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Thursday At Long Beach

ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
Summary - If you can make it, go to the show. There is something for everyone there.

This was the best Long Beach Show I have attended in at least three years. Had to wait 20 minutes to get in, probably because former Lakers Jerry West and Magic Johnson were scheduled to be signing autographs (don't know which day, but I've never seen crowds waiting at the entrance like these ever before at a Long Beach Show).

The show looked busier than usual. A guy at a booth in the 400s on the right as you head back from the entrance, had over a roll of individually slabbed 38 D Buffs in PC 6 holders, selling them for $65 each. These come well struck, lustrous, and are a perfect, inexpensive type coin for someone who wants an attractive Buffalo Nickel without breaking the bank.

There was the most amazing group of old coppers I have ever seen in one location. If you like old copper, this in itself is worth making the trip.
a) The High Desert Collection is there for all to see. Every date, every variety. Most in grades MS 62-4 BN. It included an 1839 Silly Head in a PC 66+ RD holder. Never seen a Copper from the 1830s look like this; the color reminded me of a coin in a 1956 D roll of RD Lincoln Cents I have.
b) Chris MacCawley has gone mainstream. Has lots of attractively slabbed copper in grades MS 63 to MS 65, in all colors. Primarily Draped Bust Coronet Head and Braided Hair Large Cents, along with some attractive Classic and Braided Hair Half Cents. Much of his stuff is by die variety. Ie., you need to know the difference between an Unc. Copper from the 1850s which is an R1 and an R4, as it is priced accordingly.
c) Walter Husak is back, and brought some of his Unc. copper from the 1700s. Some of it had color, much of it was gem grade.
d) Leo Freese, formerly with Heritage, had a 1794 Large Cent in PC 6 BN. He was kind enough to let me inspect the coin. I had an interesting conversation with him.
e) Jack Beymer had the most attractive 1835 Classic Half Cent in MS 65 RB that I've ever seen. It was in an NGC old line fatty. The obverse was an even RD color - not mellowed at all - the reverse had a swath of BN over 15% of the coin.
e) A number of other dealers had Unc. Braided Hair Large Cents of various dates, with grades of MS 64 and MS 65 in all color designations. I also saw more Unc. Braided Hair Half Cents at this show than I have ever seen before. - 1851, 1854, 1855, 1856 and 1857. Some with color. Grades MS 64 to MS 65.

One guy, named Massie, had an amazing run of Unc. Barber Halves. I believe he had all dates. Grades ranged from MS 63-MS 65. All in PC holders. Another guy who shared a table with Angel Dees, had many RB gem 2 Cent Pieces. There was plenty of Unc. Barber coinage of all denominations, business strike and PF coins. There was also quite a bit of high graded Seated dimes, quarters and halves. Don Rinkor had his usual assortment of Seated $s and Trade $s in MS 62-4. He also has Morgans and Peace $s now. Many Capped Bust Halves in grades from XF through MS 63 were available (more of the former through AU than the latter). Saw one CBH in a PC 5 holder - nice, but very expensive.

I looked at two Legend Morphy lots, and was again reminded that you need to see the coin in hand. Both coins looked much better than their images. I may bid on one of them.

The usual suspects were there in abundance - generic gold, stickered Morgans, Peace $s and Walkers. One guy had an impressive run of stickered Walkers in most, if not all dates. Jay Cline was there with his attractive SLQs.

One thing I did not see were many Liberty Nickels in MS 66. There were plenty of Liberty Nickels available in MS 64 and MS 65. Saw SIX different 12 S Liberty Nickels in PC 5 holders. Most of the Liberty Nickels in MS 66 I saw were common dates. I did buy an 07 with a sticker from Carter Numismatics in PC 6. It was my only purchase. I have 12 of them; 21 more to go (like I'll ever get a complete set of them in this grade - don't think so). Legend had an amazingly toned 1910 Liberty Nickel in PC 6 with a sticker. I see toning on PC 6 Liberty Nickels like this maybe once out of viewing fifty coins.

I want to thank Mark Feld for helping me out once again. Likewise with Jim Stoutjestyk, of Heritage, to whom I submitted six of my coins to review and send into CAC to get stickers. I didn't send anything in to PCGS for upgrades. My coins I think are solid for the grade, but I don't think they are 'shot' coins.

I had an interesting dilemma re a nice NGC coin on which I passed. It is worth 2X the price quoted me if it is in a PC holder, and I think it's a very nice coin, but I didn't have the nerve to buy it, crack it out, and send it in raw. I might go out of pocket and spend $200 for a coin and try this, but not $2,000. I asked the dealer to let me know if got into a PC holder. I try to buy the coin I like in the holder I like. It is less aggravating for me that way.

I met / caught up with a number of people at the show. I chatted with Dale Friend at the Pinnacle table. He had a registry set of Liberty Nickels which he sold in 2004, and knows I am collecting the series in PC 6. I finally met Pony Express, Dennis H, and Illini Mike. I also saw and chatted with Todd (Bluevette).

Arrived at 10:20 AM, left at 5:00 PM. Usually, I leave by 2 or 3 PM. If you're in the Los Angeles area, the metro-rail will leave you maybe 800 yards from the entrance of the Convention Center.




"Vou invadir o Nordeste,
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."

Comments

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    ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,449 ✭✭✭✭
    Interesting report, thanks. I'm flying down tomorrow for the day and the PCGS grading class on Saturday. Sounds like I'll have plenty to ogle.
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    MFHMFH Posts: 11,720 ✭✭✭✭

    Jeff,

    Great report. I have met Dustin Massie a few times - and he was at FUN
    walking the floor - with his amazing Barber Halves. I intoduced him to Glenn /
    Ponyexpress and they did some business together.

    Sounds to me as though you had a fun filled day !
    Mike Hayes
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !

    New Barber Purchases
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    RYKRYK Posts: 35,801 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    CoinJunkieCoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the report. Sorry I won't be able to attend this one.

    Angel Dees often shares a table with Justin Gomes, who specializes in toned commems. I think he
    had some 2 cent pieces last time I stopped by, so that may be the guy you referenced. FWIW.
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    ElcontadorElcontador Posts: 7,743 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thanks for the report. Sorry I won't be able to attend this one.

    Angel Dees often shares a table with Justin Gomes, who specializes in toned commems. I think he
    had some 2 cent pieces last time I stopped by, so that may be the guy you referenced. FWIW. >>



    That's the guy. I remember he had a Portuguese name.
    "Vou invadir o Nordeste,
    "Seu cabra da peste,
    "Sou Mangueira......."
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    TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,293 ✭✭✭✭✭
    +1

    Practice makes perfect & nobody is perfect. So, practice being nobody and be perfect !

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    mkman123mkman123 Posts: 6,849 ✭✭✭✭
    Need pics!
    Successful Buying and Selling transactions with:

    Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
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    mdwoodsmdwoods Posts: 5,560 ✭✭✭
    Great report. I would have really liked to seen the old copper. Plus Long Beach is much nicer than Michigan this time of year.
    National Register Of Big Trees

    We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
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    bidaskbidask Posts: 14,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report, thanks.
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




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    coinnutcoinnut Posts: 1,434 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report. Makes me wish I could be there.
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    AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,375 ✭✭✭✭
    Excellent and very detailed report! I wish I was there!!
    Any decent chain cents?
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
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    shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,447 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report, I'm going through the same thing right now with an NGC coin.
    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
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    DrPeteDrPete Posts: 1,497 ✭✭✭
    Would love to hear more about the mint state barber halves. Are those for sale? What grades for the better dates like 96-O and 04-S?
    Dr. Pete
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    blu62vetteblu62vette Posts: 11,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice meeting you and talking of foreign lands....
    http://www.bluccphotos.com" target="new">BluCC Photos Shows for onsite imaging: Nov Baltimore, FUN, Long Beach http://www.facebook.com/bluccphotos" target="new">BluCC on Facebook
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    SonorandesertratSonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting comments. Thanks for taking the time to write the report.
    Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA

    RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'

    CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
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    Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 12,191 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report, thanks for sharing. Sounds like plenty o' copper to look at!
    There was a young lady that I saw at FUN multiple times around the floor - she was there strictly recruiting dealers to
    come set up at Long Beach. Maybe this helped make it a better show?

    Successful BST transactions with 180 members. Gothat3rs, Omegaraptor, breakdown, scotty1419, Cent1225, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
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    I enjoyed reading your in-depth show report. Many thanks!
    "Clamorous for Coin"
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    BustCudsBustCuds Posts: 1,096 ✭✭✭


    Nice report...image
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    MowgliMowgli Posts: 1,219 ✭


    << <i>I enjoyed reading your in-depth show report. Many thanks! >>



    Me too
    In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
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    jomjom Posts: 3,538 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report and pretty much what I noticed as well. A lot of people for some reason. I was talking to Truthteller about this...I haven't seen a line out front ONE HOUR after the show started in 15 years...there is usually a line at 10am but it disperses quickly. But yesterday morning was highly unusual. I hope it was a good day for the dealers...

    West and Magic won't be there until tomorrow...and since I'm going I probably should try to get there early....

    jom

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    hammer1hammer1 Posts: 3,874 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>West and Magic won't be there until tomorrow...and since I'm going I probably should try to get there early....jom >>



    The two greatest Lakers ever. Try to get them to sign something rare...a box score with a Lakers win.image
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    Great Report! Sounds like things are picking up with LB show. Thanks
    OLDER IS BETTER
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    JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,852 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I enjoyed reading your in-depth show report. Many thanks! >>



    Me too >>



    +1

    Thank you. MJ
    Walker Proof Digital Album
    Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......

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