BRNA Show Report From Giorgio11/VDB Coins
giorgio11
Posts: 3,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
The Collector Is Back!
For various reasons, this was the first time I had done the great Dalton Georgia show in three years. Given the depressed state of the PMs market (and Morgan dollars), I didn't have high hopes. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised, in many ways. This is the first show in many years that I recall where collectors were buying more than dealers. Most of my business was "retail" not "wholesale." (I have to commend Grant Campbell of Dalton Gold and Silver Exchange and the others who were handing out the Greysheet Consumer Price Guide--It is still pretty aggravating when people who are not dealers expect to buy things at Greysheet Bid or below.)
At any rate, although we did sell some nice coins to other dealers and bought some great coins, most of the business was from collectors. Both Lincolns, which we specialize in, and type coins, which we also specialize in, were HOT! We sold every 1909 VDB we had, along with a lot of other nicely toned cents and other series, and we scoured the floor looking for nice 1909-S VDBs to buy; none were to be had. One dealer did show us a great (and expensive, of course) 1914-D in MS65RB, but we passed on it. We handed out our new business card liberally with our company motto, "Life Is Too Short To Buy Ugly Coins" and we always try to live up to that. (And his coin was NOT ugly, just not what we wanted for the money.)
It did seem that practically every U.S. dealer had cases full of Morgan dollars, and they didn't seem to be doing a great deal of business ... we try to stick with mostly toned Morgans or a few better-date coins and varieties, and we did sell a couple of those. First-year type coins were hot; we sold our 1875-CC AU58 twenty cent piece, a great coin for the grade, and a couple of 1878 Morgan varieties.
Modern coins, including ASEs, saw no interest whatsoever, and I liquidated the few I had. But a couple of customers did ask about modern gold half eagles in 70 grade (we had none).
I was honored to meet several new friends from this forum, including the charming @Hallco with whom we had a nice chat (and he bought a nice coin--thank you) and the very friendly @tommy44 , who fortunately came by late Saturday and we also had a nice visit. It was good to see @Yorkshireman set up on the dealer's side of the table for the first time, and we got to admire his gorgeous (and gorgeously toned) 1891-Zs MS66+ PCGS 8 Reales. (@Yorkshireman I hope you did well? Sorry I didn't get to say goodbye.)
Speaking of gorgeous toning, I think that trend is in fashion now, which of course is an area we focus in (although @ricko may not entirely approve). One young gentleman named Lance came by with his dad and brother, and he was celebrating his 14th birthday the next day. He looked at a lovely 1929-D MS65 Mercury dime with stunning toning, and then left only to return a couple of hours later. He was a bit shy, but with some gentle coaching from me he ended up buying the dime at a "better price" with his birthday money!
This is Lance's coin in its former slab incarnation (the fellow I bought it from had sent it back in trying for FB; no dice). Happy Birthday Lance! And yes, I did fish around and give him a freebie coin, a nice BU Fiji Islands copper IIRC.
I also was honored to meet another young gentleman and his father, and we talked at length about how the son (16 years old) might go about turning his "passion for numismatics into a career." I was glad to give him several ideas about that, and told him I would certainly act as a resource to him if he desired.
I was impressed once again with how sharp and open-minded (and well-developed numismatically) some of these young people are. I do not subscribe at all to the theory of this being a dying hobby of old white guys. It is true that us old dogs need to learn some new tricks, but quality coins continue to attract quality buyers.
Fads come and go.
Speaking of buying, this was also a good show for buying as well as selling. Here's just a quick shot of a few of the bigger coins I acquired:
I too was proud of @Hallco for attending the VAM presentation, and I certainly would have been there myself if it had not been prime time for buying and selling on Saturday. This is always a problem, and it was not at all the show organizers' fault (who did a fantastic job of turning out the crowds.) Finally, for @Smudge, yes there was a great deal of branch mint gold on display from Al Adams, Grant Campbell, and others, and the Bechtler Gold exhibit was a particular treat. Security was also top-notch. It is no wonder that @Insider2 recently called this the best show in the South after FUN. I couldn't agree more!
Finally, a big thank you to all those who showed up at my table and/or complimented me here. But I found "most" of the dealers at the show to be unfailingly pleasant and easy to work with. They are the ones that got my business!
And thus endeth my tale.
PS Oh. I forgot one thing. This show is just far enough away from home that you can't really arrive the day that trading begins and get set up on time, or go back home safely the same night the show ends (which is Saturday; the show is technically open on Sunday, but it's pretty much crickets). So I went down on Wednesday and headed back home early Sunday morning. As usual, Saturn and Neptune jumped for joy when I showed up at Their Door:
Kind regards,
George
Comments
Nice show report, George. Good to hear that collectors were out in droves!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Wonderful report George! I'm so glad it was a good show for you and that your travels were safe. I appreciate you taking the time you did with me. It's always nice to get home to the fur baby family as well.
I look forward to someday meeting you at a show and talking coins.
nice report, thanks for posting
Nice report. I was not familiar with this show. I would love to attend but it is a long ways from my home. Thanks for giving us a little insight into it.
Don't you love it when your little critters welcome you home.
George,
Thanks for the great report.
I have been to lazy to write my own yet, but will get to it.
Thank you for a marvelous show report George. Interesting details and I like the part about the YN's and the birthday boy. One day we must meet....Cheers, RickO
Great report. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Very interesting report
Super report! Glad that you had a good show.
Great report - pretty uplifting compared to some other recent posts!
Great report George. It was a pleasure meeting you and talking with you.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
@tommy44 and @Hallco it was great to meet both of you as well! My apologies to anyone whose presence went unrecorded in my report ... sometimes in the afternoon things tend to get a bit blurry! And thanks to those who liked my report. I think we could all use some uplifting about now .... I certainly got some at the show.
Kind regards,
George
excellent report......do you have an online store?
VDBCoins.com
Thanks @chumley !
found your site.....I may be here awhile
I would love to get to this show someday. Thanks for the report.
WS
Buy quickly if you see something you like. I waited too long on one of his Walkers thinking I would wait until I saw it at the show. It sold before I had the chance!!!
Great report sounds like a good show and I Hope someday to get down there.....
I used to be famous now I just collect coins.
Link to My Registry Set.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-specialty-sets/washington-quarters-complete-variety-set-circulation-strikes-1932-1964/publishedset/78469
Varieties Are The Spice Of LIFE and Thanks to Those who teach us what to search For.
I really enjoyed your report, George, and glad it was a good show for you (and many others).
Thanks for posting a quality report
Great job with the coin show report, George. It sounds like you had a terrific show and from your report it sounds like it was a well attended show.
Thanks for sharing. Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
That was a GREAT report. Thanks.
Nice report.
I'm glad you had a good show.
Having a good show gives you such a great feeling, does it not?
And it's 1000x more satisfying than sitting in your pajamas perusing eBay and other sites.
Thanks for the link, looks like you have some nice stuff. I couldn't find if you take trades. ? Thanks again and great show report.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
@1Mike1 PM sent.
It's funny how many people apparently never notice that I have a link to my website right under my signature in every post. Anyway, thanks to all who liked things here. Yes it is gratifying to get some compliments. And there is really nothing that substitutes for LOOKING AT COINS IN PERSON. You can't tell what a coin looks like from photos, no matter how good they are!
Kind regards,
George
Great report Georgio11. Love to see some positive results for our hobby's shows, as it has been lacking recently.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Thanks @jesbroken aka Homeboy! It was great to see all the deals being made and the young kids getting involved.
Kind regards,
George
Beg pardon, who is Homeboy?
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
No offense @jesbroken , you, remember you grew up just down the road from me (Bristol/Kingsport)?
Kind regards,
George
Great report. It’s wonderful you took the time to work with the YN you came in contact with. Best wishes