A morning at Long Beach

Justacommeman · February 17, 2022 5:10PM

Made the 45 minute trek to LB without incident. Did notice lots of trucks coming and going out of the Port of Long Beach which was a welcome sight.

The 10 am opening line to get in:

Attendance seemed rather robust as did activity for the 3 hours I was there. Mornings are generally busy and then it thins out after 2.

My goal was to visit with dealer friends, catch up on family and such and pick some brains. No secret uber nice coins are in short supply. I tend to do business with boutique dealers and the challenge for them is daunting. I left a rather small but challenging want list with two of them.

Man, if you have "stuff" laying around that you don't LOVE now is a great time to think about selling. Collectors appetites are very healthy. FYI make no mistake about it there is a lot of new young blood coming into the hobby. The taste range is wide. True Rarities and kaleidoscope toned coins are the sweet spots. Under appreciated world coins have also quietly ramped up. The bargains from 2-5 years ago are gone but IMHO there is still a lot of meat left on the bone. Prices can still run.

Caught up with my dog loving brother from another mother Bill Shamhart and good collector friend Mike Stefano from Indiana. The latter was a complete surprise. This made my day. I love these guys. Kindred spirits plus I always learn something new from them.

The main attraction The Tyrant Collection US Type Set wasn't quite set up yet but you will get the idea from the pics. Stellar is an understatement

3 hours well spent. The LB Show is alive and well

m

FlyingAl · February 17, 2022 5:12PM

Awesome! Great to see so many back to shows. You caught that 1879 Flowing Hair Stella at just the right angle to get the mirrors to really shine. Lucky shot I guess lol!

P0CKETCHANGE · February 17, 2022 5:32PM

Ha! You caught me in one of your photos in line for the show. The Tyrant Collection was incredible. They were not finished fully setting up the exhibit when I checked it out, but even what was already on display was many millions worth of the nicest coins I’ve ever seen.

pointfivezero · February 17, 2022 5:38PM

Thanks for the post, @Justacommeman. I'm sure our paths crossed many times today. Rather than post a new thread with a bunch of duplicate pictures, I'll just add to yours if you don't mind.

We flew down from the Bay Area last night on SWA. The flight on the 737-800 was about 70% full and very short (55 minutes):

Great view approaching LGB from the west:

We are staying at a Hyatt just a few steps away from the Convention Center:

First thing we did was open a bottle of wine. I took this picture and showed it to Charmy at the show:

Arrived at 10 AM and the lines were long as shown in @Justacommeman pics. This was my first national show and I was amazed at the number of displays. I took at least five slow laps around the floor and saw a lot of new faces and some old ones as well.

I was focused on the old holder hunt. I found several tables with NGC White Labels and Doilies. The sellers were asking moon money. I spent most of my time (and money) with Chris at the Real American Treasure booth. Sorry about the drool but thank you for letting me take a few pictures:

Thanks again to @Justacommeman for the pictures. I was a bit camera shy due to all these signs:

I'll be back at the show tomorrow and/or Saturday if the ATM continues to cooperate.

Tim

Dave99B · February 17, 2022 5:41PM

Great report and pics. Seems like I was just there. Wish I could have made this one, but a Las Vegas trip got in the way. I'll shoot for the summer show for sure. Long Beach is a great show!

Dave

Justacommeman · February 17, 2022 5:45PM

@pointfivezero

Ha! Thanks for adding on. I took the same ironic picture

Oh one more thing. Go Rams!!

kaz · February 17, 2022 5:49PM

thanks for the reports and all the pics!

Pnies20 · February 17, 2022 6:06PM

I wonder if the buyer I of the NGC black label is going to crack out and resubmit.

MilesWaits · February 17, 2022 6:08PM

So coooool Mark!
I love your fresh perspective on a show report. Very easy-going, professional with no fluff.

coinsarefun · February 17, 2022 6:09PM

Nice, thanks for the report. I have the Danny Kay in the same holder but mines toned.

NumisOxide · February 17, 2022 6:23PM

Enjoyed the report! Thanks.

coinbuf · February 17, 2022 7:50PM

Glad that you were able to enjoy the show.

MsMorrisine · February 17, 2022 8:05PM

We’re they selling the tyrant books there?

Justacommeman · February 17, 2022 8:06PM

@MsMorrisine said:
We’re they selling the tyrant books there?

The booth wasn't open. Not sure. I took a pamphlet listing the coins with pics. Haven't looked at it yet

m

sparky64 · February 17, 2022 8:14PM

Excellent report, thank you.

pocketpiececommems · February 17, 2022 8:17PM

What was the line like at the PCGS $45 walk through?

breakdown · February 17, 2022 8:29PM

Great report. As an East Coaster, LB is the one big show I have never made it to. But hope to some day.

skier07 · February 18, 2022 1:14AM

@pocketpiececommems said:
What was the line like at the PCGS $45 walk through?

Not very long.

1northcoin · February 18, 2022 3:01AM

@kaz said:
thanks for the reports and all the pics!

Ditto

Shrub68 · February 18, 2022 6:05AM

Great observation on Shamhart and Stefano! They are good friends and I have the utmost respect for both of them! Very knowledgeable!

ricko · February 18, 2022 6:13AM

@Justacommeman... Great report and great pictures. Were masks mandatory? Don't see masks much around here anymore. That Tyrant collection is awesome - might have to make a major show where it will be displayed... Would spend most of my time looking at those gold coins. @pointfivezero... Thanks for your additional pictures, love those green PCGS holders. Cheers, RickO

JimTyler · February 18, 2022 6:28AM

Those pictures of the “rare” plastic and paper and mostly very common coins with prices beyond moon money I refer to as Uranus money if you think I would pay that, was a reminder why I do not like the big shows. Even though most coins there don’t have prices that high 99% are still Uranus if you think I can’t do better elsewhere.

MFeld · February 18, 2022 6:31AM

@JimTyler said:
Those pictures of the “rare” plastic and paper and mostly very common coins with prices beyond moon money I refer to as Uranus money if you think I would pay that, was a reminder why I do not like the big shows. Even though most coins there don’t have prices that high 99% are still Uranus if you think I can’t do better elsewhere.

I don’t recall any show of any size that didn’t include lots of coins which were priced “beyond moon money”.
Don’t blame (just) the large shows for that.

Cougar1978 · February 18, 2022 6:47AM

Great report and pics.

PerryHall · February 18, 2022 6:49AM

@pointfivezero Those two first generation black NGC slabs that you showed have stickers marked "SOLD $30K" which is insane. Do they really bring that much these days? I bought one just like it with a different date Saint for $5K a few years ago just to get that very rare slab.

LukeMarshall · February 18, 2022 7:36AM

Thanks for sharing, looks like a good time was had by all...

DelawareDoons · February 18, 2022 7:41AM

@PerryHall said:
@pointfivezero Those two first generation black NGC slabs that you showed have stickers marked "SOLD $30K" which is insane. Do they really bring that much these days? I bought one just like it with a different date Saint for $5K a few years ago just to get that very rare slab.

Last I know of that traded hands was more around 10.

Lew · February 18, 2022 7:44AM

The picture with the various old holders on top of pages 170 and 171 of a book that looks like is titled "Real American Treasure".
Is this book available at retail?
Is there an outlet for this book?

291fifth · February 18, 2022 7:55AM

It looks like the show was really well attended. I'm not surprised. Collectors want personal contact. I plan on attending my first coin show in two years on Sunday. It is a large 75 table club show in the Detroit area and I expect it will be heavily attended.

nwcoast · February 18, 2022 8:22AM

Love the show report. Thank you so much!
Looks like a blast!

JimTyler · February 18, 2022 8:37AM

@PerryHall said:
@pointfivezero Those two first generation black NGC slabs that you showed have stickers marked "SOLD $30K" which is insane. Do they really bring that much these days? I bought one just like it with a different date Saint for $5K a few years ago just to get that very rare slab.

They’re not sold they’re bait. People pay his prices so should you. When dealers sell coins the buyer takes it with them or it’s placed behind them out of the way until they’re paid.

WAYNEAS · February 18, 2022 10:03AM

Thanks to all for the show reports and awesome pictures, especially the Tyrant collection.
Any info on bullion silver prices?
Again, thanks.
Wayne

BillJones · February 18, 2022 11:53AM

@JimTyler said:
Those pictures of the “rare” plastic and paper and mostly very common coins with prices beyond moon money I refer to as Uranus money if you think I would pay that, was a reminder why I do not like the big shows. Even though most coins there don’t have prices that high 99% are still Uranus if you think I can’t do better elsewhere.

I often pay less at the shows than I do over the Internet. The reason is that I can negotiate better. Another reason is that I can see the coin in person. A third reason is that I can shop the floor and compare the offerings and the prices. Many coins don't make it to the Internet.

Before Covid, most of my purchases were made a shows in person. It's the best way to buy in my opinion.

pointfivezero · February 18, 2022 1:11PM

@DelawareDoons said:

@PerryHall said:
@pointfivezero Those two first generation black NGC slabs that you showed have stickers marked "SOLD $30K" which is insane. Do they really bring that much these days? I bought one just like it with a different date Saint for $5K a few years ago just to get that very rare slab.

Last I know of that traded hands was more around 10.

All I can say is they were available on my first lap around the bourse and sold by my second lap so yes, $15K for a 1.0 Saint is the current going rate. I know I paid five figures for a common date Morgan recently.

Edit to add - heading back to the show in a few minutes so I’ll check to see how much of that case is sold now. There were two other tables with NGC White Labels so I’ll check on those too.

Tim

coinhack · February 18, 2022 2:21PM

Thanks @Justacommeman for a nice write up. I love Long Beach, but I was unable to be there today. Seeing your report helped some. It looked so warm and sunny and a busy bourse as well. Gotta love it. Next time for sure.

And thaniks @pointfivezero for your addition.

skier07 · February 18, 2022 3:08PM

Thanks for your report.

I was there but was too lazy to take pictures. My experience was quite similar to yours. I looked at a few coins but was there mostly to socialize and network. I left around 1:30 and it wasn’t overly crowded.

Surprisingly the line at the PCGS table was relatively short.

The Tyrant Collection is amazing. The 1795 $10 may be the nicest coin I’ve ever seen.

pointfivezero · February 18, 2022 4:20PM

I just finished scouring @Justacommeman pictures again with my 10x loupe as I knew I had to be in at least one of panorama shots. Sure enough, I'm 99% sure this is me:

Zoomed in a bit:

Tim

pointfivezero · February 18, 2022 4:26PM

One last picture. No caption needed:

Lakesammman · February 18, 2022 5:04PM

Nice report - love the rare plastic pictures!

Desert Moon · February 18, 2022 7:27PM

@pointfivezero said:
I just finished scouring @Justacommeman pictures again with my 10x loupe as I knew I had to be in at least one of panorama shots. Sure enough, I'm 99% sure this is me:

Zoomed in a bit:

Tim

In the bigfoot world we call that a blobsquatch

SurfinxHI · February 18, 2022 8:10PM

@pointfivezero said:
One last picture. No caption needed:

Funny, last year that was the $1.50 table.....

BLUEJAYWAY · February 19, 2022 12:59AM

@BillJones said:

@JimTyler said:
Those pictures of the “rare” plastic and paper and mostly very common coins with prices beyond moon money I refer to as Uranus money if you think I would pay that, was a reminder why I do not like the big shows. Even though most coins there don’t have prices that high 99% are still Uranus if you think I can’t do better elsewhere.

I often pay less at the shows than I do over the Internet. The reason is that I can negotiate better. Another reason is that I can see the coin in person. A third reason is that I can shop the floor and compare the offerings and the prices. Many coins don't make it to the Internet.

Before Covid, most of my purchases were made a shows in person. It's the best way to buy in my opinion.

I too favor in person purchasing, like to examine mdse. hands on. Personal negotiating usually a plus. However, one cannot always find in person what is being looked for. So, in such a case the Net is most useful for that search.

johnny9434 · February 19, 2022 1:57AM

Super report with cool pics ad well

Zoins · February 19, 2022 3:37AM

@Justacommeman said:
The main attraction The Tyrant Collection US Type Set wasn't quite set up yet but you will get the idea from the pics. Stellar is an understatement

Very nice. I'm amazed by how much text there is for each coin including provenance and description. Here's a close up of one showing the text.

I wonder who writes this. Does Tyrant have someone on staff to write this? Is it from Ron Guth's writing's on PCGS CoinFacts?

Zoins · February 19, 2022 3:39AM

@pointfivezero said:
I was a bit camera shy due to all these signs:

Is even that photo allowed?

Zoins · February 19, 2022 3:41AM

@pointfivezero said:

[...]

Amazing coins and slabs!

It's a treat to see these!

Are all gold in NGC black upside down? Or were they rotated to get that way?

PerryHall · February 19, 2022 4:02AM

@Zoins said:

@pointfivezero said:

[...]

Amazing coins and slabs!

It's a treat to see these!

Are all gold in NGC black upside down? Or were they rotated to get that way?

That's actually the back side of the slab. The marketing geniuses who design the first generation NGC slab decided to put the label on the back of the slab. They felt the NGC logo should be prominently displayed on the front of the slab to promote the brand. They were obviously not coin collectors or coin dealers. Also, collectors and dealers hated the black background since brown copper didn't stand out with such a dark background. This is why the slab design was quickly changed. For these reasons, most of the black first generations slabbed coins were subsequently reholdered in the newer styled NGC holders.

Zoins · February 19, 2022 4:26AM

@PerryHall said:

@Zoins said:

@pointfivezero said:

[...]

Amazing coins and slabs!

It's a treat to see these!

Are all gold in NGC black upside down? Or were they rotated to get that way?

That's actually the back side of the slab. The marketing geniuses who design the first generation NGC slab decided to put the label on the back of the slab. They felt the NGC logo should be prominently displayed on the front of the slab to promote the brand. They were obviously not coin collectors or coin dealers. Also, collectors and dealers hated the black background since brown copper didn't stand out with such a dark background. This is why the slab design was quickly changed. For these reasons, most of the black first generations slabbed coins were subsequently reholdered in the newer styled NGC holders.

Good info. Always good to see the other side.

Regarding the change, does that mean copperheads are more influential than goldbugs?

PerryHall · February 19, 2022 6:11AM

@Zoins said:

@PerryHall said:

@Zoins said:

@pointfivezero said:

[...]

Amazing coins and slabs!

It's a treat to see these!

Are all gold in NGC black upside down? Or were they rotated to get that way?

That's actually the back side of the slab. The marketing geniuses who design the first generation NGC slab decided to put the label on the back of the slab. They felt the NGC logo should be prominently displayed on the front of the slab to promote the brand. They were obviously not coin collectors or coin dealers. Also, collectors and dealers hated the black background since brown copper didn't stand out with such a dark background. This is why the slab design was quickly changed. For these reasons, most of the black first generations slabbed coins were subsequently reholdered in the newer styled NGC holders.

Good info. Always good to see the other side.

Regarding the change, does that mean copperheads are more influential than goldbugs?

The primary reason the slab was redesigned was because the label was on the back of the slab. When dealers displayed these slabs in their cases at shows, they had to add their own label to the front of the slab or display the slab upside down.

TwoKopeiki · February 19, 2022 6:21AM

@SurfinxHI said:

@pointfivezero said:
One last picture. No caption needed:

Funny, last year that was the $1.50 table.....

Inflation

JimTyler · February 19, 2022 6:48AM

@BillJones said:

@JimTyler said:
Those pictures of the “rare” plastic and paper and mostly very common coins with prices beyond moon money I refer to as Uranus money if you think I would pay that, was a reminder why I do not like the big shows. Even though most coins there don’t have prices that high 99% are still Uranus if you think I can’t do better elsewhere.

I often pay less at the shows than I do over the Internet. The reason is that I can negotiate better. Another reason is that I can see the coin in person. A third reason is that I can shop the floor and compare the offerings and the prices. Many coins don't make it to the Internet.

Before Covid, most of my purchases were made a shows in person. It's the best way to buy in my opinion.

My guess is you’ve been around long enough and know those dealers. We don’t get much of a better price actually sometimes lucky to not be ignored. How many hundreds are spent on planes, rooms, restaurants to get the good deal ? Most of the time there are just too many coins like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. I use to do shows all the time and loved them like many do here but the internet came around now better photos but still mostly prices I won’t pay. At least the hunt cost near nothing and I do find something worthwhile now and then. Enjoy the show.

A morning at Long Beach

Comments

Leave a Comment

Categories