Charmy's 2013 Double LAS VEGAS SHOW REPORT w/Lots of Pics!!
ThePennyLady
Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭✭✭
So I just returned from a very fun and somewhat successful 5 days in Las Vegas, so I’m a bit tired from the long drive and very happy to be home!
I left for the show on Wednesday morning so I would have time to check in at the Rio before I went over to the PCGS show that afternoon. I like to stay at the Rio because it’s not far from the Palace Station where the Las Vegas Numismatic Society’s show is held and it’s an easy drive each morning since I avoid the Strip traffic. And the weather in Vegas was absolutely beautiful the whole time!!! Here’s my room and the view from my room of the beautiful sunny desert that Vegas is!
I then headed over to the Venetian to the PCGS show – Wednesday was dealer set up day where most of the dealers are busy getting their submissions into PCGS for grading, but there was also lots of buying and selling as well.
I brought a few coins to sell, found some nice ones to buy, and also submitted several coins to PCGS. I was fortunate to get this nice picture of these two very cute PCGS girls!
PCGS set up a very popular sweet “snack” bar set up in the afternoon.
I know this is a little weird, but the design in the women’s restroom at the Venetian was so beautiful I just had to take a couple photos.
These are the gorgeous bright red stall doors
And the vanity/sink area
After I finished doing business at the PCGS show, I headed downstairs to the Poker Room. It’s a very large room and always seems to be quite busy.
Right from the beginning I was catching some good cards and quickly built up my chip stack - and the Patron shot wasn't bad either! I was doing so well, that I didn’t even go out for dinner but had a quick sandwich!
The next morning (Thursday), I headed back to the PCGS show to finish some business. I also took a few more photos.
Surprisingly, this is a photo of the beautiful ceiling of the valet/taxi area in front of the Venetian registration
More wonderful and very helpful PCGS gals!
Behind these curtains are the tireless hardworking graders and you can hear the constant sounds of the slabbing machines!
Found this familiar “face” at the show!
Soon it was time to head over for dealer set up at the LVNS show. The room is pretty large and there are over 100 dealer tables. I tried to take some photos to put into perspective the size of the show
There was quite a bit of business being conducted on Thursday between the early bird badge holders and all the dealers. For a dealer day, there was quite a buzz throughout the room. Later in the day when things died down a bit, I opened this yummy bottle of Ghost Pines red wine:
The show closed at 7pm so I went back to the Rio to meet up with my friends for dinner. Everyone was pretty tired from the travel and setting up their booths, so we decided to just have a simple dinner at the Grill restaurant, then do some gambling before calling it a night.
Some of my friends wanted to play some Roulette so we found this table with some very happy folks. These two guys were having a blast betting large stacks of chips on red or black, and were being quite successful at it.
I also played my usual table games - Ultimate Texas Hold-um, 3-Card Poker, Let it Ride, etc. However, I wasn’t very lucky/successful at these games this time around, so I soon headed back up to my room. Here’s a photo of beautiful Vegas at night from my room.
The next morning (Friday) I headed over to the show. I went out in the lobby just before it opened to the public and was happy to see a large crowd gathered to get in.
The registration desk
It didn’t take long for the show to become very crowded and the usual “show buzz” to begin
This is Walter Ostromecki (ANA VP and Presidential candidate) – he works tirelessly setting up and running the kids’ treasure hunts at coin shows around the country!
This is one of my most favorite dealers - Logan of Vams & More
And this is his beautiful daughter Cindy who also works for ANACS at several western region shows. She was extremely busy each day!
I was able to round up John McIntosh and his boys for a much-protested photo op!
I posted this on separate thread, but I thought I’d post it here too. A good dealer friend of mine had this error note stolen from him at the show. If you have any information about it, please contact:
Jim Cauley at Errors and More
916-212-6752
kjcauley@netzero.com
After the show was over, we decided to head downtown to Fremont Street to check out the light show, have some dinner, and, of course, do more gambling!
We had a wonderful relaxing and very yummy dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse which is in the Golden Nugget
This Palermo wine has a beautifully artistic label and was fantastic!!
I had a very tasty seabass with a chunk lobster topping and a side of parmesan artichoke risotto – mmmmmmmmmmmm!!
Then I played some no limit poker at the Golden Nugget poker room. I actually had another successful run at the poker table!
Also, there’s a legendary coin dealer who is known for sitting down at a 1-2 no limit game and plopping down $25,000 in cash – and sure enough, he showed up at my table!
For those who may not have been to Fremont Street, it has a very fun Mardi Gras atmosphere with lots of interesting characters just walking about!
A couple of bucket drummers
A balloon guy
Don’t know what he was thinking!
A bunch of guys getting a photo op with a cute show girl
This guy was just taking a nap (probably passed out) when a girl walked up and put a dollar bill on his cap
This is the light show on the roof that covers the street
On Saturday the show started out slowly but soon picked up.
There were lots of kids participating in the treasure hunt, and a “celebrity” also did some coin shopping!
This is Mark Hall-Patton - the Pawn Stars show expert from the Clark County Heritage Museum!!
In the afternoon, I opened this very decent bottle of Coppola zinfandel
After the show, I just went back to the Rio and played a little more poker before going to bed. This is the Official Main Event final World Series of Poker table for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 with a pile of chips glued together and stuck to the table.
So overall, the LVNS show was very busy and extremely well attended. However, I spoke to several dealers who all agreed that there were far too many people who just wanted to chat or graze than there were actual coin buyers. Unfortunately, many dealers reported poor or less-than-average sales. And even though I had one large sale that saved my show, it was not a very good retail show. However, I have hopes that the next show will be better and will happily return especially since “it’s Vegas baby!”
Next up – the Buena Park show this coming weekend!
I left for the show on Wednesday morning so I would have time to check in at the Rio before I went over to the PCGS show that afternoon. I like to stay at the Rio because it’s not far from the Palace Station where the Las Vegas Numismatic Society’s show is held and it’s an easy drive each morning since I avoid the Strip traffic. And the weather in Vegas was absolutely beautiful the whole time!!! Here’s my room and the view from my room of the beautiful sunny desert that Vegas is!
I then headed over to the Venetian to the PCGS show – Wednesday was dealer set up day where most of the dealers are busy getting their submissions into PCGS for grading, but there was also lots of buying and selling as well.
I brought a few coins to sell, found some nice ones to buy, and also submitted several coins to PCGS. I was fortunate to get this nice picture of these two very cute PCGS girls!
PCGS set up a very popular sweet “snack” bar set up in the afternoon.
I know this is a little weird, but the design in the women’s restroom at the Venetian was so beautiful I just had to take a couple photos.
These are the gorgeous bright red stall doors
And the vanity/sink area
After I finished doing business at the PCGS show, I headed downstairs to the Poker Room. It’s a very large room and always seems to be quite busy.
Right from the beginning I was catching some good cards and quickly built up my chip stack - and the Patron shot wasn't bad either! I was doing so well, that I didn’t even go out for dinner but had a quick sandwich!
The next morning (Thursday), I headed back to the PCGS show to finish some business. I also took a few more photos.
Surprisingly, this is a photo of the beautiful ceiling of the valet/taxi area in front of the Venetian registration
More wonderful and very helpful PCGS gals!
Behind these curtains are the tireless hardworking graders and you can hear the constant sounds of the slabbing machines!
Found this familiar “face” at the show!
Soon it was time to head over for dealer set up at the LVNS show. The room is pretty large and there are over 100 dealer tables. I tried to take some photos to put into perspective the size of the show
There was quite a bit of business being conducted on Thursday between the early bird badge holders and all the dealers. For a dealer day, there was quite a buzz throughout the room. Later in the day when things died down a bit, I opened this yummy bottle of Ghost Pines red wine:
The show closed at 7pm so I went back to the Rio to meet up with my friends for dinner. Everyone was pretty tired from the travel and setting up their booths, so we decided to just have a simple dinner at the Grill restaurant, then do some gambling before calling it a night.
Some of my friends wanted to play some Roulette so we found this table with some very happy folks. These two guys were having a blast betting large stacks of chips on red or black, and were being quite successful at it.
I also played my usual table games - Ultimate Texas Hold-um, 3-Card Poker, Let it Ride, etc. However, I wasn’t very lucky/successful at these games this time around, so I soon headed back up to my room. Here’s a photo of beautiful Vegas at night from my room.
The next morning (Friday) I headed over to the show. I went out in the lobby just before it opened to the public and was happy to see a large crowd gathered to get in.
The registration desk
It didn’t take long for the show to become very crowded and the usual “show buzz” to begin
This is Walter Ostromecki (ANA VP and Presidential candidate) – he works tirelessly setting up and running the kids’ treasure hunts at coin shows around the country!
This is one of my most favorite dealers - Logan of Vams & More
And this is his beautiful daughter Cindy who also works for ANACS at several western region shows. She was extremely busy each day!
I was able to round up John McIntosh and his boys for a much-protested photo op!
I posted this on separate thread, but I thought I’d post it here too. A good dealer friend of mine had this error note stolen from him at the show. If you have any information about it, please contact:
Jim Cauley at Errors and More
916-212-6752
kjcauley@netzero.com
After the show was over, we decided to head downtown to Fremont Street to check out the light show, have some dinner, and, of course, do more gambling!
We had a wonderful relaxing and very yummy dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse which is in the Golden Nugget
This Palermo wine has a beautifully artistic label and was fantastic!!
I had a very tasty seabass with a chunk lobster topping and a side of parmesan artichoke risotto – mmmmmmmmmmmm!!
Then I played some no limit poker at the Golden Nugget poker room. I actually had another successful run at the poker table!
Also, there’s a legendary coin dealer who is known for sitting down at a 1-2 no limit game and plopping down $25,000 in cash – and sure enough, he showed up at my table!
For those who may not have been to Fremont Street, it has a very fun Mardi Gras atmosphere with lots of interesting characters just walking about!
A couple of bucket drummers
A balloon guy
Don’t know what he was thinking!
A bunch of guys getting a photo op with a cute show girl
This guy was just taking a nap (probably passed out) when a girl walked up and put a dollar bill on his cap
This is the light show on the roof that covers the street
On Saturday the show started out slowly but soon picked up.
There were lots of kids participating in the treasure hunt, and a “celebrity” also did some coin shopping!
This is Mark Hall-Patton - the Pawn Stars show expert from the Clark County Heritage Museum!!
In the afternoon, I opened this very decent bottle of Coppola zinfandel
After the show, I just went back to the Rio and played a little more poker before going to bed. This is the Official Main Event final World Series of Poker table for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 with a pile of chips glued together and stuck to the table.
So overall, the LVNS show was very busy and extremely well attended. However, I spoke to several dealers who all agreed that there were far too many people who just wanted to chat or graze than there were actual coin buyers. Unfortunately, many dealers reported poor or less-than-average sales. And even though I had one large sale that saved my show, it was not a very good retail show. However, I have hopes that the next show will be better and will happily return especially since “it’s Vegas baby!”
Next up – the Buena Park show this coming weekend!
Charmy Harker
The Penny Lady®
The Penny Lady®
0
Comments
The "Mark Hall-Patton" pic . . . . . center -- guy with back to the camera and tan vest . . . ME !!!! Charmy actualy captured the Stairway to Heaven guy . . . and my travel partner in the green shirt to my right. Went by a couple of times but avoided her gaze since I had not brought a bottle from the wine cellar !!!
I still need to announce myself . . . . someday I will !!!
Great show . . .
Drunner
<< <i>
Next up – the Buena Park show this coming weekend! >>
Terrific report, Charmy!
See you in Buena Park!
By the way that's a cute picture of Alesha and Monica. How you got the McIntosh trio in a picture defies logic.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
Great pic of you and Mark Hall-Patton... I bet he`s very interesting to talk to...
Thanks I enjoyed it very much...
AB
Whatever you are, be a good one. ---- Abraham Lincoln
Thanks again Charmy.
Mike
Great Report!!!
BTW I was roll searching with "Her Majesty"(my 8 year old daughter) the other day and she found a Buffalo in a BWR from the bank. She is quite the little money fiend, befitting a Princess no doubt. Anyway she wants to go to a coin show in April so she can hoard up all the loot she will get for just being plain too darned cute for my own good.
Walter Ostremeki
I can just picture Mark Feld as a balloon guy on Fremont.
Smart man.....enjoy his Pawn Stars visits very much.
Charmy you never cease to amaze the forum with your great reports.
Thanks again.
GB
<< <i>Thank God you didn't get a picture of the mustachioed crossdresser with hairy legs on Fremont Street.
By the way that's a cute picture of Alesha and Monica. How you got the McIntosh trio in a picture defies logic. >>
The MC pic surprised me also!
WS
<< <i>Great report. I hope the forum members vote for Walter for President. He is a tireless promoter of numismatics.
Walter Ostremeki >>
Agreed, Walt is a great guy and with all the hard work he does for the ANA, he still somehow finds the time to be active in several of the SoCal coin clubs.
Great report, Charmy! Surprised to hear the Palace Station show wasn't better for retail, it was so busy on Friday while I was there I would have thought the opposite. See you again in a few days at Buena Park.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Barberian - that was funny, I hadn't even noticed that the trashcan looked like a bedpan!
Wei, I too am glad I didn't see that mustached cross-dresser! And yes, the photo of Alesha and Monica turned out really well (they even approved of it!). Regarding the McIntosh photo, I had to do some pleading and cajoling but John finally relented, despite Peter and Andy's objections to being photographed together in their cute matching shirts!
AB - I got a chance to talk to Mr. Hall-Patton for a few moments and he is very knowledgeable about many things. I collect penny trench art and prison art and found out he also collects trench art but didn't know anything about prison art, nor had he seen some of my penny trench art that I had on display.
JedPlanchet - regarding photos in the casino, I just used my "charms"! Seriously, with every cell phone also being a camera, it is very difficult for the casinos to control photography, especially when many of the casinos are so elaborately designed and so very photogenic! But if you are discrete, the dealers really don't say anything.
SaorAlba - I would love to meet your daughter and hope you bring her by my table if you're at one of my shows. I'll be sure to give her one of my copper coin cards!
EagleEye/Rick - you are so right about Walter - he is so dedicated to our hobby and works very hard to improve it, including listening to both collectors and dealers. He would make a great ANA president!!!
Shorecall - the raw steak and live lobsters were on display in the lobby at Vic & Anthony's where we had dinner - and I agree, it wouldn't take much for Mark to become a great balloon guy - he's already quite full of hot air!!
WaterSport - You should definitely try and make one of the Vegas shows, isn't that far for you - and I'd love to share a good bottle of wine with you and your lovely wife!
Illini/Mike - It's always nice seeing you at the shows, and while the LVNS show usually brings in a good crowd, it's always been more of a wholesale/gray sheet oriented show. But I usually have a few regular customers who help make it worth it to me to continue doing this show - and yes, not to mention that it's in VEGAS and I can play poker to my heart's delight!
The Penny Lady®
Larry L.
The Penny Lady®
Sorry we did not see each other this time around!
Good report.
bob (and linda too).
Looks like Mark bumped it to promote the 2014 show.
The Penny Lady®
Mike
<< <i>****FYI - THIS IS LAST YEAR'S REPORT****
Looks like Mark bumped it to promote the 2014 show. >>
Ahhhh, good to know as I may have a chance to go
.
CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
.
Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
.
More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Edited to add: A little checking comes up with confirmation of the Titanic Exhibit at the Rio from a 1999 reporting. Looks like the Luxor had claim in 2012 to a similar exhibit though not clear if the same one that was at the Rio. As to whether or where the exhibit is presently best guess is it is still at the Luxor in Vegas.
The Titanic at Rio
5$ bills are WOW with the numbers - wanted:
02121809
04151865
Wanted - Flipper notes with the numbers 6-9 or 0-6-9 ON 1$ 2$ 5$ 10$ 20$
Wanted - 10$ Sereis 2013 - fancy Serial Numbers
<< <i>Another great report - thanks. It has been years since I have visited the Rio. Do they still have the Titanic exhibit there with the duplicated staircase set from the movie or has it sailed on to other venues? Is the aerial Mardi Gras parade on rails still intact and do they still drop beads as you pass under it?
Edited to add: A little checking comes up with confirmation of the Titanic Exhibit at the Rio from a 1999 reporting. Looks like the Luxor had claim in 2012 to a similar exhibit though not clear if the same one that was at the Rio. As to whether or where the exhibit is presently best guess is it is still at the Luxor in Vegas.
The Titanic at Rio >>
By the way, the last time I was in Vegas the Rio reportedly had the best seafood buffet in town with some type of lobster featured though the (at least then) number one rated buffet at the Wynn certainly had a claim as well with their outstanding seafood selection of Alaska King Crab. Charmy, did you or your
associates have time to include the buffet circuit to give us updated ratings?
Show coupon
AMRC - Mark Patton Hall was shopping around at the show - I didn't see him sell anything.
Northcoin - yes, I usually do have a meal or two at the Rio buffet, and it is fantastic and highly recommended. It's a bit pricey, but the quality and selection is worth it!
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make this show since my son is getting married during the Baltimore show this coming weekend at a small wedding, and the big family/friends reception is the next weekend during the Las Vegas show. But I'm sure my fellow show blogger Amanda will post one of her fun "chronicles" of this show.
The Penny Lady®