Denver Coin Show report

RockyMtnProspector

First up, the newps!

These were photos taken on the fly:

1884-O GSA soft pack, with slightly-PL obv:

1853 Half Dime, AU58 CAC, with light gold toning on obverse:

Least expensive and yet a highlight, old pioneer-themed dime saver (with 10 silver Roosies at melt):

1883-P, just a nice raw Philly in old-ish coin envelope:

1944-P Walker in 66 CAC, with nice toning (better in hand):

1942-D Walker, also with great rim toning:

I'll try to get better lighting/images later.

Show report:

I was lucky enough to schedule the afternoon off from work a few months in advance, so I made it to the show just after noon. The venue is in the National Western Stock Show complex just east of I-70 and I-25 in central Denver. There is always another event going on on the grounds, but the dedicated coin show parking lot was still available, although for the first public day of the show, the event lot was quite packed by the time I arrived.

Upon paying my $8 entry fee (a mailer postcard sent to everyone provided 2 free ANACS gradings, which is a nice perk), I noticed that the show was not only well-off, but actually quite busy. I've been going to this show twice a year now for the 5th year, and Thursdays are typically very quiet, as most of the business to be had is wholesale, dealer-to-dealer. The show used to end on Sunday and Thursday was setup/early bird, but now that happens Wednesday and Thursday is the first public day. Let's just say it was opposite of crickets on the bourse floor!

The photo doesn't do the show justice, as the cavernous venue makes it look like the show wasn't hopping. Almost all dealers had at least one person at their table, and many were "full" with all available chairs taken. I had to say a quick hi to a few dealer friends and ask if they would still be there Saturday, when I return, because they were unable to talk and show coins when I passed by. Deals were being done all over and there appeared to be a healthy balance of buying and selling going on consistently for dealers of all varieties.

Sales were reportedly strong, and silver bullion was popular, whereas 90% was reportedly slow. Generic gold was also reportedly slow, thought anything nice/high/CAC in gold was holding its own.

Premium material was getting looks due to the number of retail customers in attendance, even if no purchases were made. There were a few new dealers (more on that later) and their stuff was refreshing, given the staleness of the local dealers' stock. Not a ton of CAC coins, but not a dearth either (and I know the passions on that subject!). Since I'm a buy the coin, not the holder kinda collector, I looked at fresh material (to me, at least) that was raw, slabbed, and/or beaned, without any preconceptions. Since I was in a buying but indeterminate mood, I had a broader eye than I sometimes do, and was open to looking at coins outside my core area, even if just for fun.

I had purchased a nice BU roll of Morgans in April from a local dealer who also had a couple other rolls in his cases. I couldn't take them all, having had to write a big ol' check to Uncle Same just the week before, so I was hoping that the rolls would hold out until this show, but alas, some dealer bought them yesterday. The rolls were nicely matched--I grabbed the 1880-S roll of almost uniformly PL coins with a few DMPL ringers last month, and will have to image those at some point. Flashy, most of the pieces are 62-63 and dual-sided PL, with a few one-siders and a couple DMPLs as I mentioned. There are also a couple 65s that are semi-PL. The 1881-S roll that I missed out on was a very nicely matched roll without PLs, and the 1885-O roll was also choice, with some light toners. Oh well, next time I'll have to bring a bigger pocketbook!

Back to the new dealers I mentioned. The show recently was purchased by a new sponsor, and that attracted a few new dealers and more importantly, the retention of regular dealers who had become quite disappointed in the previous show runners. The last few years have seen quite a bit of turnover, as national dealers have come and gone, and the show looked a little ragged over the past few editions. Dealers I talked to were upset over table price hikes that did not match retail traffic. Last year's May and October shows also felt the impact of the ANA World's Fair of Money in Denver, as retail was down either in anticipation or exhaustion following the August show. I was definitely in that camp, and became a tire-kicker for the most part, waiting for the bigger show.

Needless to say, it was refreshing to hear dealers enthusiastic about the show once again, impressed with Thursday's retail traffic and some decent wholesale action yesterday. Coins and cash seemed to be flowing, and not stagnant as it appeared to me over, say, the past 18-24 months in this neck of the numismatic woods.

As for my newps, I really liked the pioneer-themed dime saver book, with $1 in face still inside, for melt. The Walkers were both upgrades, not in numerical grade, but with toning (sorry @ricko) from the 66s I had in blast white from my first foray into Walkers in 2013/14.

While I have a ton of GSA hardpacks, I did not have a GSA softpack of any sort, and this 1884-O was very nice.

I have a few other newps that are on hold for me Saturday, and I'll share those when I have them in hand.

golden

Thanks for the nice report.

HighRelief

Good report and you picked up some nice coins. The rolls of Morgan's would be nice a surprise with finding the toned and DMPL's, how freakin rare is that.

OldIndianNutKase

Insightful report and very much appreciated. I had hoped to attend but due to business issues I am in Utah at the moment. Interesting that there is new show management and that has helped dealer participation. Thanks for the report.

OINK

ricko

Thanks for a great report... interesting that generic gold was not moving...with the dip in melt....Oh well, as usual, people seem to wait for gold prices to rise before they buy. It is OK to buy tarnished Walkers, that leaves the white one's for me... Glad to hear how busy the show was... and that seems to fit with a recent trend in most reports. Cheers, RickO

Walkerguy21D

Great show report and I really like those walkers!

RockyMtnProspector

@Walkerguy21D said:
Great show report and I really like those walkers!

Thanks!

bidask

I had fun browsing and bought these:

RockyMtnProspector

Some nice finds, really dig the old rattlers!

bidask

@RockyMtnProspector said:
Some nice finds, really dig the old rattlers!

Thanks the Frankie's had FBL's.

divecchia

Thanks for sharing some of the show highlights with us. It seems like it was well attended.

Donato

Walkerguy21D

Was Jason Flowers set up there?

Smudge

Thanks, I really enjoy show reports and yours was good. Like the coins as well.

Jimnight

Thank you for the report... I always enjoy reading them and looking at the photos!

mkman123

nice report, please take more pictures!

RockyMtnProspector

@Walkerguy21D said:
Was Jason Flowers set up there?

Yes, he was. The half dime and 42-D Walker came from Jason.

Walkerguy21D

I should have known - he loves nice seated half dimes and three cent silvers!

mannie gray

@bidask said:
I had fun browsing and bought these:

Nice Franklins. The 49 looks real nice and the 50 looks like a 66.
Cool set of 48 BTWs.