My day at the (Long) Beach

TommyType · February 1, 2019 6:45PM

Started the day with an 8:30am doctor's appointment, but I got good news there! No real need to go into it here, but I'm sure that you, the "aging collector base", will appreciate the good feeling that gives you.

I left my home in North Orange County at 10:30, or so, after frantically filling out some GC and PCGS forms. I was a little lazy heading into today, making the last minute paperwork a requirement. Got to the LB convention center about 11:15, with little traffic worries.

First stop was the Great Collections table. No sense carrying around 16 heavy slabs for the entire day! The dropoff was quick, since there was no line, (and because I did have the paperwork done). A total of 16 coins that have either been upgraded, don't fit my goals any longer, or just plain wore out their welcome. As I told the GC rep..."Ain't either of us getting rich on these!"

Next, I headed to the PCGS table. It was clogged with dealers and collectors trying to beat the noon deadline for "show grading", and another group in line for "ask the experts". I stayed for about 5 minutes before deciding I didn't go to Long Beach to stand in line. My few submissions were being submitted today simply to save on shipping cost, so I took a chance on the line being smaller later in the day....(which was a good move).

So, I started walking the aisles. Nothing in particular that I HAD to have. Just a laundry list of things to fill my want list. I have found that if I focus too specifically on ONE thing, I miss other opportunities and interests...

I didn't think the crowd looked particularly large. About normal for a Friday at LB. The crowd COULD have been affected by the weather, though today was supposed to be (and was) fairly dry. Yesterday we had thunderstorms, and tomorrow is supposed to be essentially rain all day....So Friday ended up being a good choice.

On my list of wants are XF-AU 1873-74 "with arrows" quarter and half, as well as an AU 1859 Indian Cent. All are for upgrade, since I'm no longer all that enamored with the ones I have. Recent dealer inventories and auctions seem to indicate they are harder to find than one might guess! (Or that I remember when I first bought them). LB kind of confirmed that. I didn't see hardly anything all day that made me look twice. Being type set "one or two year" types I guess would explain it. So that was a strike-out.

Plenty of Bust Halves available, and I have some missing dates in my date set. I looked at a few early dates, (1808-1809) in VF, but didn't find anything I really liked. They tend to be poorly struck, and added to the grade I'm looking for, they didn't thrill me. I like to at least see the ghost of the central design! Someday, I'll find them. I did find a nice AU-50 1835 at Sheraton Downey's table that I bit on. Sometimes the later dates are "too white". This one has a warm darker tint to it that I liked.

Next purchase was a MS-65RD 1926 Lincoln. Well struck (which was my main criteria), and a hint of rim color. For later series, I'm trying to extend the type set to include 1 per decade....I'm goofy like that....and this fills the 1920's hole for Lincoln cents.

My final purchase was a 1941D Walker in MS-66. It's Bright White, and GLOWS!

One thing I noticed for all three purchases was that the dealers had no room to negotiate! The price listed was the price they needed. Now, that often depends on the dealer. But the local dealer, who I have dealt with quite a bit, who was selling the Walker said, "I'm really sorry, but I bought that back when they were higher in price, and as it is, I'm losing $25 on it." Hey, I had no intention of putting him out of business! I take it the overall margins the dealers are working with aren't very big....and his price was OK to begin with.

Coins I passed on:
A rather nice 8TF 1878 Morgan in MS-63. Again, a favorite local dealer, but when I saw his sticker price on the reverse, it was $100 over PCGS price guide! "Do you want a price?" I just said no. If we are starting that high, I don't think we're going to get to something I would be willing to pay. They aren't rare, afterall….

I briefly became enamored with a couple of MS-66 Peace Dollars. To me, Peace Dollars get better looking the higher the grade...more so than some other series. But I decided I am "good" with my MS-65. Upgrading, while tempting, wasn't really somewhere I wanted to go right now.

My last stop was the PCGS table again. And as hoped....No line! It took all of 3 minutes to turn over the coins and form. The coins in question are crossovers, simply to get them in the same holder as "everything else". All three are Walkers, and really it was a matter of "do I buy new and sell these, or cross them?" A total toss up. Two of them have at least a glimmer of hope for an upgrade....and the last one is an expensive 1921D. I figured I'd just give them a shot. No excuses....I'm playing the game.

After my normal California Pizza Kitchen stop for lunch/dinner, I headed home. Traffic bit. I'm glad I don't have to do that every day.

Had a good day!

Hemispherical · February 1, 2019 7:07PM

Thanks for the report @TommyType.

Unknown · February 1, 2019 7:15PM

This content has been removed.

Smudge · February 1, 2019 7:26PM

Thank you. Nice report.

bolivarshagnasty · February 1, 2019 8:08PM

Thanks for sharing your day with us!

ms70 · February 1, 2019 8:11PM

Good report. Thanks!

Tibor · February 1, 2019 8:20PM

Great report. Wish I could've attended.

skier07 · February 1, 2019 8:28PM

PCGS has a drop off day about 6 weeks before each Long Beach show in a Santa Ana area hotel. Submit at the hotel and pick up at the show and zero shipping charges.

BlindedByEgo · February 1, 2019 8:44PM

Thanks for the repost. I'm so slammed with work I forgot about L.B.

Hydrant · February 1, 2019 9:01PM

First Long Beach show I've missed since ?????? Yesterday, the rain and traffic was so bad that I turned back after a 5 hour drive that should be 1 1/2 hours. Never got there. Today, Friday, I did manage to get to downtown Long Beach at 11 o'clock. No parking. The entire downtown area is a disaster! Construction zone! Turned around and went back home. I will try again tomorrow. But heavy rain is in the forecast. Who knows. Southern California is becoming a nightmare. Too many people!!! Too many cars. Funny thing..........my first date with the lovely Mrs. Hydrant was at the Long Beach Convention Center. So long ago. I wish today was like back then. Easy in..Easy out! DREAM ON.

GO RAMS! GO PATRIOTS!

TommyType · February 1, 2019 9:19PM

@skier07 said:
PCGS has a drop off day about 6 weeks before each Long Beach show in a Santa Ana area hotel. Submit at the hotel and pick up at the show and zero shipping charges.

I've seen those advertised, and I am interested in them......But they tend to be on a Friday. I can justify taking time off from work for the SHOW. Not so much for coin drop-off.

TommyType · February 1, 2019 9:20PM

@Hydrant said:
First Long Beach show I've missed since ?????? Yesterday, the rain and traffic was so bad that I turned back after a 5 hour drive that should be 1 1/2 hours. Never got there. Today, Friday, I did manage to get to downtown Long Beach at 11 o'clock. No parking. The entire downtown area is a disaster! Construction zone! Turned around and went back home. I will try again tomorrow. But heavy rain is in the forecast. Who knows. Southern California is becoming a nightmare. Too many people!!! Too many cars. Funny thing..........my first date with the lovely Mrs. Hydrant was at the Long Beach Convention Center. So long ago. I wish today was like back then. Easy in..Easy out! DREAM ON.

GO RAMS! GO PATRIOTS!

I park in the garage for the shopping area right across from the convention center. Costs $12....but the walk is a little easier than some of the convention center lots. There seemed to be plenty of parking in there today.

DIMEMAN · February 1, 2019 9:28PM

Great report! I have always wanted to go to a LB show. Just never have made it. It's a looooong way from the midwest.

Hydrant · February 1, 2019 9:38PM

@TommyType said:

I park in the garage for the shopping area right across from the convention center. Costs $12....but the walk is a little easier than some of the convention center lots. There seemed to be plenty of parking in there today.

Thanks for the tip! I didn't know that there was a parking garage there. I'll look for it tomorrow. Just hope my favorite dealers are still at the show and dealing!

Dave99B · February 1, 2019 9:39PM

Fantastic, detailed report. Sounds like a fun day that started out great!

I totally agree with you on higher grade Peace dollars. They are works of art above 65.

Thanks so much!
Dave

Baley · February 1, 2019 9:57PM

That's a great report, thank you for posting. Looking forward to seeing the coins. I'd like to have a very similar day at LB future show.

Walkerfan · February 1, 2019 10:48PM

Great report. Enjoyed hearing your thoughts.

Swampboy · February 2, 2019 1:18AM

Terrific report!
I really enjoy your writing style

TeamDennis · February 2, 2019 4:30AM

Thanks for sharing your GREAT report.

johnny9434 · February 2, 2019 9:28AM

cool report

Bochiman · February 2, 2019 5:59PM

Nice. I haven't been to a LB show in about 10 years. Thanks for the detailed post.

jonruns · February 2, 2019 7:11PM

Awesome!!!

marcmoish · February 2, 2019 8:02PM

@TommyType said:
Started the day with an 8:30am doctor's appointment, but I got good news there! No real need to go into it here, but I'm sure that you, the "aging collector base", will appreciate the good feeling that gives you.

Had a good day!

Great report, your first paragraph is the best news.
No further details needed, stay well!