Lakesammman's 2022 FUN show report.

The 2022 FUN show went off sorta as planned. If you look at the program from a few months ago, it was very different from the regular show. Besides the dealer cancellations, the HA auctions were moved to Dallas next week. The auction lots were available for review.

I had some trepidation about attending with all the Omicron news, flying down Tuesday from Seattle. And, as I sit at the airport today heading back, I still have some trepidation about getting home with my family.

Heritage was nice enough to provide KN95 masks which were worn at all times except eating. Wed. AM we spent lot viewing, then bought an early bird pass for dealer set up Wed. starting at 2pm. I must say that after 10 hours at the show yesterday (Thursday), my ears were aching! The masks had the ear bands rather than the ties around the head and neck.

Had fun catching up with ALOT of people at the show. Stayed with Boiler78 and had 3 average to great dinners with he and his son. The CRO crew was there in full force. It was a real pleasure to chat with CRO, REGULATED and NJCoinCrank in person again. DennisH has started a world bank note auction company. Talked with others who I think prefer to remain anonymous so will not name them.

Don Kagin landed the rights to market, in the US, the new Spain bullion coin. It's a very attractive partially reverse proof coin with a 1.5 Euro denomination and features a Lynx. I forgot to take a picture but was able to buy 2 of the 1st 200 Early Strike coins. The picture is from the Nov. Coin World article. Enjoyed chatting with Don about how it all came to happen!

Saw a few collectible holders but they were WAY overpriced. I guess the rise in holder prices has dealers pricing Doilies higher than typical. Didn't see any PCGS white rattlers or NGC 1.0's.

Dropped off a single coin at PCGS for reconsideration. Didn't recognize a single face behind the table - either the old crew stayed home or has moved on. Got a PCGS coin sample but it was generic and not show specific.

Made a couple minor purchases, an early ANACS slab with a toned 25c WA and a MS66 1938-D Buff for my generations set.

Boiler78 was able to get into a "back table" box at an unnamed dealers table and found a GORGEOUS 1796 small date, large letter Draped Bust dollar. Besides the color, the luster is amazing, especially for an AU58 coin, almost PL. Very minimal wear and very good strike. The True-view doesn't represent the color very well (1st picture) so we photoshopped it and the 2nd pic is a more representative look. It fit my "eye candy" criteria to a "T" so was glad it would have been a duplicate for Boiler, who was gracious in allowing me the chance to buy it.

The second NEWP was a surprise. I had been outbid on this 1847 Hawaii 1c recently. It appeared at David Hall Rare Coins at the show. In talking with Van Simmons and David, it turns out Dave really liked the eye appeal of the coin so bought it AND a RB Simpson pattern - coins they don't typically buy. So, I was happy to buy it at a level not much above what I had been bidding. It has a LOT of red although not enough to be RB and grades PCGS MS65 BN, CAC. If someone needs a really nice MS64BN CAC, let me know - it's available! Boiler78 made off with the pattern before I had a chance to notice it.....

There were a few other coins I would have loved to buy but were either overpriced or not yet quite available, to include a GORGEOUS mint state T. Reid $2.5.

My favorite T-shirt of the trip, just for FUN.

All in all a great time - will update the post in a few days with regards to the presence or absence of symptoms.