Coin show Report - Parsippany, NJ

DaveG · December 6, 2015 3:30AM

See below.

DaveG · December 6, 2015 3:44AM

Today I went to the first-Sunday-of-the-month, 80+ dealer show in Parsippany, NJ. This show is often described as the best one-day show in the country and it usually features a wide variety of material and a crowded bourse floor.

Important Note: In January and February 2016, the show will be on the SECOND Sunday of the month.

I went to this show last month after a several month absence and was somewhat disappointed. Last month the show didn't have its usual "buzz,"several dealer tables were empty and the crowd and material on offer looked more "down market" than usual.

As a result, I was very happy to see that the show was much better this month - there were almost no empty tables, the room "buzzed" more than usual and the material on offer was more interesting and varied.

Two highlights this month: I saw a Bechtler $5 gold piece in a Newman Collection NGC slab (I forget the grade, but the coin looked nice and original) and I saw an 1861-O half dollar in a PCGS-40 slab - as "common" as these coins are, I hardly ever see them at smaller shows.

Also, Tom Hyland had recently bought an old-time collection and some of the coins were just back from PCGS. He showed me the collector's notebook, which listed when he bought the coins (starting in 1948) and how much he paid (20 cents, 50 cents, etc.) I thought that one of the highlights was an 1857 (or 1859) Seated Quarter in a PCGS-65 slab - it had some nice toning and was very attractive.

All-in-all, it was a good show. While I talked to fewer people than I usually do, the show was rather crowded.

As for myself, I bought a "stocking stuffer" - a 1943-D Mercury Dime in PCGS-65FB. It was a modest purchase, but I bought it because the coin is an a PCGS 3.5 slab, which Conder101 believes was only used in the last week of December 1989.

DaveG · December 6, 2015 3:45AM

Sorry for the duplication - I put in the paragraph breaks when I typed the original post (and they even showed when I tried to edit the post), but they wouldn't show in the post.

This is the first thread I've started since the new software was introduced - now I know why!

Walkerguy21D · December 6, 2015 4:02AM

Thanks for posting the report.

I would loved to have seen this collection when it was intact!

Tom Hyland had recently bought an old-time collection and some of the coins were just back from PCGS. He showed me the collector's notebook, which listed when he bought the coins (starting in 1948) and how much he paid (20 cents, 50 cents, etc.) I thought that one of the highlights was an 1857 (or 1859) Seated Quarter in a PCGS-65 slab - it had some nice toning and was very attractive.
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CoinZip · December 6, 2015 4:03AM

keyman64 · December 6, 2015 4:32AM

Congrats on a good time!

ricko · December 6, 2015 4:35AM

Nice report and that Merc sounds nice... I like Mercs in general and that one sounds special.

Not for the holder though (for me)... Cheers, RickO

DaveG · December 6, 2015 5:09AM

Thanks!

The Merc is nice, although I'm only a modest collector of Mercs.

The coin isn't toned and has really nice luster and strike, I think.

It does have two neat die cracks - one on the obverse, from about Liberty's ear down to the bottom of the neck and one on the reverse, from the O of ONE through the star and to the U of United.

7over8 · December 6, 2015 11:33AM

I went to this show last month after a several month absence and was somewhat disappointed. Last month the show didn't have its usual "buzz,"several dealer tables were empty and the crowd and material on offer looked more "down market" than usual.

I went two months ago, and it was the same.

I hate to say it - but I think this show has seen its best days. Not worth the 45 min trip anymore.

DaveG · December 6, 2015 11:58AM

This month was much better than last month, but I suspect that January and February will be down months because the shows will be moved to the second Sunday of the Month, so the January show will conflict with FUN and the February show will be on Valentine's Day; also, many dealers may have conflicts on the second Sunday.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the Parsippany show, I just think that the Internet and the somewhat down coin market (and precious metal prices) have had a negative effect on many local shows. I travel about 40 minutes to get to the show and I still think it's worth it - some months more than others, of course.

Even if I don't buy anything, I get to see a lot of coins and currency, talk to fellow collectors and my favorite dealers and visit the supply and book dealer - in my book, that's a fun day.

7over8 · December 6, 2015 12:59PM

It used to be a fantastic show......it is only a fraction of what it used to be.

Many empty tables, it appears to be lots of mom and pop operations (selling their personal collections), only a fraction of the real "dealers" that were there in prior years

oreville · December 7, 2015 7:37AM

I had a very good show in buying lots of stuff yesterday in Parsippany.

Some new faces and bought many different items including a doily slab from one of our posters right here.

I also purchased a beautiful 1909-S $20 Saint in PCGS MS-63 2.0 OGH for $1,300. I have not seen these prices since 2009.

The falling prices will help re-stimulate the coin hobby shortly.

DaveG · December 7, 2015 9:36AM

oreville,

I saw you from a distance a couple of times, but didn't get the chance to talk to you.

I saw that Saint in the PCGS 2.0 holder and wished I could have bought it!

breakdown · December 7, 2015 11:54AM

Thanks for the update, Dave. Would love to see that show gain back some energy -- last couple times I went, it seemed a little down. It may be the coin market overall or low price of PMs but all it takes is a few dealers to drop out and that can explain the downturn. If a few step in to fill the breach, who knows? Oreville is always having a good time there...

Coin show Report - Parsippany, NJ

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