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Coin Show Report - GSNA Annual Convention, Somerset, NJ

Today I went to the annual, three-day convention of the Garden State Numismatic Association. The show features about 55 tables and runs Thursday-Saturday.

As you can imagine, Thursday and Friday are mostly for the dealers and a few hard-core collectors. People who go on Thursday and Friday usually report that floor traffic is very light.

Saturday is the big day for the public, but even then, floor traffic is usually light, especially when compared with the monthly Parsippany show.

However. . .

Tom Hyland, the show manager, does a tremendous job getting dealers who don't usually come to New Jersey, so it's not just the same old dealers and material and it seems like a number of collectors save up all year for this show, because despite the seemingly light floor traffic, most dealers report they're very happy with the show and come back year-after-year.

I mostly spent today talking to people I know, so I didn't really get around to see what was available. I can say that floor traffic was much heavier than normal for Saturday and the aisles actually felt crowded around noon.

Book dealer John Burns was present, with a really nice inventory, I might add. He had copies of Birdsall's book on Charlotte gold coins, Breen's Encyclopedia, Bowers' Silver Dollar Encyclopedia, Awash's book on Seated dimes, Miller's book on half eagles, a set of Akers' books on gold coins, etc.

I also spent some time with Bill Shamhart of Numismatic Americana, who, as usual, had some really stunning and esoteric material.

Check out the Southern Gold Society

Comments

  • njcoincranknjcoincrank Posts: 1,066 ✭✭
    DaveG,

    Good to see you today. You need to get out to more shows!

    Don't forget to do your homework!

    njcc
    www.numismaticamericana.com
  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 10,020 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Didn't get around to see what was available!? image That's like going to a bar and ordering a root beer. image
  • DaveGDaveG Posts: 3,535
    Believe me - if you were watching a movie of me taking a good look at Bill's inventory, the next scene would be me smoking a cigarette and looking really relaxed! image

    Check out the Southern Gold Society

  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    I miss seeing Mr. Shamhart's fascinating items (and conversation) at PAN.

    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.

  • breakdownbreakdown Posts: 2,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Dave,
    It was good talking to you and Bill today. I always learn some numismatic history listening to the two of you. I only had an hour so i didn't get much of a feel for the show but i like the nice wide aisles. At Parsippany, i always feel like I'm in Times Square at rush hour trying to negotiate the tables. The GSNA has more space, which is much appreciated. I agree that it is nice to see some out-of-state dealers attend.
    Thanks for the report.
    Jeff

    "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.

  • lusterloverlusterlover Posts: 1,263 ✭✭✭✭
    I made an appearance on Thursday. Was disappointed again that you could count on one hand the quality MPLs and early Lincolns in the house. I kept hearing the same thing from the Lincoln dealers..anything of quality doesn't make it into the case. I didn't see one red MS mint marked teen or 20's Lincoln. Oh well.
  • halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭
    I live 15 minutes away, and I was there for parts of all three days.

    Attendance for the show seemed to be way down when I was there, and Saturday was a huge letdown. Keep in mind the weather was real nice.

    The GSNA charges $25.00 per head to get into the show for dealers without tables from 9AM-1PM on Thursday before the bourse opens to the public. Although I had to leave at 12:30 from being tired and a bit ill, I am sure the activity that day was solid - even after 1PM.

    I am also a 27-year member, and a 26-year Life Member. The guys who run this show are great, and they are my friends. Seeing copper dealers such as Doug Bird and Tom Reynolds was a treat, even though I saw them two weeks prior in Buffalo at the EAC Convention.

    With that said, the turnout for the show seemed disappointing, and there were a lot of dealers twiddling their thumbs for much of the show. It is a bit enigmatic that a show with such a cherry Central NJ location shouldn't be bustling a bit more.

    It's no secret that I have been very critical of the GSNA's policy to charge admission, even though the $3.00 per person charge for non-member adults is good for all three days. If you join the GSNA for $10.00, then there is no admission charge, but frankly most people could care less about clubs. There were dealers on the bourse who did not even know about the charge. There is no reason why they need to do this, for it does not help.

    Oh, did I mention the food is awesome, reasonably priced, and their facilities are spotless? I just did.

    Greg


  • joebb21joebb21 Posts: 4,746 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Personally I find the GSNA show to be better than the larger parsippany show that takes place once a month.


    Highlight of the show for me was sitting and talking with TOMB for close to an hour about everything from coins to life to coinlife to life with coins. (as well as getting a PHD and not ending up using it...)

    2nd highlight of the show was purchasing Tom's 1964-d 25c pcgs ms64 cac. It didnt bother me at all paying 50x+ greysheet bid for a coin that to me was absolutely beautiful.

    may the fonz be with you...always...
  • halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Personally I find the GSNA show to be better than the larger parsippany show that takes place once a month.


    Highlight of the show for me was sitting and talking with TOMB for close to an hour about everything from coins to life to coinlife to life with coins. (as well as getting a PHD and not ending up using it...)

    2nd highlight of the show was purchasing Tom's 1964-d 25c pcgs ms64 cac. It didnt bother me at all paying 50x+ greysheet bid for a coin that to me was absolutely beautiful. >>



    Trust me, I like the show too with regards to the open space and the wider selection of dealers.

  • DaveGDaveG Posts: 3,535
    I dunno guys. . .

    Despite the traditional seemingly-low attendance at the show, the concensus reported tonight at the NJNS meeting was that the dealers were happy with the show.

    One member reported that he didn't hear of any dealer who said he had a bad show.

    Check out the Southern Gold Society

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This thread needs some GNSA newp pics image

    1840 Bergen Iron Works, Lakewood, New Jersey, HT-205 / Low-142, Brass, Rarity-2.

    I've been looking for a nice eye appealing Bergen in higher grade that wasn't spotted or darkly stained for about 4 years.

    image

    1837 Henry Anderson, NYC, NY, HT-219 / Low-107 R-2.

    This was just lovely in hand red brown obverse trace red reverse and is also a early die stage with well struck centers on both sides.

    image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • BanemorthBanemorth Posts: 986 ✭✭✭
    Well if we're posting GSNA Newps...

    Here's my 1942 PR67+ CAC Walker I picked up. Better HA pictures.

    image

    image

    Here's my own terrible pictures of a really nicely toned 1946-S MS65 Walker

    image

    image

    My wife almost stabbed me image

    I had a really great time at this show. Met a ton of great people that I hope to meet again.
    Justin From Jersey

    Successful Transactions With: JoeLewis, Mkman123, Harry779, Grote15, gdavis70, Kryptonitecomics
  • halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭
    Nice HTT's, especially the Bergen.
  • halfcentmanhalfcentman Posts: 1,498 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I dunno guys. . .

    Despite the traditional seemingly-low attendance at the show, the concensus reported tonight at the NJNS meeting was that the dealers were happy with the show.

    One member reported that he didn't hear of any dealer who said he had a bad show. >>



    Than they must have not heard what I did, because there were several dealers who did not.

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