Local coin show followed by a car show
fishteeth
Posts: 2,263 ✭✭✭✭✭
Went to a local milwaukee coin show today and felt like I was in a dream. The place was packed. 9 am a line out the door waiting to get in. The 4 guys from the club manning the entry table were in their 30s or 40s and dressed professionally. Many kids and young people roving the isles and i saw many of them actually looking at coins.
People of all demographics and ethnicities. Dealers were friendly and seemed willing to deal and talk.
Really felt much different than most other local shows lately. Had promised to take my kids on a bike ride so only stayed about an hour. Didn't find anything for my collection, but did pick up a few pieces, but those will be sold so not going to
Post them here.
Maybe coins are not dead here. After the show headed over to a large car show a few blocks away that my dad had our 1957 Chevy sedan delivery in. Got a feeling walking around that car show that vintage autos may start to have similar demographic problems to coin collecting, perhaps even more so. What happens when we go electric, self driving cars in the future? Also not many people in my demographic even have the faintest idea or interest on how to work on a car
I got to thinking about the benefit to coins small and no need to change the oil or winterize.
Comments
Thats good news to hear about a coin show. Sounds like a really good day.
I really enjoy car shows
I use to show a corvette!
Can sometimes pick up some good coins at a auto swap meet,
Sounds like a great day, coins and cars. At my small local club show we are seeing increases of youngsters brought by their moms and dads. It makes me optimistic for the future of our hobby.
A few years ago I sold my last 4 wheeled toy. Only drove this to car shows and a couple laps around Michigan International Speedway after a car show on the grounds. A 2004 F~150 Lightning.
"A penny hit by lightning is worth six cents". Opie Taylor
I agree with your opinion of the old car demographics. I chose a couple of years ago to divest myself of two 1932 Ford projects, and instead buy a newer muscle car. I saw too many oxygen tanks and hover rounds at the street rod shows to make me comfortable plowing another 50k into street rods. A coin show and car show sounds like a great day.
Thanks for the show report... was there much movement of bullion? Nice to hear about the YN's.... I, for one, have always noticed YN's at shows and have no fear for the health of the hobby. Cheers, RickO
The car show demographics skew old. I see that at the Woodward Dream Cruise, which is held each August just a few blocks from my house. It takes money to play that game.
Another problem the car market may have relates to the cars themselves. How many cars of the past 35 years or so elicit any fond memories? Most are quite bland. Minivans, SUVs, cars with black, white, deep red or silver gray paint ... boring.
And yes, the fact that virtually no one knows how to work on cars anymore due to the computerization of just about everything doesn't help matters.
I wonder what the show promoters did to ensure a good attendance?
I'm into Classic cars because I want the feeling of the driving experience while I'm still here alive on Earth. Not so much if I'll get out alive with my money. You really have to drive an old car and have a relationship with it. People now are just steering wheel holders in plastic cages going on one boring drive to another. The car scene is gray because it takes time and money to build one and hard to do with the demands of a young family. The bland, boring cars of the last several decades is exactly why classic cars have their appeal. We took a wrong turn with their design somewhere, when is up for debate.
Seriously, do we think the hi way system and automobiles are going anywhere? 99% of people own one or rely on one someone else owns. This hobby marches on no doubt.
My sister has a 68 Camaro show car, maybe women will take over the car collecting.
fishteeth:
Excellent! Can you describe in detail how this show was managed, presented and promoted to the public? Were their and local circumstances that might have accounted for the attendance? This kind of information about successful coin shows can help the ANA and others improve their conventions and coin shows.
When finished, I recommend you send to Sam Joseph, ANA Exposition Manager, sjoseph@money.org. and to Whitman Publications (Baltimore show, etc.) for their review.
I feel that that there are a few things that made this show better. First it looks like the coin club has gotten younger, I went to a club meeting years ago and never went back because of the age difference. After leaving the show I actually have considered joining the club after seeing an apparent younger demographic.
The second thing was there are only a few shows in our area now, and even fewer real coin stores, kind of sad. Milwaukee, which used to be an important area for coin collecting, has been really slow the past decade. So if you want to see coins you only have a few chances every year.
The only real marketing I ever see for this show is the flyers they hand out and the large sign out front of Serb hall. I don't know if they do any other marketing.
The spring show that was held last year was dead in comparison, empty tables and few people. Hopefully the spring show in Milwaukee will be vibrant
Did you check under the seats of the cars for forgotten treasures?
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"The bland, boring cars of the last several decades is exactly why classic cars have their appeal. We took a wrong turn with their design somewhere, when is up for debate."
Not all the cars are bland and boring. Sublime is the color. 707 horsepower.
I love Lime green!
Mine has much less horsepower but made for fun none the less