Invitation: Your stories from the (Long) Beach
TommyType
Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
Post your experiences, NEWPS, and stories from this weekends Long Beach Expo!
I usually do my own post, but sometimes it feels like I'm playing "Look at ME!" So instead, I'm going to open up a thread for any and all posts....big or small.....positive or negative. I'll add mine in a while, once I get some NEWP photos taken.
I also tried to force myself to do some photos of the show to put us in the mood. But I'm not a photo guy, and well, I only ended up with a few....and none of the bourse in general. (I also end up with very few vacation photos, so my friends are blessed in that regard).
View of the LB Convention Center from across Pine Ave:
Escalators down onto the show floor:
Our Expo hosts, (and message board hosts):
(Of course, LAST show, I had to wait in line for 40 minutes to submit. This time, when I decided NOT to submit, there was no waiting. Story of my life).
The "Tyrant Collection" exhibit:
This time, "Tyrants of the Tigris and Euphrates". Lots of gold and silver with middle eastern writing, and portraits. Quite impressive...particularly when one knows so LITTLE about the coinage of that era.
Post away....I'll be back....
Comments
Doesn't look very crowded. I know it's only Friday but have the dealers started leaving yet? Would love to see the "Tyrant Collection"
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
I would love to be at the show, or any show.
Me too!
Like most Fridays, most dealers said YESTERDAY was better. I've never been there on a Thursday, but someday I need to, just to see what better looks like!
Time to stop fretting about my poor photography skills, and write my damn “trip report”!:
I left home in North Orange County about 10:15am, and hit little traffic. So I got to the parking garage right at 11:00am, which was essentially my plan.
My goals, as usual, were fairly undefined. I have a list of “wants and needs”, but none of them were bubbling to the top. I shall buy what I feel like buying!! I did want to see what was available in F to VF 1875CC 20-Cent pieces…but that’s more of a research project at this point….I want one, but it’s a fairly recent desire….
I did, however, have a small stack of “upgraded” coins that I decided to try selling in person. The group was led by an honest 1837 Bust quarter, followed by a (fairly ugly) 1877 Seated quarter, a rather attractive 1911 Liberty nickel, and taking up the rear was a bit dinged up 1833 Bust half. All told, I figured I could get $500-$600 for the lot…..and I liked the idea better than hitting the ATM!! (The wife may be looking….)
As is my usual, I started by just walking the aisles, looking at coins, and taking notes. One of my favorite tables is always John McIntosh’s. Type coins galore, in every price range you can come up with. Everything from “Even I can do better than THAT”, to “Mortgage the house Mabel!!”. I’ve also sold to him in the past, so figured that might be my “home” for the show. While scanning the goodies, I spotted a quite nice VF-35 Draped Bust Half Cent, and made note of it. I never buy TOO early in the day!
The other coins that caught my attention as I made my walk were an 1871 2-Cent in AU-50, and an 1832 Classic Head Half Cent. At this point, I figured out what my randomly ordained goal was! It’s a COPPER show for me!! (Apparently).
I have the Half Cents already. But they were bought fairly early in my quest for a full type set, so they are looking a bit tired, and lower in grade than I desire NOW. The three “easily obtained” types are all on my list for upgrade, and I apparently found the right time and place to do that upgrading.
I took a break to check out the Tyrant display. Really, really impressive collection of very early gold. I’m not sure the Arabic text on most of the coins would capture my interest as a collector….but it’s certainly something you don’t see every day. I have my doubts anyone was selling anything like them on the bourse!
I did see quite a few mid-grade CC 20-cent coins on my way around. And in general, I thought they looked BETTER than I had imagined they might. They were also pricier than I imagined they might be! The CC seems to add a “premium” factor, even above the logical price guides. I guess if you can get it, why not ask for it. (I’ve made up my mind to go for the one I found online at a REASONABLE price….if it sticks around for another week).
So, with notes in hand, and a bit of a rest under my belt, I headed back to John McIntosh’s table, ready to deal, and buy that 1804 Half Cent. Upon closer inspection, it looked as good as I thought it did…so I pulled out my “sale items”, and John and I started dealing. (Ok….John gave me an offer price, and I said “Sold!” I just wanted the cash.
) We did flip for a $5 disagreement at one point, which I lost. But just to make it fun, he came down an extra $5 from my offer on the 1804. 
In the end, I got my 1804 Half Cent AND about $240 in cash. I was realistic about what I would get selling, and as a result, I got pretty much what I expected without fretting about it.
Timeout
Overheard at another table:
Older Collector: (Almost demanding) “Give me your best, No-Haggle, price on this coin.”
Dealer: “No-Haggle price, huh. I’ll have to call my table partner. It’s his coin.”
Dealer (on phone): “Yeah, what’s your best , NO HAGGLE! price on the ??_____?? Yeah….that’s what he wants to know.” He gives a price to the collector.
Collector: “That’s the best No-Haggle price, right?”
Dealer: “That’s what he said!”
Collector smiles big: “Well, that’s a good price. I’ll take it!”
In my mind, I wondered if he really expected anyone to SAY it wasn’t the best price….and if they did, would the “good price” suddenly become a “bad price” in his mind? Finally....that was a lot of haggling for a No-Haggle price, wasn't it?
I chuckled on my way to the next table. 
Next, with extra cash in hand, I took a look at the AU 1871 2-cent. It’s one of only a few I need to complete the 2-cent set, (as I see the set). Problem is, it was over priced (as I see it) by about 20 percent! I thanked him, and moved on…..
Next on my list was a quite lustrous 1832 Half Cent in AU-55 that I saw at the RAM table. (And I apologize for not knowing Richard’s full name. I see him often as a SoCal dealer, but never got the full “RAM” definition.
)
Anyway, I like talking to Richard, and TRY to buy from him when I can. He also has great type coins, but he’s usually 1 or 2 grades above my comfort zone. Hey, it happens. We just don’t intersect as often as I’d like! But this Half Cent was right in my wheelhouse. Quite flashy for an AU-55….and we struck a deal. (Not sure I captured it in the photos...which isn't surprising).
I was pretty much back to even as far as the pocket book goes. 4 coins out, 2 nicer ones coming in. I then looked at some Classic Commems that are on my want list. Ended up finding two I liked. While I was LOOKING for an MS-63 California, I stretched a little for an MS-64 I liked. Mostly white, but with a bit of color showing up in the right light. Hey, I’m FROM California, so it seemed like the right thing to do. (Is it just me, or do California Commems just not photograph well? They have rather rustic surfaces, and I usually see things in photos that may not actually be there? I don’t know….but I was much happier buying this one in person). And for all of our benefit, it happens to have a TrueView, so you don’t have to suffer through my photos.
And finally, I picked up a Stone Mountain in MS-65. They are plentiful, so it’s not a FIND….but I liked the strike on this one better than some. I had the opportunity to look at another one side-by-side, and this one was much more bold. Price was right, so it’s mine now.
That was my “Day at the Beach”. As is my usual, I had a quick beer and pizza at the California Pizza Kitchen across the street, and made it home by about 4pm. Done.
Thanks for the report, like calif commem
Thanks for the nice report. I like the coins that you bought.
Sweet, thanks for sharing !!!
1832
Interesting to note your first coin purchased and your last coin are 49 & 1/2 cents apart and the last coin celebrates the 49'ers (gold rush).
They're also 121 years apart in age. 121 ounces was the largest single day's take of gold.
I like your half cent. I would like to find one just like it. The show report was excellent. If you had taken a picture of the pizza and beer, you would rate right up there with Charmy.
Thanks for taking us on a "field trip" to the show with your excellent descriptions.
I like the Cali Commems. Bay Bridge a fav. That’s a fantastic show to attend. Interesting coins.
Thanks for the excellent show report... looks as if you did very well.... Did you notice any movement at bullion dealers? Cheers, RickO
Grear report thanks!
Now THAT is a collector's show report, great fun. Nice coins. Tommy, you may be my lost twin based on the way you collect.
Great report! Your pics aren't that bad...really.
Excellent report, thanks for sharing, wish I was there
I was at the show Thursday and today, Saturday.
The show was crowded Thursday at 12:00 but by 4:00 it was dead.
I submitted a few more coins today. Arrived at 12:00 and ~60-70% of the dealers were gone. From what I heard the dealers were packing up Friday afternoon. I’d be pissed if I had to pay full price to enter today.
Good report, thanks. I've been waiting for a LB report. Wish I could have been there.
TommyType you should have stopped by to say "hi"! My table is right next to PCGS, just to the left of the them.
I thought the show was much better than the average June LB Show. We sold a wide range of coins (and bought many coins from both the public and other dealers). I do think the show had less East Coast dealers than usual due to the Baltimore Show next week. Thursday was very busy with both retail and wholesale, but Friday and Saturday were relatively slow.
If you are going to attend the Baltimore Show next week, stop by table #345 and say hello. Going forward, we are sharing tables at Baltimore with Ian and Great Collections.
Although I didn't attend the show I did send a coin with a friend of mine to have graded at the show.
I bought this 1877s dime in an online auction with worse pictures than mine. I took a chance on it and won it for $200 well below my Max. She graded MS65 and couldn't have been happier. Turns out it will be my biggest score ever.
Well done, congrats, and YOU SUCK!
USMarine6, I like the surface/patina on your dime. My kind of coin. Very nice.
Great report, and very nice NEWPS - thanks for sharing!
The LB Show in general was better than usual for a June Show. One of my favorite things about the show is the Treasure Hunt on Saturday for the kids. They come in with their parents (or any adult) and go to participating table holders and answer numismatic questions. We give out coins (buffalo nickels, steel pennies, etc) to them when they have answered the questions correctly. We have participated the last several shows and it is amazing to see the turnout of kids on Saturday. If this is any indication on the state of numismatics and the interest of our younger generation in coins, we should be quite happy. I encourage any other table holders to participate!
Cool thread and great report @TommyType
Ain't coin shows fun?
@cnncoins ...That treasure hunt for kids sounds like fun.... I do not recall any shows that did that when I lived out west.....Cheers, RickO