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Houston Coin Show -- Pre-Show Report...EDIT: POST-SHOW REPORT ADDED!
Barndog
Posts: 20,525 ✭✭✭✭✭
my flight into Houston Hobby was smooth and only 29 minutes long. I took the shuttle to the Convention Center in little traffic. I didn't see too many signs for the show (actually I saw none), but remembered where it was from my attendance last year. I tried to register at 9 AM, but was told registration doesn't open until 10. I asked if that was the same time the bourse opened, to which the lady at the registration desk responded, we'll open up a little before 10 for registration. Hmmmm. FUN certainly has the registration process more aligned with public attendance than does the GHCC. I haven't set foot onto the bourse yet, but should be able to do that in about thirty minutes.
This report brought to you by the fine people of Pfizer -- they have a computer kiosk set up in the convention hall in support of a primary care medicine show. I will file a better report (or add on to this one) when I actually have a chance to view a coin or two.
This report brought to you by the fine people of Pfizer -- they have a computer kiosk set up in the convention hall in support of a primary care medicine show. I will file a better report (or add on to this one) when I actually have a chance to view a coin or two.
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Comments
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
though i,m just around the corner from the convention center (bellaire)
i may not go.
in the process of moving and all that good stuff so time and money is
prohibitive right now.
yall say hi to jason, jeff and bud, maybe mike, of collectors coins and all the great folks
i,m forgetting to mention here.
the day should be nice for it too as the sun is out and bright today.
<< <i>Please file another report when you get a chance. Was Pfizer trying to push some free ED samples on you?
unfortunately, the mandatory smoking hot "booth attendant" was not present, for that would have been sufficient.
I'll write more later, just noted my favorite dealer walked in.
<< <i>unfortunately, the mandatory smoking hot "booth attendant" was not present >>
Unacceptable! Thanks for the pre-show report
That Pfizer email kiosk was cool. The PriMed convention kicked me out from in front of their event for passing out coin show flyers. They wanted to confiscate the flyers from me but I told them that that wasn't gonna happen.
Here's some random thoughts from the show:
1. Public attendance was minimal. There were very few people there in comparison to similarly-sized shows. I hear that Houston is a better show (attendance-wise) for dealers on Saturday. I liked the lack of crowds. Time to look through cases, dealers were attentive and talkative.
2. There was a good mix of dealers ("big guys" and local B&M or vest pocket folks) staffing tables.
3. It wasn't case after case of Morgan dollars. All kinds of stuff could be had. Collectors of average circulated to lower grade sets (album-fillers, if I may) could find many dealers from which to choose, early silver type coin collectors (like me) found plenty to look at, and there was some higher end stuff (not a whole lot) out there too.
4. The GHCC all-in-all does a good job putting on the show. I would like to see more signage in the convention center directing people to the show and better consistency among the workers at the registration table.
My purchases/sales:
1. I try to fund as much of my "new" additions as possible by selling duplicates or coins I no longer "need." I did OK with selling today. As always, it is a matter of what you have, what you want for it, and to whom you offer it. Match those three well, and you can be happy with your sales. I sold some half dimes to Dick Osburn, Lynn Ourso (great dealer, proprietor of New Orleans Rare Coins), and Jack Beymer. I sold some sets I put together years ago to other dealers too. Gave me enough cash to buy a variety of things.
2. I had had my eye on a half dime in Dick Osburn's inventory for quite some time: an 1832 LM-6/V-11 in a PCGS MS-63 holder. The coin is rated as R-4, although I believe it to be an R4+ or an R5- ... it's a tough one that is even tougher in mint state. I know of two mint state examples (there are likely more), this 63 and another higher graded in an NGC holder. This was a big upgrade for me from my set piece, which I acquired last summer: an AU-50.
3. I met Jon at Scarsdale Coins for the first time. Very friendly and approachable guy with a nice selection of coins and exonumia. He had an AU-58 (NGC) 1876 Centennial Exhibitin so-called dollar (HK-20) that I really liked. He gave me a nice discount and I added that to my small collection of Centennial "stuff."
4. Speaking of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, I found more exonumia to my liking when I spotted some index card-sized wooden "carvings" made at the 1876 Exhibition. Maybe 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick, one side of the wooden medal (what else do I call it?) has a raised carving of the exhibition's Memorial Hall and the other side has an inscription "three millions of colonists on a strip by the sea now forty millions of freemen stretching from ocean to ocean." Had to have it.
5. I cherried a late die state 1829 LM-6.3 (R-5) capped bust half dime. The coin has a Fine to Fine+ obverse and a reverse that it is VF to VF-30. Not often that I run across the 1829 LM-6 die marriage, so this was nice to bring home. I don't need it, but can't pass up an R-5 on the bourse. I will likely add this to the dupe box or offer it to a fellow half dime collector.
I never have a bad time at a coin show, regardless of my success or failure buying and selling. This show was no different.
us all, up to date on the show.
Camelot
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
I picked up a really nice (raw) 1935 S Texas commemorative half. I looked at a bunch before I bought this one, and I am very pleased with my purchase. If you look at a lot of them. you will notice that a lot of the coins have poor detail on Sam Houston's nose - it runs into his mouth. Lots of high MS coins like this in slabs.
I picked up a super duper 1913 Type 1 Buffalo with a great look. If there is any circulation wear, I can't see it. It has a really gentle pink color and is a sharp strike. My wife actually spotted it.
An 1865 2c. It is too pretty for the price I paid. I traded some old casino chips for it, and I dont' even know where they came from, so I am happy with the trade. The "we" is there, but I don't know if they have just a weak strike, or if mine is worn. Either way, it is very nice looking.
I got a 1943 S 1c penny, NGC MS66 - the label on the slab is not printed correctly, though - there is no denotion of the S mint on the label.
I also got a 1943 Mercury dime.
My wife and I had a lot of fun. She keeps eyeing ancient stuff, and she was seriously considering making a purchase at the show. I am kind of thankful that there are people who sell jewelry and stones and stuff at the shows. The Mrs. would split when I got into serious buying mode, check out some jewelry and come back not bored.
Altogether we had a lot of fun. I may end up in the Houston newspaper on Thursday. I got into a conversation with some of the kids who were being followed by a photographer, and he took our photo. If he uses it there will be a story this week. I'm famous (maybe).
I now know that the next time I go to a bigger show I need to have at least 2 days.
I also noticed this is the first show I have attended that had a First Aid station manned by a medic. He stayed busy and at least two people were taken out of the show via ambulance on Saturday!
Cameron Kiefer