FUN Show Day 2 (and 3)
Desert Moon
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Hi Folks,
My day 2 ended at 11:30 pm last nite so I am making this a day and a half report. Right now I am sitting in MCO waiting for my flight out. Good news is that the mess earlier this week appears to be resolved, flightaware is showing no cancellations (just a few) across the US. Bad news is departing from MCO, always mayhem. As the Disneyhub it is complete chaos going out. I am TSE Pre, and it took 40 minutes to get through. So if you come to FUN, plan for a little more time to check through when departing.
So yesterday started by getting into the bourse at 8:30 am. I had researched out the coins I looked at the previous day and was ready to go back to tables to look and potentially buy. The first stop was Dave Perkins table where he had seated and early dollars of interest. Dave is really the leading dealer in these, and also has other early coins of high quality. I had prioritized one of the early dollars he had over the other and looked at it again first. It was everything I expected (again), we talked price and the deal was done. I will show it here when I get it imaged. It is a dollar I never thought I could own i.e. - find one in my price range with the expected quality I want. Pretty stoked about this one. The other one was great too but I felt my budget was such that I did not want to buy it at that grade level and price (which was fairly priced by Dave). It is an 1859-O dollar in P63/CAC. What is unlike all 59 and 60-Os in this grade is that this one Dave had is not covered in hits/bag marks. Gorgeous pastel tone. But I figure I can wait for a great one in 45 to 58 and a highly reduced price point. I am not a chaser of high grade, but love quality coins in worn grades with special surfaces and toning when I can find them. But this coin is a stunner and someone will be thrilled to own it. Also at Perkins table was Mike Clark helping Dave out and we talked for at least an hour about bust quarters - he is a specialist in this series and his collection in BQ's is one of the best ever put together. Some of my best pieces were previously owned by him (he upgraded LOL).
I then spent several hours looking at every table trying to find coins I like and wanted. Always going by CRO and Eye Appealing Coins to see if they had newps that just came to their tables since my last pass by, to the point that John and Phil, respectively probably get tired of seeing me I am sure. But when they are not busy, we chat and they give me insights into how it is on their side of the table and sometimes they have a newp just arrived that I can grab - like my avatar here that I got from Phil this way a few years back. I also perused Winesteven's indian cent edu display, and Bill Jones' 1795 display more intensively than in the previous day. There were a couple nice houses worth of coins between the two being shown, and the presentations and educational information stellar. They have competition tho', there was also a 2 cent collection displayed, and a 3 cent collection displayed, both of the quality matching WS and BJ displays. Between the 4, the wow factor was beyond comparison.
I found one more coin on the floor yesterday bringing my total to 5 for the show (so far). At Scarsdale coin, he had an Isabella quarter in an OGH P58/CAC. Great looking and to me the perfect coin. His price was a touch higher than I would have preferred (but fair and justified) but you pay up for these special coins of this quality so I did. Will be imaged and shown here later.
At 6 pm I exited the bourse to meet 2 PCGS board members for our annual dinner at the Capital Grille. The group has ebbed and flowed for numbers over the years, but the 3 of us represent the core of this event. One of the members brought his wife who was a pleasure and enjoyment to be with us, and we look forward to having her in this dinner for the years to come. At 9 pm, ldhair and I migrated to the Rosen Center bar to meet up with several more coinees including Scubafuel and others. I sipped Grand Marnier until 11 pm and we talked coins and had some show and tell. You get the sense that these guys know quality in coins and know their history surrounding them. It was a great 2 hours.
This morning I went to the JRCS club meeting, always a good hour. I then went to the bourse one more time and straight to CRO. John mentioned in his Road Report this morning that he picked up two O-mint half dimes yesterday. One of the 2 spoke to me and it will now never see his EB as coin #6 (and final) was acquired for my FUN Show findings. That made 3 CRO newps at FUN, what fun........
Observations
Buzz - never seen a coin show as vibrant as this one was. Constant buzz, most tables had customers all of the time (and many several at a time), and the dealers told me customers were buying. One had to weave a path through people in the aisles. One dealer told me their show was made yesterday, best ever, so today and Saturday were just extra gravy. There is clearly more money being spent on numis than I have ever seen.
Show me the money. I watched a 20 year old-ish guy walk up to a table with a box of >$1000 coins all stickered (CAC that is) with prices at Net listed and ready to sell. He was someone the dealer had never seen before, not an 'assistant' to an established dealer, and the dealers eyes lit up with what he was seeing. Young guy new to the market but wow. The coins were all crazy good and this young guy clearly had knowledge. This was happening across the bourse, younger folks with great coins and funds for more. I am truly convinced that we are seeing a burst in numi interest and the future is strong.
RickO bullion report. Bullion and bullion collectable tables were stacked deep with customers. 1 ounce rounds, unslabbed and slabbed, were flying off their tables. Alot of activity at the US Mint area. Mostly younger folks or family goupings but again, this shows the high level in interest in coins right now.
In conclusion, never been to a stronger show than this one. Got some great pieces, if my budget could handle it, could have easily got a dozen more. The only thing lacking was bust quarters and barber quarters of the type I was looking for, which is normal. I did get my large CBQ newp from CRO first day that was from an EB, but that was it.
Best, SH
Comments
Appreciate the report... one of these days I will attend a major show.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
Great show report. Safe travels home.
Looking forward to pictures. Safe travels.
Great report again....and again I'm going to have to attend FUN one of these days. To good of a show not to....
jom
This was happening across the bourse, younger folks with great coins and funds for more. I am truly convinced that we are seeing a burst in numi interest and the future is strong.
If you ever are on Instagram, it is clear that this profile of young, smart, and financially backed, dealer/collector is present and passionate.
Latin American Collection
Mike Clark cracked an 1830 O-114 I found out of a holder for me on the bourse floor at the last FUN show 😂
Another good guy
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
You can't buy any older holder AU58's for any guide or sheet price if the coin walks, talks, & chews bubble gum.
This Isabella does all 3 and keeps your keys for you.
Well in that case you're fine even if it was MS63-64 monies.
I should mention also that I had a nice chat with Ian Russell while they were putting out the Blay collection for perusal, which was stunning set of lincolns. Ian and I chatted about his podcast with John Feigenbaum and Ian noted how important it is to do that in terms of giving back to the community and how he hopes to do more of that in the future. Fully agree with that. If there ever was someone who you would want to succeed in numismatics, it is Ian - he is a good bloke. Thanks Ian for the chat.
Great report and thanks. I also observed the younger vest-pocket guys at ANA last summer. They were dealing quality/high-value coins. I can’t explain the phenomenon, but it is good to see.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
Here’s a photo of a few of the forum members who came to stop by to see my exhibit.
@2windy2fish , @PocketChange , @Catbert , @DeplorableDan , and @Walkerguy21D .
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Thanks for the great report! Wish that I was there.
Great report!
Sorry I missed you this year.
Indeed. The next time someone who never gets to a show grumbles about the aging hobby and everyone's almost dead and so are coins and you can't sell anything to all the dead people that are going to crash the market because anyone under 40 only likes video games and can't count to 70 and grumble grumble, show them this picture, lifted from Greg Rohan's post on FB.
There was also a good amount of youth in our dinner group tonight. I was pretty impressed by the heavy traffic at the show Thursday and Friday. I was a bit busier than normal and didn't get a lot of chances to slow down, but I hope to be able to kick back a bit on Saturday and photograph my newps. Sunday morning will come fast for me, as I have a 6:00 am flight home.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Nice report, I made many of the same observations in mine. Strong prices yet very strong action, lots of guys even younger than myself. Dave had some great coins, I hesitated on a nice 1795 dollar in 35 and it disappeared by the time I passed the table again.
Founder- Peak Rarities
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Not only were those kids at the auction, but they were bidding on multiple lots! I joked with @DeplorableDan that I was going to get blown away by a high schooler on the one lot I thought I could win. Several of them had laptops out doing research while the auction was ongoing. I really respect their energy and enthusiasm.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Edit: @P0CKETCHANGE beat me to the punch, I had responded saying the same thing.
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Great report, thanks for sharing.
@spacehayduke.... Another great report. Thanks for the details and commentary. Looks like the Instagram crowds are flooding the coin shows now.... There are many young collectors on the internet.... Good to see they are doing shows too.. Cheers, RickO
Lots of YNs around- and credit must go out to Seth Chandler of Witter Coin and Witter U- I sat with Seth for half an hour or so and his table was abuzz with YNs coming and going- I must have met 20 of them.
I’ll pile on; and they aren’t all sharpies looking for flips in the five figure end of the market. I chatted with one 20-something who was carefully selecting raw mid grade large cents for his dansco date set. That was good to see!
Er, that mighta been the one I bought Thurs am? I will image and post.......
Yes I saw Seth hanging out and wanted to go over and thank him for what he is doing to promote numi to YN's, but he was so busy never got the chance!
Best, SH
Great report. Good to see young people with passion for numismatics.
But but but the hobby is dying . . . all the data . . . ANA membership is declining . . . the sky is falling /s @jmlanzaf
Great show report - glad to hear and see the photos of YNs. Sounds like you had a great time - congrats on the pickups.
It's too bad I missed the meet up with board members at Winesteven's display on Friday afternoon as I was already at MCO. Looks like a good group. I did not know Catbert made it given his flight challenges. Maybe next year.........
That is John Danreuther sitting in the background.
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
Seth’s table reminded me of a Dairy Queen during the summer months when all the teenagers work there.
I saw no milkshakes being offered tho'......................
And they bought coins at the Bass sale…4 to be exact.
Latin American Collection
Excellent thread! This is the most positive outlook I have heard on this forum in a very long time. This is very heartening. And what is also heartening in that picture with Deplorable Dan (love the moniker) and other attendees I only saw one mustard stain on the shirts!
Thank you for the great report.
At one of the local coin shows two months ago, I overheard a dealer from New York telling a similar story from last year's FUN to another dealer from Mass.
Perhaps may have been talking about this very same person.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/quarters/PCGS-2020-quarter-quest/album/247091
It may have been but from what others are saying, he is not the only YN out there dealing and flush with coins and cash. This is a good sign. I have seen that several YN's are running Youtube Numi channels now and getting alot of views. One, is even at an Ivy league school while he is dealing like mad. This is a new world we live in and the energy level is high, no more gerontology wards at coins shows.
The Ivy League young man (I won’t call him a kid, as my fiancé hates that term) might be Eric. He’s hunted down about a half dozen of my Indian Head Cents for me. He’s even “made” a couple, buying the coins raw, showing me photos, getting them graded, and then getting a CAC and Photo Seal! Only then am I committed. Naturally, I pay him well for that. It’s a “Win Win”! He has several clients, so if the grade he gets is not high enough for me, or it doesn’t CAC or Photo Seal, he still has those other clients to sell it to.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
I noticed the infusion of YNs at the show as well. Then I looked around and saw all these nice bullion and fantasy coins that I never saw at shows 3 decades ago. It got me thinking that coin collecting isn't dying, it's evolving and diversifying.
Kudos to Seth Chandler for his efforts educating and promoting coin collecting with YNs.
Were there any female YNs at the show? Maybe these YNs can skip the usual 20-years hiatus from coin collecting and find a cute partner to share their numismatic interests.
Seth Report: