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George Kellogg's Blue Ridge Coin Show Report
GeorgeKellogg
Posts: 1,251 ✭✭
Set-Up Day:
Dealer set-up began on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., at the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia, for the 52nd Annual Blue Ridge Numismatic Association (BRNA) coin show. This year the show conflicted with the ANA's big dance in Rosemont, so I was concerned that the BRNA attendance could be negatively affected.
My friend, Al Adams, of Gold Rush Gallery, had spent the early part of the week at the ANA, then flew back late Wednesday to attend the affair in Dalton. I sometimes help Al at shows, along with forum member "Dahlonega." I got to the show a few minutes after 2:00 p.m., a bit ahead of Al, and proceeded to set up my educational exhibit, which was a photographic record of the May 1-August 15, 1960 Smithsonian Institution exhibition of the Louis Eliasberg Collection. I had recently obtained color photographs and other artifacts of the Smithsonian exhibit from a Stack's auction of memorabilia which was formerly part of the Eliasberg estate. My exhibit also included my lone Eliasberg piece, an 1849-D gold dollar, graded MS62 (by PCGS). Scroll below to see a color photograph of the coin (courtesy of bluccphotos.com).
After a hiatus, BRNA is trying to reinstitute educational exhibits at their annual show. My good friend Mack Martin was acting as the unofficial exhibits manager and had twisted my arm at the recent Summer FUN show, in an attempt to get me to set up my Eliasberg exhibit at the upcoming BRNA show. I had unveiled the exhibit at April's Georgia Numismatic Association (GNA) coin show and didn't really want to display it again (so soon), but fate intervened. A few days after our Summer FUN visit, Mack had an attack of appendicitis, was rushed to the hospital, and it was "touch and go" for several days. Anyway, after such a harrowing experience, I didn't have the heart to turn Mack down, so exhibit I did! For the record, all of the exhibits were shown on a non-competitive basis.
The BRNA coin show is touted as the largest in Georgia and the hall seemed quite cavernous as the dealers trickled in to begin set-up. I'm not sure if the dealers were late in arriving, or perhaps it was just a manifestation of my trepidation, due to the BRNA's conflict with the happenings in Rosemont. When we left at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, fully 25% of the dealer tables were still vacant.
I made a purchase on set-up day: a very choice roll of uncirculated 1958-P Franklin half dollars. I have been partial to BU Franklin halves as a means to add to my stockpile of silver, which seems (to me) to be a better value than gold right now. The premium (over the spot silver price) is quite a bit lower for BU Franklin halves than for silver American Eagles. I have also been able to cherry-pick choice, better-date rolls, as long as I'm willing to invest equal portions of patience and shoe leather. Speaking of silver eagles, Al bought a green "monster-box" of 500.
After we left the show, we made our customary trip to the nearby Red Lobster, which one of our group humorously terms the "Dead Lobster." We weren't alone in our quest for succulent seafood, as we spotted several other dealers partaking of the bill of fare.
Day One:
After what seemed like a short night, followed by an enjoyable breakfast at our "home away from home" (the Holiday Inn & Suites), it was off to the show for the official opening day. The appearance of the bourse was markedly different than when we left the preceding evening, as just about all of the empty dealer tables were now miraculously filled. In addition, a mob of enthusiastic coin seekers soon turned the hall into a bustling marketplace. I wondered how robust the ANA's attendance was, with this many people at the Dalton venue.
We were fortunate to be visited by many of our fellow Dahlonega gold collectors on Friday. Much pleasant conversation ensued, with everyone discussing their recent acquisitions. Al sold a very nice 1839-D half eagle, graded XF40 (by PCGS), which he had just purchased at the ANA. The new owner is one of our favorite collector friends and he is delighted to have finally captured this popular one-year Dahlonega type coin.
I spent a portion of Friday researching a Pigeon Roost $5 bank note that I had spotted on the bourse floor. Although the $5 denomination is the most common of these Appalachian Gold Rush-era bank notes, still the discovery of a Pigeon Roost note is not something to be lightly dismissed. This particular note had been issued in Dahlonega, Georgia, which is "Ground Zero" (if you get my drift). After a lot of fun with the research and the accompanying "thrill of the chase," I reluctantly decided that the note was a bit too tattered and that I would be better off to wait for a more pleasing example.
We were dog-tired after the long day on the bourse and after a pouring rainstorm back at the hotel, we decided to take sustenance in the establishment's restaurant. As soon as we went down to the lobby, we saw a fellow Dahlonega gold aficionado (and his better half), who joined our party. Thus, our decision to "eat in" was affirmed as a wise one and a pleasant evening of fine food and engaging discourse was soon in the offing. Later our group grew to include another dealer friend who had wandered into our circle. All too soon, the evening was at an end and it was off to bed.
Day Two:
After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we were eager to get to the show. Saturday had a good attendance level, complete with "General Robert E. Lee," as the honored BRNA VIP, although there wasn't as much "buzz" as on Friday. However, we did get to visit with several familiar faces that we had not seen the day before.
I looked at several interesting coins during the day, including an attractively toned 1878-CC Morgan dollar in the GSA blue soft-pack. I also saw two in-demand (but aggressively priced) PCGS-graded 1839-D quarter eagles (one VF30 and the other, XF45). I spotted a pretty 1903-O $10 gold piece (graded MS62 by PCGS, but which had the eye appeal of a 63 or 64). After successfully resisting temptation, late in the day I succumbed to a near-gem, prooflike 1883-CC GSA Morgan dollar, with box and card. I had collected GSA CCs during my formative years in numismatics (in the early 1980s), so this purchase was somewhat of a "nostalgia trip" for me. I also paid for a crusty, original 1849-D quarter eagle (in a PCGS VF35 rattler--my only Dahlonega housed in a first generation holder). I had reserved the coin at last Sunday's monthly Atlanta Coin Show, from a dealer that rarely has a Dahlonega piece. He told me that he had purchased the coin earlier that weekend, at a show in Foley, Alabama. Go figure!
As I returned to the table, Al was finishing up the sale of six 100-ounce silver bars to another dealer and was purchasing several pretty PCGS-graded $20 Saints from a client.
We were losing steam that evening and opted for take-out from Chili's. Accompanied by red wine and the Braves-Diamondbacks game, the meal was a hit with us.
Day Three:
Sunday finally arrived and we tried to think of what else we wanted to accomplish before this coin caper concluded. After breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and headed for the convention center. I attended a GNA board meeting from 10:30 until 12:30, at which time I headed back to the table to help Al wrap things up. I also e-mailed (to a friend) the photos and asking price of a nice $500 bill, series 1928, from the St. Louis FRB, but he must not have been ready to "pull the trigger." While I was at the board meeting, Al sold a $1,000 face value bag of silver dimes, which had an MTB lead seal, from 1989. As with many shows in recent months, bullion sales seemed to lead the way. During the BRNA show, silver and gold had been steadily increasing in value.
After taking down my exhibit (for which I had received many nice comments), I helped Al load up for the trip home. Soon I was back home myself, tired but happy, after two weeks on the road. All-in-all, I had a very productive and enjoyable BRNA show!
Dealer set-up began on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., at the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia, for the 52nd Annual Blue Ridge Numismatic Association (BRNA) coin show. This year the show conflicted with the ANA's big dance in Rosemont, so I was concerned that the BRNA attendance could be negatively affected.
My friend, Al Adams, of Gold Rush Gallery, had spent the early part of the week at the ANA, then flew back late Wednesday to attend the affair in Dalton. I sometimes help Al at shows, along with forum member "Dahlonega." I got to the show a few minutes after 2:00 p.m., a bit ahead of Al, and proceeded to set up my educational exhibit, which was a photographic record of the May 1-August 15, 1960 Smithsonian Institution exhibition of the Louis Eliasberg Collection. I had recently obtained color photographs and other artifacts of the Smithsonian exhibit from a Stack's auction of memorabilia which was formerly part of the Eliasberg estate. My exhibit also included my lone Eliasberg piece, an 1849-D gold dollar, graded MS62 (by PCGS). Scroll below to see a color photograph of the coin (courtesy of bluccphotos.com).
After a hiatus, BRNA is trying to reinstitute educational exhibits at their annual show. My good friend Mack Martin was acting as the unofficial exhibits manager and had twisted my arm at the recent Summer FUN show, in an attempt to get me to set up my Eliasberg exhibit at the upcoming BRNA show. I had unveiled the exhibit at April's Georgia Numismatic Association (GNA) coin show and didn't really want to display it again (so soon), but fate intervened. A few days after our Summer FUN visit, Mack had an attack of appendicitis, was rushed to the hospital, and it was "touch and go" for several days. Anyway, after such a harrowing experience, I didn't have the heart to turn Mack down, so exhibit I did! For the record, all of the exhibits were shown on a non-competitive basis.
The BRNA coin show is touted as the largest in Georgia and the hall seemed quite cavernous as the dealers trickled in to begin set-up. I'm not sure if the dealers were late in arriving, or perhaps it was just a manifestation of my trepidation, due to the BRNA's conflict with the happenings in Rosemont. When we left at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, fully 25% of the dealer tables were still vacant.
I made a purchase on set-up day: a very choice roll of uncirculated 1958-P Franklin half dollars. I have been partial to BU Franklin halves as a means to add to my stockpile of silver, which seems (to me) to be a better value than gold right now. The premium (over the spot silver price) is quite a bit lower for BU Franklin halves than for silver American Eagles. I have also been able to cherry-pick choice, better-date rolls, as long as I'm willing to invest equal portions of patience and shoe leather. Speaking of silver eagles, Al bought a green "monster-box" of 500.
After we left the show, we made our customary trip to the nearby Red Lobster, which one of our group humorously terms the "Dead Lobster." We weren't alone in our quest for succulent seafood, as we spotted several other dealers partaking of the bill of fare.
Day One:
After what seemed like a short night, followed by an enjoyable breakfast at our "home away from home" (the Holiday Inn & Suites), it was off to the show for the official opening day. The appearance of the bourse was markedly different than when we left the preceding evening, as just about all of the empty dealer tables were now miraculously filled. In addition, a mob of enthusiastic coin seekers soon turned the hall into a bustling marketplace. I wondered how robust the ANA's attendance was, with this many people at the Dalton venue.
We were fortunate to be visited by many of our fellow Dahlonega gold collectors on Friday. Much pleasant conversation ensued, with everyone discussing their recent acquisitions. Al sold a very nice 1839-D half eagle, graded XF40 (by PCGS), which he had just purchased at the ANA. The new owner is one of our favorite collector friends and he is delighted to have finally captured this popular one-year Dahlonega type coin.
I spent a portion of Friday researching a Pigeon Roost $5 bank note that I had spotted on the bourse floor. Although the $5 denomination is the most common of these Appalachian Gold Rush-era bank notes, still the discovery of a Pigeon Roost note is not something to be lightly dismissed. This particular note had been issued in Dahlonega, Georgia, which is "Ground Zero" (if you get my drift). After a lot of fun with the research and the accompanying "thrill of the chase," I reluctantly decided that the note was a bit too tattered and that I would be better off to wait for a more pleasing example.
We were dog-tired after the long day on the bourse and after a pouring rainstorm back at the hotel, we decided to take sustenance in the establishment's restaurant. As soon as we went down to the lobby, we saw a fellow Dahlonega gold aficionado (and his better half), who joined our party. Thus, our decision to "eat in" was affirmed as a wise one and a pleasant evening of fine food and engaging discourse was soon in the offing. Later our group grew to include another dealer friend who had wandered into our circle. All too soon, the evening was at an end and it was off to bed.
Day Two:
After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we were eager to get to the show. Saturday had a good attendance level, complete with "General Robert E. Lee," as the honored BRNA VIP, although there wasn't as much "buzz" as on Friday. However, we did get to visit with several familiar faces that we had not seen the day before.
I looked at several interesting coins during the day, including an attractively toned 1878-CC Morgan dollar in the GSA blue soft-pack. I also saw two in-demand (but aggressively priced) PCGS-graded 1839-D quarter eagles (one VF30 and the other, XF45). I spotted a pretty 1903-O $10 gold piece (graded MS62 by PCGS, but which had the eye appeal of a 63 or 64). After successfully resisting temptation, late in the day I succumbed to a near-gem, prooflike 1883-CC GSA Morgan dollar, with box and card. I had collected GSA CCs during my formative years in numismatics (in the early 1980s), so this purchase was somewhat of a "nostalgia trip" for me. I also paid for a crusty, original 1849-D quarter eagle (in a PCGS VF35 rattler--my only Dahlonega housed in a first generation holder). I had reserved the coin at last Sunday's monthly Atlanta Coin Show, from a dealer that rarely has a Dahlonega piece. He told me that he had purchased the coin earlier that weekend, at a show in Foley, Alabama. Go figure!
As I returned to the table, Al was finishing up the sale of six 100-ounce silver bars to another dealer and was purchasing several pretty PCGS-graded $20 Saints from a client.
We were losing steam that evening and opted for take-out from Chili's. Accompanied by red wine and the Braves-Diamondbacks game, the meal was a hit with us.
Day Three:
Sunday finally arrived and we tried to think of what else we wanted to accomplish before this coin caper concluded. After breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and headed for the convention center. I attended a GNA board meeting from 10:30 until 12:30, at which time I headed back to the table to help Al wrap things up. I also e-mailed (to a friend) the photos and asking price of a nice $500 bill, series 1928, from the St. Louis FRB, but he must not have been ready to "pull the trigger." While I was at the board meeting, Al sold a $1,000 face value bag of silver dimes, which had an MTB lead seal, from 1989. As with many shows in recent months, bullion sales seemed to lead the way. During the BRNA show, silver and gold had been steadily increasing in value.
After taking down my exhibit (for which I had received many nice comments), I helped Al load up for the trip home. Soon I was back home myself, tired but happy, after two weeks on the road. All-in-all, I had a very productive and enjoyable BRNA show!
"Clamorous for Coin"
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Comments
Unfortunately, I had very limited time and did not get to see the exhibit or the hobo nickel presentation, which was starting right as I was leaving.
Save some of the dirty Dahlonega coins for me.
of regionals , which gives another perspective .
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.