SoCal Reminder: Buena Park show tomorrow and Sunday!

TommyType

Probably my favorite show. It's not as big as Long Beach (for sure), but it's a very well attended regional show....and for some reason I always find something I really like.

Technically, the room is too small for the crowd. The AC is often insufficient. There are too many chairs in the aisles. But I wouldn't miss it.

Strat

Great show! Will be there in the afternoon if I can wrap up some family commitments first.

skier07

Address?

TommyType

http://pacificexposllc.com/index.php/october-show/

"The Retail Clerk’s Hall, at 8550 Stanton in Buena Park"

skier07

I’ll see you there today. I’m tall, older, and will have red LA Angels tee shirt on.

ricko

Please grace the forum with show reports... always appreciated. Cheers, RickO

TommyType

Show Report: (Because I like to tell stories).

The show didn't seem as crowded as I recall from the past. That's not to say it was EMPTY, since there was a steady stream of collectors...just that it wasn't as OVER crowded as it has sometimes been. And while it was a warm SoCal day, with temps in the 90's, the AC seemed to be mostly keeping up. In short, a pretty good day for coin searching.

As is my norm, I did one lap of the bourse taking mental notes of what really interested me. I came up with about 5 coins (more or less). It turned out to be a "day of choices" for me.

Ranked in order of interest, (and actual hands-on checkout):

• 1818 Bust Half in VF30: I liked it...but the price came in about 50% above what I was willing to throw down.
• 1827/6 Bust Half, about the same grade: I liked it almost as much at the 1818....but the price came in about 75% above what I was willing to pay. (Plus, since I'm working a date set, I don't REALLY need this date...even if it is a neat overdate).

Guess my basic issue with Bust Halves is: I have no idea where the prices come from. I use the PCGS guide as my "the most I should probably ever pay" reference. And I related my purchases of a pair at Long Beach that were like 60% of what I was probably willing to pay. Prices are just all over the board. As a casual collector of the series, I guess I should probably just continue to pick my spots. And I didn't find my spot today.

• 1920 SLQ in MS-64: I'm looking to pick up a nice "Type 2a", which some people recognize as a separate type, and some don't. I saw this one on first pass, and when I went back, I noticed the same dealer had a 1924 in MS-63FH. I asked to see both. The prices for the two were within $25 of each other, so it was a "matter of choice". They were both mostly white, with a hint of toning starting on each. Both generally well struck through the body of Miss Liberty, and with nearly identical reverses. So it came down to: A) 1920 with a pretty good head, but not full, and a pretty sharp shield, or B ) the 1924 with a full head, and slightly less well defined shield, (though still pretty good). In the end it wasn't the head or shield that made my decision. It was the very week beading above the head on the 1920. It gave the coin a lop-sided look that was rather unappealing. So I went with the 1924 in slightly lower grade, but more balanced strike.
• 1921D Morgan in MS-64: My "Morgan Type" set needs a D mintmark....and as I'm sure you know, that means a 1921D! This one was more lustrous than many I've seen, but sadly it had a rather nasty scrape on the reverse field. I couldn't get past that, and passed on the coin.
• 1954D Franklin Half: I related my "Flexing my Grading Independence" in another thread. Basically, it came down to a choice between an MS-63FBL that looked like an MS-65FBL...or an actual MS-65FBL with some rather significant hits on the portrait and bell. I ignored the holders, and bought the cheapo MS-63FBL for $20. Someday I may try the "re-grade" route...but probably not. I like the look, but it just isn't that important what the holder says!!

All in all, Buena Park again met my expectations for a nice regional show where I "Always find something I like". Had a nice day, and got some coins I really like!

Tom

KollectorKing

@TommyType said:
Show Report: (Because I like to tell stories).

The show didn't seem as crowded as I recall from the past. That's not to say it was EMPTY, since there was a steady stream of collectors...just that it wasn't as OVER crowded as it has sometimes been. And while it was a warm SoCal day, with temps in the 90's, the AC seemed to be mostly keeping up. In short, a pretty good day for coin searching.

As is my norm, I did one lap of the bourse taking mental notes of what really interested me. I came up with about 5 coins (more or less). It turned out to be a "day of choices" for me.

Ranked in order of interest, (and actual hands-on checkout):

• 1818 Bust Half in VF30: I liked it...but the price came in about 50% above what I was willing to throw down.
• 1827/6 Bust Half, about the same grade: I liked it almost as much at the 1818....but the price came in about 75% above what I was willing to pay. (Plus, since I'm working a date set, I don't REALLY need this date...even if it is a neat overdate).

Guess my basic issue with Bust Halves is: I have no idea where the prices come from. I use the PCGS guide as my "the most I should probably ever pay" reference. And I related my purchases of a pair at Long Beach that were like 60% of what I was probably willing to pay. Prices are just all over the board. As a casual collector of the series, I guess I should probably just continue to pick my spots. And I didn't find my spot today.

• 1920 SLQ in MS-64: I'm looking to pick up a nice "Type 2a", which some people recognize as a separate type, and some don't. I saw this one on first pass, and when I went back, I noticed the same dealer had a 1924 in MS-63FH. I asked to see both. The prices for the two were within $25 of each other, so it was a "matter of choice". They were both mostly white, with a hint of toning starting on each. Both generally well struck through the body of Miss Liberty, and with nearly identical reverses. So it came down to: A) 1920 with a pretty good head, but not full, and a pretty sharp shield, or B ) the 1924 with a full head, and slightly less well defined shield, (though still pretty good). In the end it wasn't the head or shield that made my decision. It was the very week beading above the head on the 1920. It gave the coin a lop-sided look that was rather unappealing. So I went with the 1924 in slightly lower grade, but more balanced strike.
• 1921D Morgan in MS-64: My "Morgan Type" set needs a D mintmark....and as I'm sure you know, that means a 1921D! This one was more lustrous than many I've seen, but sadly it had a rather nasty scrape on the reverse field. I couldn't get past that, and passed on the coin.
• 1954D Franklin Half: I related my "Flexing my Grading Independence" in another thread. Basically, it came down to a choice between an MS-63FBL that looked like an MS-65FBL...or an actual MS-65FBL with some rather significant hits on the portrait and bell. I ignored the holders, and bought the cheapo MS-63FBL for $20. Someday I may try the "re-grade" route...but probably not. I like the look, but it just isn't that important what the holder says!!

All in all, Buena Park again met my expectations for a nice regional show where I "Always find something I like". Had a nice day, and got some coins I really like!

Tom

Now this is what COIN COLLECTING is all about.
Thanks for a great report.