What Are The Qualities of A Great Coin Show?
RockyMtnProspector
Posts: 754 ✭✭✭✭✭
One of the main reasons I joined this forum was to hear about coin shows from around the country, to get a pulse of the various coin markets, and a chance to share and share alike the vignettes, friendships, coin and bullion trading, and of course the pictures that fellow forum members provide.
What are the qualities of a "decent" show--what's the bare minimum for a satisfactory experience? Good lighting, wide bourse aisles, a healthy mix of dealers of all types of materials, a minimum number of dealers, mix of raw and slabbed coins, convenient (free) parking, walkability, and good advertising that draws not only customers for the dealers, but draws out collections and coins from collectors/families that can be available to the next collector? One of the biggest bummers for me is when there seems to be a dearth of new material for my favorite dealers to pass onto new customers, because of slim pickings.
What separates a "great" show from the above? I've traveled to shows on both coasts and in between to experience a wider range of offerings than is available at the big Denver show, which isn't a negative on the Denver show itself. Winter FUN and Long Beach have been exciting, but the difficulty arises in cost of attendance.
It'd be interesting to hear from both dealers and collectors--both sides of the . There will never be a "perfect" show, but I'm curious what does draw folks that turn out for shows, and what would draw out those who haven't or are more reluctant to visit a show due to time/money/distance constraints.
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
Comments
Good exhibits and educational programming by bonafide experts are something I highly value. I'd like to see something more like a convention than a show in the perfect world.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
I enjoy the educational programming immensely. Agreed. The exhibits are also fascinating.
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
When I lived in Seattle, there were many shows... from large (not huge like FUN) to small (15-20 tables). I enjoyed them all. I always managed to attend each one (unless on business travel). Small shows have a different atmosphere from large shows.... and I like them both. There are no coin shows where I live now....so I would have to travel to attend any show. For me, just having people set up with coins displayed, makes a good show. We do have gun shows here, and often there will be a table with coins...(coin people often like guns as well
). So that is always a plus for me. I have found two Accented Hair Kennedy sets at gun shows. In summary, if it is a coin show, I like it...Nothing special required. Cheers, RickO
Not too many dealers selling only bullion. I understand why bullion is desirable as I just completed a set of ASEs but I go to coin shows to see classic coins on display
You have to have a little of everything from the nice bourse area to an area where people can sit, this is the biggest thing my better half will sit and read for as long as I want to Shop, if you have exhibits that's great too, good food is a must because dealers are there all day and enjoy good food and not bag lunches, armed guards are a must even for small shows, one inside and one checking the parking lot. Nothing is perfect but planning is the biggest thing don't just throw something together and hope it turns out. Get other people evolved don't take everything on yourself.
Banning mustard is a must!
WS
I attend shows only to find coins I want to buy or to submit coins for grading. I don't turn it into a side vacation which I know others do. (I go on vacation to places I actually want to go.) For this reason, I won't travel to some of the shows I would like to attend.
The reason I won't is because I would almost certainly end up spending more to get there than I would to buy coins, unless I used FF miles and hotel points. The shows I have attended haven't had much I wanted to buy and I don't believe the others I would like to go to will either (FUN, Chicago, NY International). It's a function of what I collect. I buy most of my coins at auction and only on very infrequent occasions from a handful of dealers.
The last show I went to was the ANA in Atlanta in March, 2013 I believe. I was heading out of town and went on Friday morning. I covered the entire world coins section in two or three hours and bought about half a dozen coins; nothing I couldn't do without or really cared about that much. It would have been a waste of money to pay anything to get there.
A show that's filled with fair and honest dealers...
In no particular order:
Good variety and quality of numismatic offerings
Good security
Convenient location and parking
Good lighting (at each table is far more important than overhead lighting)
Reasonable cost of admission - if a potential attendee needs free admission or gifts in order to attend, he/she probably isn’t someone who’s going to contribute in a meaningful way
Educational displays and/or meetings
Promotion/advertising
Aisles and table space that aren’t cramped
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The winter FUN show has it all. Go to one and I think you’ll agree.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
A great show for me is finding something that has been eluding me in my searches. Doesn't matter if there are 5-6 tables like the last show I attended or a 100+ table show.
My War Nickels https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/nickels/jefferson-nickels-specialty-sets/jefferson-nickels-fs-basic-war-set-circulation-strikes-1942-1945/publishedset/94452
i enjoy a safe place to view my friends coins and not in front of a dealers table at the show.
Club meetings that are well attended i.e JRCS
Ease to get to
Spare money in my pocket. And lots of it.
I enjoy going to shows but I haven’t bought anything at a show in years. I prefer working with dealers. When I buy something from a dealer I have a return privilege, I can do my homework, and I minimize the likelihood of buying something impulsively. Shows are great for networking with dealers and collectors and to view auction lots but at least for me, not a great buying opportunity.
Wide variety of dealers both large and small with good inventory.
Good Location.
Free Parking.
Good displays.
Friends (known dealers or fellow collectors)
Educational seminars.
Good restaurants nearby.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
One that advertises the correct date. Found that out this morning...
Latin American Collection
Ive always noticed that a good show had that buzz in the air once you walked in
The right number of dealers and buyers and sellers
this applies to all shows small and larger ones.
there seems to be a ratio but I'm not sure what that is.
On the dealers side loading both coming and going should be done with the shortest time ( don't tie up the loading area)
On the customers side:
don't steal!
don't waist your or the dealers time
keep you belonging off the show cases
Explain this " can I use your glass, greysheet. can take the coin to show someone else".
Good lighting at tables. A break area with tables to eat at or meet others at. And of course a lot of Dimes and Varieties for me to find.
And good parking close to show.
FUN is my favorite show of the year with ANA in second place when in my area.
Some good suggestions/comments from above. I'd like to add this: having a show that acknowledges the 21st century exists, that social media is a very vital part of collecting and that digital photography and payments are here to stay
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
One where the dealers stay for the designated hours. Nothing turns me off of a show than showing up at 1 on a Saturday and half the dealers are gone. (Advertised to be open until 5)
+1000
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
These are all great feedback. Another thread mentioned access to a defibrillator, which I would never have thought of, but highlights along with security/safety.
Parking seems to be the comment I hear most in casual conversations, followed by a good variety of dealers and available material. I've had more fun sometimes at a 6 dealer show than one with 30, but can't miss big shows like Winter FUN.
I plan on collating the comments and reposting some time this week. I think this would be a helpful post for future reference.
And yes, with the need for social media and technology, free and functioning WiFi is a must! (or a usable 5Ge/LTE connection)
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
Lots of fresh to market inventory is what draws me. That means that not only collectors coming to buy, but also to sell to dealers their pieces that have been off the market for many years. This happens at FUN so that I have to go by my favorite dealer tables quite often just in case. Not as much any other show........
Best, SH