Salt Lake Coin & Token Show report
BryceM
Posts: 11,802 ✭✭✭✭✭
Every once in a while I have a free weekend and I decided to check out this regional show. From where I live it's a couple of hours to Salt Lake City or a couple of hours to Boise, the closest towns large enough to have real airports or host an occasional coin show of any significance.
My previous shows have been a handful of trips to Long Beach, the Vegas PCGS show (early in its history), a couple trips to the Summer ANA in Rosemont, and the most recent ANA show in Portland. As odd as it sounds, due to the travel issues, I had never really been to a small show before. After digging around in my truck for enough loose change to pay the $3 entry fee, I was in. It was more or less about what I expected. I recognized most of the Utah & Idaho dealers from visits to their B&M stores. Some of the dealers there also hit the Long Beach show regularly. One was from Cali and there were two from Oregon. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seemed like there were maybe thirty tables and maybe twice that many dealers. Several of the tables seemed to be shared, and it wasn't always exactly obvious who owned what. Right off the bat I could see that only about half of the dealers carried slabbed coins, and a few of them seemed to have predominantly NGC-slabbed modern proofs worth a little less than the grading fees. There were maybe 5 or 6 dealers who looked like they would fit in at a major show. No worries......
I worked a three-for-one bullion trade with a dealer that netted me a generic $20 Lib, the only business I conducted. I was tempted by a couple of CBH's and there were actually quite a few early dollars and half dollars that were nice, but not nice enough to cause the checkbook to come out. I also saw a few early type coins that got a close look, and one very nicely toned Type III 3 cent silver in PCGS MS65 that in retrospect I should have brought home with me. One early draped bust half was "all there", but was priced to strongly to be tempting.
The highlight of the show, by far, was when I bumped into Drunner. He already bought all the great material at the show, but I let him play with my single Doily ($10 Lib, ex RYK). He was kind enough to show me a couple of fantastic coins and one rather remarkable slab. It is always fun to put names with faces.
After the third lap around the room it became obvious to both me and the dealers that I wasn't likely to buy anything, so I wandered off, stopped at the big furniture store to pick out a new dishwasher for the wifey, bought a few fish for the aquarium (side hobby), and picked up diner from a chain sandwich shop. You have to make the most of trips to the big city. I even got to ride on an escalator.
The drive home through the Idaho mountains at sunset was breathtaking, but I digress......
My previous shows have been a handful of trips to Long Beach, the Vegas PCGS show (early in its history), a couple trips to the Summer ANA in Rosemont, and the most recent ANA show in Portland. As odd as it sounds, due to the travel issues, I had never really been to a small show before. After digging around in my truck for enough loose change to pay the $3 entry fee, I was in. It was more or less about what I expected. I recognized most of the Utah & Idaho dealers from visits to their B&M stores. Some of the dealers there also hit the Long Beach show regularly. One was from Cali and there were two from Oregon. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seemed like there were maybe thirty tables and maybe twice that many dealers. Several of the tables seemed to be shared, and it wasn't always exactly obvious who owned what. Right off the bat I could see that only about half of the dealers carried slabbed coins, and a few of them seemed to have predominantly NGC-slabbed modern proofs worth a little less than the grading fees. There were maybe 5 or 6 dealers who looked like they would fit in at a major show. No worries......
I worked a three-for-one bullion trade with a dealer that netted me a generic $20 Lib, the only business I conducted. I was tempted by a couple of CBH's and there were actually quite a few early dollars and half dollars that were nice, but not nice enough to cause the checkbook to come out. I also saw a few early type coins that got a close look, and one very nicely toned Type III 3 cent silver in PCGS MS65 that in retrospect I should have brought home with me. One early draped bust half was "all there", but was priced to strongly to be tempting.
The highlight of the show, by far, was when I bumped into Drunner. He already bought all the great material at the show, but I let him play with my single Doily ($10 Lib, ex RYK). He was kind enough to show me a couple of fantastic coins and one rather remarkable slab. It is always fun to put names with faces.
After the third lap around the room it became obvious to both me and the dealers that I wasn't likely to buy anything, so I wandered off, stopped at the big furniture store to pick out a new dishwasher for the wifey, bought a few fish for the aquarium (side hobby), and picked up diner from a chain sandwich shop. You have to make the most of trips to the big city. I even got to ride on an escalator.
The drive home through the Idaho mountains at sunset was breathtaking, but I digress......
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Comments
Oh well . . probably like the superb Doily -- I will always be a bit short!
I'll get you that SR-71 / YF12A stuff! I also owe SkyMan as well . . .
Great report, and who knows, I may still add one of my own -- although I will be merely a foil to your excellence!
Great to see you !!!!!
Drunner
Bravo! Accurate, superbly phrased, and with that numismatic acumen that comes from a first ride in an escalator!
Well done . . .
Drunner
Not my first ride, but probably my first in several months........ no kidding.
Glad I wasn't the only one enjoying a show yesterday.
I look forward to meeting DRUNNER one day.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.