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Do you think small coin shows are a waste of time?
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I drove 80 miles the other day to a small show, and think I've finally concluded that small shows are a total waste of time. Nothing to be found but a bone picked clean.
Early American Copper, Bust and Seated.
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Wow, that is three hours of just driving.
If you spent that three hours on the internet, you probably could have found a really nice coin at a great price.
Depends what your looking for! Plus what's your definition of a "small" show?
HAPPY COLLECTING
Depends of the proximity. I wouldn’t do 80miles for a small show if my experience was that it was the same stuff each time. You never know what you will find sometimes and I’ve scored big at some small venues.
Latin American Collection
There are cost driving to a show. If you bought a coin equal to the cost of getting to a show, you might be better off staying at home. However, I would rather search real coins I can put in my hand then just looking at web pages. Besides - you never know what you might find.
WS
No, just because one show was unfruitful, doesn't mean they all are that way.
I've found some great coins at small shows.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
No - I have found some unbelievable coins at small shows and had success selling low priced common coins as well. Many of these dealers are part time and carry a much different inventory than a large show. I see much more raw inventory which is refreshing to me. If I was searching for an expensive coin, a larger show would be much better. I have driven 80+ miles one way to a small monthly show but I don't do it all the time. I consider it a fun day out doing something I enjoy.
Also depends on the destination.
If it's in or near a cool area it can be a fun day trip getaway.
You never know until you go.
Edit: One or two good dealers can make or break a small show. Depending on if they are there or not.
"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
I have not bought a coin at a small show in a long,long time, but I will still go.
It depends on how much free time you have.
I see guys get in the trap of if I make this much with my time at work so X,Y,and Z just aren’t worth my time etc. For me, my day job is a big enough hit I can afford to do piddly little stuff that that doesn’t pay much but brings me some delightment.
For example, I could go to work and crush it and buy a bunch of gold at the BM or, I can spend my day off mining gold myself and only maybe make say 80 bucks in gold in 10 hours, but I don’t look at it as a monetary use of my time but more on the recreation effect or if I can afford to tinker now and then. Being able to drive all day and just tire kick a small show IS a form of prosperity.
You see this at coin shows too. A room full of intense guys flipping coins for food money mixed with a bunch of folks just there to relax and enjoy themselves. I try not to go to a coin show to relax and get sucked into the job aspect of the scene. Easy to do though....
Your question is also like asking if one house garage sale worth it to pull over to or should I only go to huge swap meets.
Big or small I like coin shows. I like seeing coins in hand better than photos. I wouldn't drive a great distance for a small show, but within reason, I'll go.
Small shows are a diamond in the rough. I have found some really good buys at these.
You go because you never know
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I'll go if I don't have anything urgent to do like watching a Sesame St. rerun.
I have found some really good coins at small shows.... and some were just so-so.... I would be happy with even some small shows around here....Closest we come to a coin show is the occasional coin table at a gun show... and there are not many gun shows either. Cheers, RickO
It depends what you’re looking for. If you’re filling holes in an album a small show is great. If you’re looking for higher end stuff it’s probably a waste of time. I occasionally go to small shows to shoot the breeze with a few regulars, but I haven’t bought anything in years.
You go because you never know
could not agree more
It can be, but you need to put in the time to get the big win's some times. You just never know when one will pop up.
Hoard the keys.
Especially when some of those coins have been to more shows than you have.
MY COINS FOR SALE AT https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/other/bajjerfans-coins-sale/3876
No. I have found some really nice stuff at the small shows (often run by the local coin club).
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Yes; by and large you have too much raw material and problem coins at small shows and flea markets. But of course it depends on who comes to set up, occasionally you will find fresh material, just as at the shops.
Exactly!
I've found some great deals at small shows but I wouldn't drive that far to attend one.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
I've made some of my best cherrypicks at small shows.
A search can be frustrating because most options are empty; but there's the one trip that makes up for it all. Explore, collect data, organize your exploration, and use your time and resources to maximize success.
I like large coins, so I avoid small coin shows.
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
That makes sense....
I enjoy them
Do you think small coin shows are a waste of time?
For some, yes. For everyone, no. For the some that is a waste of time, don’t go.
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
I drive 100 miles 3 times a year to a small show. Sometimes I come back with nothing and sometimes I come back with a new variety or 2. You just never know if you don't go.
Sometimes they are but you never know what you could find.
I went to the worst coin show ever about 30 years ago and I still remember it to this day. It was a small coin show put on by a local coin club at one of the local shopping malls about a half hour away. There was a large commercial show nearby that weekend so the timing was bad on their part. There were only three people set up selling coins and they were all coin club members and not actual coin dealers. I was the only buyer there at the time. I had a great time talking coins with a great group of friendly fellow coin collectors there and I wound up buying two very nice US gold coins at a great price from one of the sellers. I guess it turned out to be a pretty good coin show after all.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
I'm sure some people think the huge shows are a waste of time I guess too
HAPPY COLLECTING
the small coin shows I have been to had about as much old paper money as coins. the coins were priced above retail and no pre 33 gold there either
I have made some of my best buys at smaller shows. I always go if I can.
My best buys are from shops.
You never know.
You just never know for sure who might show up and with what. But if the show is much more than an ~hours drive I won't go unless it at least a ~50 table show.
My biggest cherrypicks have been from small shows.
I am somewhat selective on the smaller shows - you soon learn which ones have recycled dreck. The others are worth a quick look as long as it is close.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
I learned coins and met some of my best mentors at these shows when I was younger. It all depends on what your goal is.
My biggest discovery coin, the 1970-D 2-O-I/DDO-002, was made at a small show in Jamestown, NY back in 1998. Things have dried up quite a bit since then but very occasionally I've found decent stuff at a small local show in Akron, OH but the "good old days" of constant and plentiful die variety cherrypicks are gone forever I'm afraid.
1970-D DDO-002 quarter, that is. Going WAY back I cherried a VF 1918-D 8/7 Buff in VF for $8 in 1963.
Sometimes, you find diamonds in the rough. At worst, you get to meet some friendly, knowledgeable people and have good conversations. I usually go with friends and then we have lunch afterwards.
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I go to as many shows as I can. There is nothing like looking at the coins in hand.
Do I find something every week? No, but I'm okay with that. I just love looking at the coins in person.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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It depends if you have any fun even if you do not buy anything. The cost for gas is about the same as a movie and popcorn/drink.
I go there mainly to pickup any supplies i may need, perhaps to buy a new book.
Once in a while I'll buy a coin there, but not very often.
In any event, it's cheap entertainment walking around the booths and looking at the coins they have. Most are overpriced, but no harm done.
This is true. If you are a generalist or are building a type set there's probably a 50% chance of finding something you like at a small show. If you're well into a date/mintmark collection though, you probably won't find what you need. A couple times a year I'll go to a small show to get out of the house, but I no longer get frustrated if I can't find what I want.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
I do all my small and large coin shopping on Al Gore’s invention.
No long drives, no greasy food, never been robbed while I eat greasy food, I owe it to Al.
I've found great things at small shows, in the "you never know" but also from the small-time dealers and others who bring new finds from their local stores or whatever.
The converse, for me, has been that I've struck out more often at some of the bigger shows, when you add in travel, hotel, and time off.
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
I've found over the years that my attitude at the beginning of just about any endeavor has a great impact on the final result. I went to a small show today and had a really good time. I went for that reason. Like a few before have mentioned you never know what you may find. You won't find if you're not looking.... I found a nice Barber quarter to add to my graded set, and a nice looking Morgan $ too. Even picked up my first ever modern hobo nickel. Learned a little bit about national bank notes, and visited with a few of the vendors that were not too busy to talk. Even sold a bit of jewelry for a co-worker. I got in and out in about 90 minutes, and I didn't feel like it was a waste of time. Also it's an 80 mile one way drive for me, I go three maybe four times a year and usually plan other activities on the same day so I'm not going only for the show.
Small shows around here same dealers with the same crap. But on occasion I'll go just for the heck of it.
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