Houston Money Show Report
Desert Moon
Posts: 5,950 ✭✭✭✭✭
Well I have been going to the HMS at the George Brown Convention Center downtown since I got back into collecting in 2004. Each year I saw a lesser and lesser crowd. This year there is for the first time no Heritage auction so I was expecting the worst. HST, there is a clear presence of activity on the floor compared to last year, yesterday and today which was encouraging. Not saying it is like FUN or ANA, but there is activity. By today when the word got out that HMS will move to Conroe next year and be scaled down I can say that most attendees I talked to on the dealer side and the collector side were disappointed but understand the cost. To keep going in the HMS they would need expansion - more national dealers, and a strong auction from a reputed auction house. There will be an opportunity for one of the several auction houses to fill in the gap left by Heritage - previous auctions were pretty good and I got alot of great coins out of them. So we will see what happens after next year in Conroe.
So yesterday I went into the show just after opening to the public at 1 pm. There was pretty good activity, and most of the dealer booths were occupied. There were some national dealers present, CRO, Eye Appealing Coins, Kagin's, Legend, JJ Teapearty, US Coins, Nick Bozarth, Eagle Eye, Adkins, McCawley, Park, Dalton Gold and Sliver Exchange to name a few. Alot of regional dealers with all kinds of interesting coins. Many dealers we all recognize with a strong presence on ebay. So I chatted with Nina Phan who has moved from GC and now at Kagin's in charge of their new auction division - they are doing the auction for ANA Spring show in Orlando - check them out, what is impressive is no sellers fees. Nina of course has lots of energy and I expect them to expand their auction presence with time - hey maybe Kagin's can do auctions at the HMS for now on (hint, hint)...... I also had alot of face time with some dealers who are always willing to give me some insights to the other side of the table. This is what I like about the HMS - less hectic, more time to chat. I bought a bust half from a well known dealer who loves to give out hats. A prelim image is below. I left at 3 to beat the worst of the H-town traffic going home.
Today I came in around 10:15 am, again just after opening to the public. There was a good line to get in and a good noise from the bourse. I first went to a dealer I had two coins to show. We made a deal on one of them, then I proceeded to peruse his inventory and I ended up owing him money as I bought a more expensive one - my only draped bust dime see below. I then spent several hours primarily talking to 3 people and perusing the bourse. One was a dealer friend - we chatted about deals and trades on the floor, whos who on the bourse etc.. I always appreciate that and always learn alot about how things work on the bourse from him. Then, I talked for a good while with a dealer in foreign coins from San Antonio. He gave me alot of insight on 19th century spanish coins, he had some amazing and rare pieces. Finally I ended up at the LSCC/BCCS table where I apologized for missing the 9 am LSCC meeting (traffic is impossible until about that time on my freeway into town), and talked for a good hour and a half to John Frost about 20 cent die varieties, among other things. Really fascinating discussion and a great reason why I love to go to shows. I promised him that I won't miss the LSCC meeting at FUN. I also became a member of the Barber Coin Collectors Society and I look forward to receiving the journal and learning more about barber coins. This is an area I want to know more about and begin buying in, so now I start my education. In between these chats I scoured the bourse, saw just about any type of coin you can imagine but resisted temptation as I am saving funds for FUN. That was pretty much it - just alot of talk, some bourse time, learned alot about numismatics. Then off again at 2:30 pm to bear the H-town traffic, which is even worse on Fridays.
The HMS has been a real benefit to the Texas gulf area collectors. I hope it can continue to be strong and get stronger, we still get alot of the major national dealers, but we need a strong auction presence, let's hope something can happen to get that going again. Like I said, the number of attendees this year was more promising than the last several. Tomorrow may change however, we are expecting 3 inches of rain and continuing into Sunday with another 3 inches, all kinds of things are closing down because of the storm warnings. So it may hurt attendance. Let's hope not, there was some upwards momentum these past two days. Me? Well great, I have a flight at 9 am, let's hope it is not cancelled, we got a warning from United about rebooking - so many coin visitors might find themselves in a mess to get out of Houston tomorrow nite as might my wife and I tomorrow am for our short holiday.
Best, SH
Comments
Nice report, thanks for taking the time.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
Nice report. I was there most of the day on Thursday and can confirm the public attendance was positive. Big question were they spending money.
Fantastic pair of coins & nice photos too.
Thank you for the fantastic show report.
Congratulations on your Bust newps, very nice.
I like both those non-widgets, and especially that dime. XF40-Wow+
Nice report, thanks.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Thanks for the detailed report!
K
Thanks for the report! Sounds like you had a great time along with picking up some nice coins. I live only about 200 miles away and have yet to make this show, but work does tend to get in the way.
Maybe the new location will be easier to get around and park?
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Great report, thanks for the detail.... you did not mention precious metals action... was it subdued due to the low spot prices? Cheers, RickO
RickO, I am not a precious metals buyer, but the tables that were focused exclusively on PM had lots of folks viewing their wares. I don't know if anyone was buying tho'. Everyone was talking about the merc/slq/liberty gold commems but I did not see many on the floor for the first two that are out.
Best, SH
Two GREAT coins! Wow!!!
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
@spacehayduke...Thanks for the reply..... it seems many are waiting for the spot price to go even lower....(except for the current 1916 coins). I like following PM's, so this should be interesting.... Cheers, RickO
Great report and very nice coins, congrats!
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Those are nice coins !
Is that dime an over date ? It just looks like the 5 is over something.......
I went to the HMS and felt it fell of from previous years. U.S. Coins, a very reputable dealer, folded up their shop early and left as a result of lower than expected activity. They had plenty to sell at fair prices. I was caught off guard as they has a $20 1859 O PCGS AU 50. It was a pretty clean coin considering the date. I only pay cash for coins and did not expect to see one there. I submitted a regrade to PCGS and that was about it. I suspect a damp, rainy day did not help. It is a place to circulate and I hope it continues as Houston is not a Mecca for old gold.