Fun Day at the Houston Money Show
dadams
Posts: 376 ✭✭✭
First off let me say this really isn't a "show report", but rather a "fun day" report. I can't really tell you anything about the "buzz" on the bourse floor, speak about "dealer gossip", or talk about the "pulse of the market" since, quite frankly, I know nothing at all about any of that stuff.
What I do know is that I like coins, don't ever get to see many coins live in person, hardly ever speak to anyone numismatically minded, don't get to own nearly as many coins as I'd like to, and that today was going to be fun!
With some preplanning, I had scheduled today as a vacation day at work, so after getting the wife off to work, the kid to school, and some general puttering around I arrived at the Convention Center about 10:45 this morning. Parked in the paid garage and made my way into the convention hall where I registered then hit the pisser.
Morning coffee having been expelled I hit the bourse. I swung by Heritage for a minute to see if Mark Feld was there as I had met him briefly a couple years ago and just wanted to reintroduce myself by saying hello. He was not there and the indication was that he did not come to the show this year so that was scratched, but I did manage to get an auction catalogue which is too me great reading even though I have no intention of bidding. Yeah, I know what your thinking, but I learn a lot from reading catalogue descriptions. From there I pretty much wandered around somewhat aimlessly - there were quite a few booths (the show guide lists 180 dealers) and I had no one I was seeking out so I started up the center aisle.
I should disclose that my budget for coins is, at present, rather meager and having been that this year I've already bought a couple coins stretching the budget and with Christmas rolling up I had only a small bit of spending money and thought perhaps I might find a type coin I really liked in the couple hundred dollar range. I am very much interested in TPG'd coins and am primarily working on certified type coins, but also maintain a Dansco 7070 and Lincoln cent album that I fill when opportunity presents. Not really knowing what I wanted, but trying to figure what might be in my range, I started browsing dealer cases. Morgan dollar after Morgan dollar, cases and cases filled with Morgan dollars - don't be upset with me you Morgan guys but I honestly fail to see the overall attraction to these coins, other than they are big, round and shiny and sometimes come with attractive color - I passed these by.
Instead I found myself stopping at dealers tables that had a mix of coins and would peer in seeing what they had to offer. Almost every dealer whose case I lingered over would approach me, "Whatcha looking for?" The first couple times this happened I commented in reply, "I'll know it when I see it" and then started figuring out that this seemed a bit to gruff of reply. Figuring what the heck, they don't know me and I don't know them I might as well speak up some.
So now, I was at a dealers table and he asks "Hunting for something?", "No, not really, generally I'm a type collector" I say. Then, here it is again - "Whatcha looking for?".
Now, I would say that I'm still relatively fresh into the market and that I've been collecting for a few years and that I've got most all the "modern" stuff and that I'm now getting into the Barber and Seated coinage but that those are somewhat expensive and that something along the lines of a circulated Bust Half would be nice or that I still need the 3c's and a Shield Nickel w/rays, etc. . . etc . . .
That certainly opened the flood gates.
One dealer pops open the case and hands me an AU 1836 Bust Half. "This one is only fifty six hundred", he says as he passes it my way. ONLY, I'm thinking . . . as I examine the coin, commenting that it sure is nice and move into explaining that it's a bit beyond my current means. And this is really how most of my day went, seemingly always admiring an unpriced coin that I'm semi-thinking I might be able to afford - NOT!
I did look at a number of coins within my price range when I happened by Scarsdale Coin's booth and Jon Lerner showed me some splendid Silver Trimes. Although I didn't buy anything from him today, this will most likely be my #1 choice of where I'll be buying my Trimes when I'm ready.
On one aisle or another I was checking out some coin cases and the attendant came over to greet me. I look up and notice the sleeve of his shirt, CRO. John introduces himself and we speak for five or ten minutes and I let him know I very much enjoy browsing the stock of Coin Rarities Online and that while I haven't yet bought anything from him that goal is certainly on my list and that someday he'll be hearing from me again. John was very nice and I appreciate the time he took to speak with me.
Next, I met Liz Coggan of the firm J. J. Teaparty and here is where I made my first purchase of a few raw Lincoln cents that had a Dansco calling their name - Liz was overly gracious and very pleasant to speak with in all respects. She gets a thumbs up from me for sure.
And finally, I thoroughly enjoyed my day-capping conversation with Alynne Skrabalak of Angel Dee's. Alynne and I had a great conversation about conditional rarities, investing in coins vs. not investing in coins, buying coins and not holders and a number of other topics along the way. Meeting and conversing with Alynne was the highlight of this day's outing and one for which I am thankful - I will most certainly be an Angel Dee's customer in the future.
I cruised on out of the show nearing 3:30 having not bought much of anything at all, but that is a-ok with me since what I got today was worth much more than what I could of had by purchasing a coin for my type set.
I am most appreciative of all the dealers that took time showing me coins and speaking with me today and I also appreciate all of you here as I've learned much and continue to learn.
Thanks!
-doug
What I do know is that I like coins, don't ever get to see many coins live in person, hardly ever speak to anyone numismatically minded, don't get to own nearly as many coins as I'd like to, and that today was going to be fun!
With some preplanning, I had scheduled today as a vacation day at work, so after getting the wife off to work, the kid to school, and some general puttering around I arrived at the Convention Center about 10:45 this morning. Parked in the paid garage and made my way into the convention hall where I registered then hit the pisser.
Morning coffee having been expelled I hit the bourse. I swung by Heritage for a minute to see if Mark Feld was there as I had met him briefly a couple years ago and just wanted to reintroduce myself by saying hello. He was not there and the indication was that he did not come to the show this year so that was scratched, but I did manage to get an auction catalogue which is too me great reading even though I have no intention of bidding. Yeah, I know what your thinking, but I learn a lot from reading catalogue descriptions. From there I pretty much wandered around somewhat aimlessly - there were quite a few booths (the show guide lists 180 dealers) and I had no one I was seeking out so I started up the center aisle.
I should disclose that my budget for coins is, at present, rather meager and having been that this year I've already bought a couple coins stretching the budget and with Christmas rolling up I had only a small bit of spending money and thought perhaps I might find a type coin I really liked in the couple hundred dollar range. I am very much interested in TPG'd coins and am primarily working on certified type coins, but also maintain a Dansco 7070 and Lincoln cent album that I fill when opportunity presents. Not really knowing what I wanted, but trying to figure what might be in my range, I started browsing dealer cases. Morgan dollar after Morgan dollar, cases and cases filled with Morgan dollars - don't be upset with me you Morgan guys but I honestly fail to see the overall attraction to these coins, other than they are big, round and shiny and sometimes come with attractive color - I passed these by.
Instead I found myself stopping at dealers tables that had a mix of coins and would peer in seeing what they had to offer. Almost every dealer whose case I lingered over would approach me, "Whatcha looking for?" The first couple times this happened I commented in reply, "I'll know it when I see it" and then started figuring out that this seemed a bit to gruff of reply. Figuring what the heck, they don't know me and I don't know them I might as well speak up some.
So now, I was at a dealers table and he asks "Hunting for something?", "No, not really, generally I'm a type collector" I say. Then, here it is again - "Whatcha looking for?".
Now, I would say that I'm still relatively fresh into the market and that I've been collecting for a few years and that I've got most all the "modern" stuff and that I'm now getting into the Barber and Seated coinage but that those are somewhat expensive and that something along the lines of a circulated Bust Half would be nice or that I still need the 3c's and a Shield Nickel w/rays, etc. . . etc . . .
That certainly opened the flood gates.
One dealer pops open the case and hands me an AU 1836 Bust Half. "This one is only fifty six hundred", he says as he passes it my way. ONLY, I'm thinking . . . as I examine the coin, commenting that it sure is nice and move into explaining that it's a bit beyond my current means. And this is really how most of my day went, seemingly always admiring an unpriced coin that I'm semi-thinking I might be able to afford - NOT!
I did look at a number of coins within my price range when I happened by Scarsdale Coin's booth and Jon Lerner showed me some splendid Silver Trimes. Although I didn't buy anything from him today, this will most likely be my #1 choice of where I'll be buying my Trimes when I'm ready.
On one aisle or another I was checking out some coin cases and the attendant came over to greet me. I look up and notice the sleeve of his shirt, CRO. John introduces himself and we speak for five or ten minutes and I let him know I very much enjoy browsing the stock of Coin Rarities Online and that while I haven't yet bought anything from him that goal is certainly on my list and that someday he'll be hearing from me again. John was very nice and I appreciate the time he took to speak with me.
Next, I met Liz Coggan of the firm J. J. Teaparty and here is where I made my first purchase of a few raw Lincoln cents that had a Dansco calling their name - Liz was overly gracious and very pleasant to speak with in all respects. She gets a thumbs up from me for sure.
And finally, I thoroughly enjoyed my day-capping conversation with Alynne Skrabalak of Angel Dee's. Alynne and I had a great conversation about conditional rarities, investing in coins vs. not investing in coins, buying coins and not holders and a number of other topics along the way. Meeting and conversing with Alynne was the highlight of this day's outing and one for which I am thankful - I will most certainly be an Angel Dee's customer in the future.
I cruised on out of the show nearing 3:30 having not bought much of anything at all, but that is a-ok with me since what I got today was worth much more than what I could of had by purchasing a coin for my type set.
I am most appreciative of all the dealers that took time showing me coins and speaking with me today and I also appreciate all of you here as I've learned much and continue to learn.
Thanks!
-doug
0
Comments
I too learned at a young age the value of using a restroom.
Although, it would have been a little more interesting to read the reports
of others when they talked about the guy that had wet his pants
and was visiting dealers.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Yep, that going to be my thing now in reports like this, kinda like that guy in NN who always goes on his daily constitutional.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
I'd say a vacation day well spent.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Yep, that going to be my thing now in reports like this, kinda like that guy in NN who always goes on his daily constitutional.
I actually met him, as I walked back from breakfast at the Chicago ANA a couple of years ago.
Very pleasant gentleman
BHNC #203
You made a very good friend in Alynne. Angel Dee's is good folks.
Mike
Coin shows can be overwhelming with so much material in one place
But you had a good time and was able to meet some good dealer contacts and had fun. That's the most important part.
Thanks for sharing your adventures!
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
siliconvalleycoins.com
enjoyed looking and the conversations. Usually results in some future purchases from those
dealers that communicate well. Cheers, RickO
My Ebay Store
An 1836 Bust Half in AU condition for only $5,600? They say the economy is pretty good down in Texas right now, but...., I had no idea it was that good.
Id guess it was a reeded edge half not a lettered edge and the price is about right for an AU RE 1836.
Latin American Collection
That is EXACTLY how I feel when I get the rare chance to head off to a coin show. Thanks for the fun report--aside from your bodily functions (
Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Best, SH
I don't know how we missed each other we were on the floor at the same time.....
Well, I'm certain I had you spied over at CRO, but didn't want to interrupt to say hi. Got looking at some coins and then bammmo! I looked up a couple minutes later to check on you and like lightening you had struck out of there - no doubt back out on the hunt for those primo coins you always seem to find.
For sure, we'll meet next year for a chat!
-dada
-d