami, Seattle, DC, and in Pittsburgh and have never felt safer than where I live. My insurance rates for auto and home reflect this.

Judging the metro area by stats for the city of St. Louis is like saying New Jersey is dangerous because of Camden.

Coinosaurus knows that East St. Louis is actually in his state, Illinois.

There must be more than 1,000 places in the greater St. Louis metro area that serve pizza and every one is exactly the same and they are all bad? Effen amazing.

Actually, when I moved here, they all seemed to be copying Imo's, which, to most outsiders who did not grow up with it, is horrible.

jmski52

There used to be a little hole-in-the-wall place down on Hampton Ave. that had good pizza. And another one was just north of WashU, off Skinker.

WoodenJefferson

After passing through the area, I'm certain Clark Griswald would not agree with you about the hospitality. I've traveled through St. Louie many times, even been up in the arch, stayed outside the City proper, never had any problems, but like most major population areas, there are places I do not belong, and St. Louis has those places.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>Off-setting your good points is the fact that St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the US.

Those stats are from the City of St. Louis, which is about 10% of the population of the metropolitan area. Some of the lowest crime rates in the country are also in the St. Louis metropolitan area (see O'Fallon, MO). For St. Louis County, the crime stats are well below average for metropolitan areas. In my neighborhood, folks routinely leaves their cars unlocked, often the doors to their homes open, etc. I have lived in suburbs of Miami, Seattle, DC, and in Pittsburgh and have never felt safer than where I live. My insurance rates for auto and home reflect this.

Judging the metro area by stats for the city of St. Louis is like saying New Jersey is dangerous because of Camden.

Coinosaurus knows that East St. Louis is actually in his state, Illinois.

There must be more than 1,000 places in the greater St. Louis metro area that serve pizza and every one is exactly the same and they are all bad? Effen amazing.

Actually, when I moved here, they all seemed to be copying Imo's, which, to most outsiders who did not grow up with it, is horrible. >>



Even lil ol Ames, Iowa has one place that I think has pretty good pizza.

Bayard1908

My ancestors settled in St. Louis in the 1830s, and every generation of the family has been born there since. I have a fondness for the place.

That being said, St. Louis is nowhere near to being a world class city and has been shrinking in population for my entire lifetime. Without a personal connection, I would have no reason to ever visit St. Louis.

RYK

St. Louis is nowhere near to being a world class city and has been shrinking in population for my entire lifetime. Without a personal connection, I would have no reason to ever visit St. Louis.
I agree completely, with every word, and this might be the very first time we have ever agreed on something.

BillyKingsley

I am reminded of the Episode of The Simpsons where Homer accidentally goes to AAA instead of AA and, when learning of his mistake, tells the desk jockey that he is planning a trip to St. Louis, is asked by said Jockey East St. Louis, to which Homer replies "Is there any other St. Louis?" (not not knowing, but as a knock to regular St. Louis)

I've never been farther west than South Bend, Indiana, so I can't say anything about St. Louis good or bad...but isn't that in prime Tornado area?

Catbert

Flyover country, as the libs say. Nothing worth doing or knowing, and the people are stupid, clinging to their guns and religion.

Longacre

St. Louis pizza? Longacre weeps for those who have never tried pizza from New Haven.

rld14

<< <i>

<< <i>Hmmm..

I used to live in St Louis (Also in the leafy suburbs) although I too am a Native of the NYC area (The leafy suburbs of New Jersey, kind of like Connecticut but with better Pizza, but, alas, no Longacre)

St Louis is a neat town, but god they CANNOT make a Pizza.... I used to have to drive 30 miles to find an edible pie. >>



Come on!!! You can't be serious!?! Their cracker-crust-style pizza is delish. But, if someone is use to an Americanized, bready-yeast crust pizza, then I can understand them not enjoying St. Louis pizza. >>



It's foul. Period. It might not be so bad if it wasn't made with some version of white Velveeta.

But they have some fantastic Barbecue!

Justacommeman

I was sentenced to seven years in St Louis area (work). I actually worked for Eric Newman's family

1) Great place to raise a family. That makes it boring

2) St Louis apparently invented baseball. If you don't believe me ask smoeone from there

3) St Louis is way hotter then the sun in the summer. You may also get hit by a tornado at any given moment.

4) They have great medical facilities in case you get hit by lightning or a bus. For real. They do

5) East St Louis has GREAT strip clubs

6) If you live in ST Louis you get stuck taking all out of town visitors up the arch in that tomb like capsule .............grrrrr.

7) Lambert is not as easy to get in and out of as it used to. Not a lot of direct flights.

I don't remember if they have Waffle House's . I like the Waffle House.

RYK,Wei has bad things to say about almost all US cities . I really don't want to get him started about Detroit where I originally hail from. I do remember John Albanese at 2009 FUN saying Michigan was a hot bed for collectors and had more talent them just about anywhere. So it is what it is. Everyplace has warts. I moved my family from St Louis to Long Island/NYC when they were 9 and 11. They loved St Louis. It took them a couple years to adjust to NY and now they call Gotham City home. However, they do look fondly upon growing up in Missouri.

MJ

jsf

During one of our family's trips to St. Louis (late 50's/early 60's?), my dad took me to the zoo. One of the things I remember most is one of the gorillas. I saw him in a barred, U-shaped enclosure, he was in there by himself. The place had a shallow pool at the end closest to the onlookers. This gorilla would sit on the edge of the pool and splash water up on the enclosure floor. He'd then saunter over to this large tractor tire at the other end of the pen and just sit there on top of the tire. When most everyone was tired of him just sitting on that tire, and maybe when the next fresh crowd came through, he'd hop off the tire, come galloping toward the pool, then jump in the air at the last second and start sliding on his butt, just as he dipped his monstrous paw into the water, splashing a large portion of the crowd. It was hilarious.

We went a lot of places in St. Louis. Busch Gardens, some geodome botannical place, the arches were barely stubs sticking out of the ground, a planetarium, the old Busch stadium, ...I don't know where all we went, but most everywhere was pretty darn cool.

dorancoins

<< <i>In another thread, WTCG takes some shots (again) at my current city of residence, St. Louis.

Besides, if the traveling mostly for a vacation were really true, we wouldn't be taking so many trips to places like St. Louis, Houston (or anywhere in Texas) or even Baltimore. Believe me, St. Louis (or any other CSNS convention city) are some of the last places I would ever go for vacation.

I have heard, over and over again, why St. Louis and other midwestern cities are lousy coin towns.

Let me offer a few points to support St. Louis (and many of these apply to other midwestern cities) as an excellent coin town:

1. Home of Eric P. Newman and the Newman Money Museum. (How many other cities boast a numismatic museum?)
2. Rich coin tradition including the fact that all of the 1913 Liberty Nickels once resided in St. Louis, at the same time.
3. The Silver Dollar Show brings national dealers, Heritage, and PCGS to St. Louis every year.
4. Additional winter and summer coin shows which bring regional and quite a few national dealers to St. Louis every year. (I have run into Wei at St. Louis shows.)
5. Low cost of living and low taxes, compared to many other metropolitan areas, which mean more money to spend on your collection.
6. Ease of travel in metropolitan area with good highways and shorter commuting times, which mean more time to spend on your hobbies.
7. Relatively inexpensive and hassle-free travel on Southwest Airlines to Baltimore and Orlando for national coin shows, Dallas for Heritage lot viewing, and Chicago for future ANA shows.
8. No sales tax on coins and bullion.
9. The finest collection of Liberty $20's lives in St. Louis and has for at least 10 years.
10. Riverboat gambling (which is popular among coin folks--but not me)
11. You will not have a conflict between going to an NFL home playoff game and the FUN show (except for a a three year aberration from 1999-2001).
12. You will not run into Wei Chang vacationing here.

I am obviously poking fun at Wei, but to be serious, while not glamorous or exciting, St. Louis is truly an excellent place to live as a coin collector.

Other midwesterners (and let's include Pittsburghers in that group), feel free to chime in. >>



As a native-born midwesterner (aka Illinoisan), St Louis, like Indy, Detroit, and Milwaukee, is just another planet orbiting around a sun called Chicago. But at least you never hear of St Louis being called "Naptown" or "India-no-place" like Indy.

BBN

<< <i> I can't say anything about St. Louis good or bad...but isn't that in prime Tornado area? >>



If you grew up with them they aren't horrifying unless you actually have one which the chances are VER VERY slim that you are affected by one. We usually get 2-4 tornado warnings per year. You get used to them. The warnings sound and the neighbors all go outside to see if they can spot a funnel cloud. Watching people from the northeast and west coast in these is entertaining though. Their panic is like slapstick humor. Had an inlaw from California here for one and I was at a gas station when we had another warning and a traveler from Maine was there and their panic was knee-slppin' funny.

coinkat

St. Louis??

It fell dramatically once they replaced Sportman's Park

savoyspecial

>>1. Home of Eric P. Newman and the Newman Money Museum. (How many other cities boast a numismatic museum?)
2. Rich coin tradition including the fact that all of the 1913 Liberty Nickels once resided in St. Louis, at the same time.>>



#1 and #2 are basically the same point as EN was the owner of all 5 at this point in time

speaking to the rich coin collecting tradition of St. Louis, I will say that if you go back in time 75 years or so it was one of the top 4 "coin" cities west of the Hudson (St. Louis, Chicago, Fort Worth and Beverly Hills)

This was largely due to Burdette Johnson's influence when his shop was based there

RunnersDad

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<< <i>

<< <i>Imo's cracker thin crust with tomato sauce is definitely NOT pizza. >>



I went to school (Wash U.) with Eva Imo. She was studying to be an electrical engineer, not a pizza maker.

Imo's was great for college pizza. Whether I would like it today I am not sure. Sounds like a road trip to RYK's bank box is in order >>


I received another similar comment via PM. The current finest collection of $20 Libs is owned by a St. Louisian, a retired physician, who is well-known in the collecting community. He may store his coins in the same bank that I do (in fact, I live very close to him--and close to Eric Newman BTW, I pass EN's house on my weekday morning runs), but I cannot guarantee that viewing my collection at the bank will gain you admission to see his.

I never cared for Imo's. I never buy it, and when it is served, I always pass. >>



You guys could always go to Pointer's pizza and take on the Pointers challenge. The pizza is called the "Pointasaurus" and weighs 10 pounds. Eat it in under an hour and you get 500 dollars.

In all seriousness I was born in St. Louis and have lived not far from the airport my entire 28 years of existence. I have a son with severe medical issues and living in the nation's hotbed for Medical research has been a godsend. St. Louis Children's Hospital and the doctors from the Washington University School of Medicine have not only saved his life, but continue to work with us everyday to try and improve the quality of his life.

I am now permanently rooted in the community through my son, my family, and my running and coaching. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Not too say that St. Louis is the most amazing city in the world, but as RYK and others have pointed out we have the St. Louis Cardinals, Blues, plenty of museums, attractions, parks to run in(including Forest Park which is one of the nation's largest municipal parks), and a very low and manageable cost of living.

And a major plus is we are only about a 30 minute drive from some of the best "Wine Country" the middle part of the United States has to offer.

Take it or leave it but I will probably never be leaving.