Hartford Coin Show Report!
chabot510
Posts: 1,291 ✭
Sorry for the delay in posting this. My laptop was ruined this weekend and this is my first real oppurtunity to post anything to the boards.
I arrived at the show at around 7:30 a.m. When I arrived, there were about 10 dealers already there. Most of the regulars where there. There was one dealer ( I can't remember his name ) that was not there who deals primarily in gold and commems who was not there. I was a bit surprised by this, because I see him at just about every show I set up at.
I quickly set up my table and then took a quick stroll around the bourse. There were many nice pieces available, however, the prices on the nice stuff was already in "buried" money in my opinion. There were some real nice colorful and crusty AU 58 bust halves for sale, but the dealer was asking nearly 63 money for them. The coins were nice, but in my opinion, not 63 money nice.
Gold seemed to really struggle at the show. I had about 20-25 pieces on display, and was only asked about them by one or two of them. I was able to sell a single 1854 $3 AU 58 NGC, but I had to shop it around to other dealers. I feel as if this period is a good time to buy some gold. The demand seems to be shrinking, so perhaps some bargains can be found. There was practically zero better date gold pieces at the show.
Retail sales were very slow it seemed. I sold only a few pieces to collectors. Luckily, I was able to free up some capital by getting rid of some of my purchases that I had regretted in the past. These were in no way problem coins, just coins that I could not sell. They were mainly common date Frankies and Peace dollars in average collector grades. That was one of the very few postive aspects of the show.
I picked up a few nice pieces that I think will sell pretty well. My purchases included a nice proof 2 cent piece, a few bust half dimes, and a nice type seated quarter. The prices on all these were decent and I felt the best coins available at the show for their respective prices. I heard many dealers saying that can't buy anything these days at sheet, however, I think they are either not looking hard enough or are just trying to rip some buyers off. If you look hard enough, there are still plenty of bargains out there. Looking may not be the most enjoyable thing to do, but if you work hard at buying for the right prices, you will be rewarded, in my opinion.
At the show, I also met with two board members, nickel and roadrunner. I have met with roadrunner before and we had a nice talk about gold prices and just coin related stuff. I showed him a few nice pieces. Roadrunner is a very knowledgeable person and I suggest every member that has the oppurtunity to do so, sit down and have a chat with him. I was not able to talk to nickel for long. However, I browsed over his case and he had a lot of nice coins for sale.
Overall, the show was average. I was expecting much more from the show seeing that New Haven was cancelled the week prior.
I have had better shows in the past and may consider not setting up at Hartford again. The price for a table is somewhat high for what the show offers. Who knows what the future will hold.
Thanks, and I hoped you enjoyed reading the report.
I arrived at the show at around 7:30 a.m. When I arrived, there were about 10 dealers already there. Most of the regulars where there. There was one dealer ( I can't remember his name ) that was not there who deals primarily in gold and commems who was not there. I was a bit surprised by this, because I see him at just about every show I set up at.
I quickly set up my table and then took a quick stroll around the bourse. There were many nice pieces available, however, the prices on the nice stuff was already in "buried" money in my opinion. There were some real nice colorful and crusty AU 58 bust halves for sale, but the dealer was asking nearly 63 money for them. The coins were nice, but in my opinion, not 63 money nice.
Gold seemed to really struggle at the show. I had about 20-25 pieces on display, and was only asked about them by one or two of them. I was able to sell a single 1854 $3 AU 58 NGC, but I had to shop it around to other dealers. I feel as if this period is a good time to buy some gold. The demand seems to be shrinking, so perhaps some bargains can be found. There was practically zero better date gold pieces at the show.
Retail sales were very slow it seemed. I sold only a few pieces to collectors. Luckily, I was able to free up some capital by getting rid of some of my purchases that I had regretted in the past. These were in no way problem coins, just coins that I could not sell. They were mainly common date Frankies and Peace dollars in average collector grades. That was one of the very few postive aspects of the show.
I picked up a few nice pieces that I think will sell pretty well. My purchases included a nice proof 2 cent piece, a few bust half dimes, and a nice type seated quarter. The prices on all these were decent and I felt the best coins available at the show for their respective prices. I heard many dealers saying that can't buy anything these days at sheet, however, I think they are either not looking hard enough or are just trying to rip some buyers off. If you look hard enough, there are still plenty of bargains out there. Looking may not be the most enjoyable thing to do, but if you work hard at buying for the right prices, you will be rewarded, in my opinion.
At the show, I also met with two board members, nickel and roadrunner. I have met with roadrunner before and we had a nice talk about gold prices and just coin related stuff. I showed him a few nice pieces. Roadrunner is a very knowledgeable person and I suggest every member that has the oppurtunity to do so, sit down and have a chat with him. I was not able to talk to nickel for long. However, I browsed over his case and he had a lot of nice coins for sale.
Overall, the show was average. I was expecting much more from the show seeing that New Haven was cancelled the week prior.
I have had better shows in the past and may consider not setting up at Hartford again. The price for a table is somewhat high for what the show offers. Who knows what the future will hold.
Thanks, and I hoped you enjoyed reading the report.
Nick
0
Comments
<< <i>Great show report Nick, but now for the bigger question. What did you do to your laptop? >>
Well, the screen was cracked because I had stepped on it a while back. However, it was still functional at this point. When I came home for the show I had forgotten my power cord. I used a power cord from another laptop and this fried my computer. The thing literally started to smoke! After that, it would not turn on. The power cords at the same voltage and everything, so I am not too sure what happened, I am no electrician.
Luckily Gateway has a special warranty that takes care of the computers if I do anything like that to it. It should only be a few weeks before I have it back!
stop stepping on your laptops.
<< <i>If I may humbly suggest,..
stop stepping on your laptops. >>
I placed it underneath my chair for a bit and when I backed up to get out I put my foot down...
<< <i>
<< <i>If I may humbly suggest,.. stop stepping on your laptops. >>
I placed it underneath my chair for a bit and when I backed up to get out I put my foot down... >>
If I may humbly suggest... stop putting your foot down when backing up in your chair with your laptap underneath.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>If I may humbly suggest,.. stop stepping on your laptops. >>
I placed it underneath my chair for a bit and when I backed up to get out I put my foot down... >>
If I may humbly suggest... stop putting your foot down when backing up in your chair with your laptap underneath. >>
In the future I will remember this advice.
Thanks braddick!
this is why I stick with the new haven-west haven shows. new haven rocks and the west haven show is a few blocks from my home, so even if the west haven show sucks, I dont have to travel far
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
<< <i>
At the show, I also met with two board members, nickel and roadrunner. I have met with roadrunner before and we had a nice talk about gold prices and just coin related stuff. I showed him a few nice pieces. Roadrunner is a very knowledgeable person and I suggest every member that has the oppurtunity to do so, sit down and have a chat with him. >>
I second the emotion.
Excellent report and an enjoyable read.
West Haven show on Sunday was sparse and slow due to Hartford.
While chabot510 has a nice selection of slabbed type , i'ts beyond most needs or pocketbooks of the collector at this show . .They look , nod in approval , and keep walking .
Retail sales were slow , and dealer purchases at my table were minimal .
I finally bit the bullet , and traded another dealer my 1722 PCGS MS 63 Hibernia Half Cent for 6 slabbed foreign coins .
As roadrunner and I do not know each other , we did not talk or exchange hello's .
There was one 'dealer' set up for the first time , and his showcase was ALL bullion . As best that I can remember , there were 2 100 oz silver bars , a pyramid stack of ten oz silver bars , 3-4 of those 1 pound painted walking liberty rounds , a scattering of 1 oz rounds .
Also , about 10 1 oz us platinum coins , about 15 1 oz us gold eagles , maybe 8 1 oz canadian gold maple leafs . In addition , handfuls of mixed 1/2 oz gold , and many swiss 20 frank , english sovereigns , etc and a mound of miscellaneous sterling rounds .
After all that excitement , some of the dealers continued talking coins , while enjoying Polish food and brewski's in the restaurant below the show hall .
See ya next time !
This is just not the show for more expensive coins.
I had avoided this show for over a year in favor of other shows and Sunday was not a surprise to me.
roadrunner
<< <i>Nick...remember you crack out the coins from the slabs not from the laptop
lol
(Just think of city streets clogged with a hundred thousand horses each generating 15 lbs of manure every day...)