My first “show” report in ages and a coin-free one at that
MFeld
Posts: 14,941 ✭✭✭✭✭
Despite having attended (I don’t know how many) dozens of coin shows over a period of 30+ years, until yesterday, it had been approximately 9 years since I’d been to one.
When I heard that this year’s A.N.A. convention would be held here, in Oklahoma City, a number of thoughts quickly came to mind.
The first was that the drive from Dallas would be less than 4 hours.
The second was that this would be a great opportunity to reconnect with collectors and dealers whom I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
And the third was that in order to get the most out of the experience, I didn’t want to “work” at the show. So I quickly decided that I’d attend on my own/personal time, not as a representative of Heritage. Because I knew that if I was representing Heritage, I’d continually be hurrying myself to get back to the table and back to work. And that would conflict with the purpose of my attendance.
During the weeks prior to the show, I started making a list of collectors and dealers whom I hoped or knew would be here and reached out to some of them to find out for certain. I updated my list, as needed and was ready to go.
With day one of the show now in the past, I’m elated to report that I’ve been able to say hello to and in several cases, visit at length with even more old friends than I would have dared hope. I’ve known some of them for more than 40 years but others, I’d talked to or messaged, but never met in person. In a few cases, I was able to chat and reminisce with my numismatic friends longer than I’d ever done previously. And I was in-the-moment, soaking it all in, the entire time. I also have plans to add a few more visits today before I leave.
The key has been that I didn’t come here to work or with any agenda other than to connect with fellow numismatists. And as I said to several of them yesterday, “This is the first coin show I’ve been to where I was relaxed”. Because until this show, starting with my first one in the mid 70’s, my priority had always been either looking for coins for my collection or working for myself or for an employer. I came here with high hopes and even those have been exceeded.This has already easily been my “best show” ever.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Comments
Sounds like a great experience. Kudos to you for treating yourself to some Me Time.
Enjoy the remainder of your time at the show.
Very happy for you to have such a nice experience! I truly wish I could have made this show but meeting you will have to remain on my bucket list for now. I hope each remaining day is even better.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Glad you are having a best show ever. Great plan to just visit and reconnect with fellow numismatists. We should all try your approach once in a while.
Wonderful! I wish I could have made it. I would have loved to connect in person.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.
I only opened this thread for the free coin. Where is it? Heh
I thought someone might say something like that. But I don’t feel too bad telling you that your wait will be in vain, as I was careful to write “coin-free” rather than “free-coin”. 😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thanks for the update! Next time I'm in Dallas you can give me a tour of Heritage.
That's the best show report I have ever read.
Our metal disks come and go and must eventually find new homes with strangers. Meanwhile, if we are lucky, our lives are enriched by a handful of true friendships that are born out of collecting
Commems and Early Type
Mark….as you are an expert grader, do you ever see coins when walking around and feel they would be a real bargain due to undergrading? I wish I had the knowledge to spot the nice coins…but alas I have to go with what I see on the slabs…. Have fun!
I've always thought it was the collectors who made this hobby interesting and fun with coins taking a back seat.
Great show report Mark, thanks for sharing your insights.
peacockcoins
Hi Mark, one of my regrets in not attending the WFOM show was that I wouldn't get to meet you in person. I hope to meet you at some show in the future.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
So glad you've treated yourself to this, Mark. You deserve it! Wished I could have attended and seen you once again.
The only thing that I would have loved to read would have been you finding a coin that made you want to own it. I still hold out hope that you'll participate as a collector one day as you wind down your career.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Awesome! It's great to connect with people over a common interest and leave "work" out of it!
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I think it is absolutely awesome that you MFeld, and so many others here, share that passion for coins with friends and acquaintances!
I am always in amazement and have a touch of envy for all the socializing and camaraderie you folks share in the world of coins and shows.
Starting, building, and maintaining relationships is a literal handicap for me, so I can at least live vicariously through reports like this and stories of coin shows. It makes me smile to see reports like the OP. I imagine the affection you all share is similar to the way I feel about the members that post here, where 80% of my socializing occurs.
I hope all/most of you can take a few moments to recognize the special bond and experiences you share with each other. It seems magical and out of reach to me.
Thank you for the report and smile it gave me.
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
Mark, it’s nice to know you actually had fun at a coin show. As we talked about many years ago, it’s somewhat interesting to look around at a show and see loads of people seemingly miserable. It’s supposed to be FUN! As others have said, everything good in life involves other people. Finding a neat coin is nice. Having and holding it is nice. Sharing it (and the story behind it) with others is meaningful on a much deeper level.
I assume you wore your trademark shorts?
I assume you got at least one mustard stain?
I've long maintained that my favorite part of shows is catching up with friends that I don't see often. I don't get to many big shows, but when I do, even though I am looking at every table and there are plenty of coins I'd like if I find them, a show is a success if I see some people I want to see, even if my wallet never makes an appearance.
Now to find the elusive show that we both attend...
It's that newly discovered 1804 dollar that you said you didn't want at any price.
I agree. Once I got the low hanging fruit for my collection, I went to shows to in no particular order, see neat coins that I'll never own, and visit with people I've gotten to know over the years that I otherwise wouldn't see. Think I've bought and sold all of five coins in the last ten years.
A show wasn't complete without a scowl from Laura, a caustic comment from Larry Whitlow, getting an update from Tom Reynolds about Omaha (he and my mother are from there) or visiting with a number of people I've gotten to know.
Mark, I hope you can get back out to the West Coast. You are one of the good guys.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
At shows other than this one (where I only looked at coins that a few friends wanted to show me) sure, I’d see coins that appeared to be undergraded and bargains. Sometimes they turned out that way, and other times, not.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thanks to everyone for the nice comments - I appreciate it.
Maybe I won’t wait 9 years again for my next show.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Mark, great report! It sounds like you had a great trip and hopefully it was worth every penny of gas!
@MFeld sounds like you eat and breath coins. I do too. I just dont have nearly the experience and knowledge that you do.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
It was a pleasure meeting you Mark, I greatly enjoyed talking to you!
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
Nice report! The best part of coin shows is to connect with fellow collectors and dealers. Especially when it does not come with any 'work'.
Collector
91 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 56 members and counting!
instagram.com/klnumismatics
Congrats Mark on your success! I'm having a blast in OKC too.
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maintenance Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
My current Registry sets:
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
Likewise, David and thank you.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
So far - for me - it's been a good-to-great show.
The special show releases have gotten good traffic. "Secret hint" - the mint booth has a coin dispenser all the way to the left with the new Stacey Park Milbern Women's quarter. Put a dollar in, get 4 shiny new coins.
Dealer reports are mixed. Some did exceptionally well during the Monday Dealer Day and Tuesday morning. Some were quite disappointed at the limited public attendance on Tuesday afternoon (really, it's a TUESDAY and most of your customers are working??).
One friend has only sold three coins, which he probably could have sold without attending. But he's a real niche dealer, and well, it's not toned Morgans, so... plus he admitted he's in the black for the show on just those three sales.
Met up with several friends, although the big do is tomorrow night.
Found a couple of other crazy cat people (Friday is the day for my "If you don't talk to your cat about catnip, who will?" shirt.)
And I filled a difficult hole, something just niche enough and modest enough in cost that nobody ever brings it to shows. Except I found a dealer with FIVE in 2x2s.
My turn at our hosts' grading challenge is tomorrow - expect I'll bomb it as usual - so when they post the scores...
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Actually, I only breathe coins part-time and never eat them.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@MFeld:
Is this trip your practicing what it is like to be eventually retired? 😀
he's making fun of me because he knew i'd say "great coin free day! you there tomorrow? can you lot view an item at heritage? heh heh"
Sorry, I’ won’t be there.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Mark it was great talking to you and thanks for stopping by my table. One of the highlights of the show!
Best, DM
Glad you had a great time, Mark. In 70's and 80's I attended 20 or so small coin shows a year and some of the best memories were when I went with no funds to buy with and spent the time with friends and making new friends and studying coins.
Congrats.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Nice show report, I didn't expect the context, I'm happy for you, good move!
I have a hard time imagining a relaxed Mark.
I miss the connecting at shows, I dont miss the travel.
Todd, I can understand your skepticism - I can hardly believe it myself. But I have witnesses. 😀
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Thank you, DM and I enjoyed our visit.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
it was a bad joke wrapping commentary on a comment
anyway
do this more often! it's great to meet from online people, isn't it?
I thought it was probably a joke. But since I have been asked to view and assess coins in that scenario, just in case, I felt that it would be prudent to take you seriously.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the report. My only disappointment with the show was not connecting with you. I probably spent way too long in the Mint new release lines.
I also enjoyed stopping and introducing myself with many of the dealers I’ve worked with over the years but never met in person.
And although I complain about the long lines for the Mint products, I made some amazing, small world connections in the process.
Let’s get together soon,
Tim
Great to see you Mark. It made the show special for me.
Mark, thanks for swinging by our table and saying hi. It was good to see you. Sounds like the show was a success, even if it was coin-free!
Chris
@pointfivezero, @ldhair and @nencoin - thanks!
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.