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Niagara Falls coin show report
ajaan
Posts: 17,966 ✭✭✭✭✭
I attended the show all three days, Fri-Sun. Long report follows.
Friday
I met up with StrikeOutXXX (Jeff). I didn't arrive until 10:30 because I got delayed at the backjack table across the street in the Seneca-Niagara Casino but that is another story.
We walked around the bourse which wasn't very crowed that early in the morning. I talked to a bunch of local dealers I know and looked at some coins. I sold a coin to a New Jersery dealer and had money in my pocket. Jeff and I walked around just taking in the ambiance of the show. I was disappointed to see may empty dealer tables. Deleware Valley Coins and Sarosi coins were supposed to be there but their tables were empty for the whole show. They don't carry coins I'm interested in but it would have been nice to see a couple bigger named dealers at the show.
I purchased a couple of coins, a Newfoundland 25c for my date set, a British 1898 Trade Dollar in VF, and British 1881 Gothic Florin VF, and an Austrian 1884 1 FL in EF.
Jeff and I then went to a buffet lunch at the casino.
Upon our return for lunch I spotted a beautifully toned 1967 Canadian Confederation set with gold. The nicest set I have ever seen. Nice blue/purple/red toned silver coins. I looked at the set for a while and walked away to find Jeff. I showed it to him and he talked me into buying it. I wish I could image it, but my abilities are greatly lacking. After that purchase we made one more trip around the floor, then headed home. Well, Jeff headed home, I headed back over to the blackjack table.
Saturday
I got there before opening. Once we were allowed to enter I went directly to a dealer's table to sell some common Canadian silver coins. I had talked to him the day before about the sale. While I his table I met up with TwoKopeiki (Roman). A very nice young man. Our first stop was at the concession stand for Roman to get his coffee fix. We sat a table and talked coins for a few minutes. We then hit the bourse floor. Roman was looking for a very specific tyoe of coin that wasn't available at the show. Every time he asked a dealer 'do you have any Spanish Colonial coins? Mexican Revolution?' he either got a blank stare back or a quick 'No'.
We walked around and looked at coins. Right before heading for lunch I stopped at the table of David Shores from Canadian Coin Company out of Park City, Utah. I had some Canadian coins, not bulk silver, for sale and asked if he was interested. He was. He looked at the coins and made me a very fair offer and the sale was completed. Roman and I then went to the buffet lunch at the casino. Good meal.
After lunch we walked around a few more times and we each headed home.
Sunday
I returned to the show with the rest of my Canadian collection and sold them to David Shores. That was the only thing I did on Sunday.
Overall opinions of the show:
-Not as many dealers, especially out of the area dealers, as I was hoping for. Some of the scheduled dealers didn't show up.
-The show was well run IMO. Many B.N.A member there helping out. Atttendance was not that great that I saw but I don't know the exact numbers. This could be due to this being the first nice weekend in WNY in 5 months. The sun was shining and the temperature was 70°.
-This was the first year for this show. Hopefully next year lessons will be learned and improvements can be made.
-The amount of darkside material was very limited. Not any new material that I haven't seen at the local shows. The only exception was the Canadian coins from Utah.
-If there was a dealer at the show who had an inventory of Russian and Polish coins, that dealer could have done very well. I heard many collectors asking for Polish and Russian coins.
Dang this report has gotten long. Sorry about that.
Friday
I met up with StrikeOutXXX (Jeff). I didn't arrive until 10:30 because I got delayed at the backjack table across the street in the Seneca-Niagara Casino but that is another story.
We walked around the bourse which wasn't very crowed that early in the morning. I talked to a bunch of local dealers I know and looked at some coins. I sold a coin to a New Jersery dealer and had money in my pocket. Jeff and I walked around just taking in the ambiance of the show. I was disappointed to see may empty dealer tables. Deleware Valley Coins and Sarosi coins were supposed to be there but their tables were empty for the whole show. They don't carry coins I'm interested in but it would have been nice to see a couple bigger named dealers at the show.
I purchased a couple of coins, a Newfoundland 25c for my date set, a British 1898 Trade Dollar in VF, and British 1881 Gothic Florin VF, and an Austrian 1884 1 FL in EF.
Jeff and I then went to a buffet lunch at the casino.
Upon our return for lunch I spotted a beautifully toned 1967 Canadian Confederation set with gold. The nicest set I have ever seen. Nice blue/purple/red toned silver coins. I looked at the set for a while and walked away to find Jeff. I showed it to him and he talked me into buying it. I wish I could image it, but my abilities are greatly lacking. After that purchase we made one more trip around the floor, then headed home. Well, Jeff headed home, I headed back over to the blackjack table.
Saturday
I got there before opening. Once we were allowed to enter I went directly to a dealer's table to sell some common Canadian silver coins. I had talked to him the day before about the sale. While I his table I met up with TwoKopeiki (Roman). A very nice young man. Our first stop was at the concession stand for Roman to get his coffee fix. We sat a table and talked coins for a few minutes. We then hit the bourse floor. Roman was looking for a very specific tyoe of coin that wasn't available at the show. Every time he asked a dealer 'do you have any Spanish Colonial coins? Mexican Revolution?' he either got a blank stare back or a quick 'No'.
We walked around and looked at coins. Right before heading for lunch I stopped at the table of David Shores from Canadian Coin Company out of Park City, Utah. I had some Canadian coins, not bulk silver, for sale and asked if he was interested. He was. He looked at the coins and made me a very fair offer and the sale was completed. Roman and I then went to the buffet lunch at the casino. Good meal.
After lunch we walked around a few more times and we each headed home.
Sunday
I returned to the show with the rest of my Canadian collection and sold them to David Shores. That was the only thing I did on Sunday.
Overall opinions of the show:
-Not as many dealers, especially out of the area dealers, as I was hoping for. Some of the scheduled dealers didn't show up.
-The show was well run IMO. Many B.N.A member there helping out. Atttendance was not that great that I saw but I don't know the exact numbers. This could be due to this being the first nice weekend in WNY in 5 months. The sun was shining and the temperature was 70°.
-This was the first year for this show. Hopefully next year lessons will be learned and improvements can be made.
-The amount of darkside material was very limited. Not any new material that I haven't seen at the local shows. The only exception was the Canadian coins from Utah.
-If there was a dealer at the show who had an inventory of Russian and Polish coins, that dealer could have done very well. I heard many collectors asking for Polish and Russian coins.
Dang this report has gotten long. Sorry about that.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
0
Comments
I know the feeling. After a while, I was almost forced to expand my horizons if I didn't want to come back empty handed from US shows. But it's the blank stares that were pissing me off the most, especially in the afternoon when I was getting tired.
Nice report and you seem to have done quite well.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
Shep
<< <i>or it was a good excuse to get close to the casino >>
Shep, shhhh! Don't let me wife see this.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Great show report and it sounds like the casino was the place to be
Ummmm. OK, if you recall it that way
Sounds like Roman got about the same response I did when asking if they had a Whipple Dollar.
I agree with about all your observations. I think their webpage could have been much better, I've seen more information and promotion out of 10 table shows in our local legion bingo room. I liked the YN corner of the show, but as I was only there Friday, most were in school - did you see any kids over there Sat/Sun?
Compared to where the BNA has had their last few shows, I feel this was a much better location, and I hope they stick with it and it gets better.
"You Suck Award" - February, 2015
Discoverer of 1919 Mercury Dime DDO - FS-101
<< <i>. I liked the YN corner of the show, but as I was only there Friday, most were in school - did you see any kids over there Sat/Sun? >>
Yes, Saturday there were alot of Boy Scouts there. There were a couple presentations by an ANA governor.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
However, overall it was a very nice experience. The weather was fantastic, I got to hang out with Shroomster, and the all-you-can-eat buffet at the Casino was great.
I didn't come home empty-handed, though. On my way back I stopped by a flea market near Toronto and picked-up another counterfeit Cap and Ray for my "black book". This exact coin is not listed in Riddell, but the die characteristics and weight is similar to Riddell 362:
Cheers!
<< <i>The best part was watching Ajaan negoting the sale of his Canadian coins. He had the dealer eating out of his hand with the cunning "that's the minimum I need to get for it" strategy
Yes, I put in my show report on the US forum that it was great to tag along with him and soak up some of his bourse prowess. I learn a lot watching the pro's. From what Don said when he went back, that dealer from Utah was very honest and easy to deal with. I am guessing Canadian coins in Utah are much harder to come by than our area, so maybe he can get more for them over there.
However, overall it was a very nice experience. The weather was fantastic, I got to hang out with Shroomster, and the all-you-can-eat buffet at the Casino was great.
I agree, I had to go back for plate #2 myself. I'm big enough as it is, but if I lived anywhere near there, I'd be in trouble as I'd eat there instead of any of our local chinese, mexican, perkins, etc buffets - everything was simply amazing.
"You Suck Award" - February, 2015
Discoverer of 1919 Mercury Dime DDO - FS-101
I have to also say that's the longest post Don has ever made (that I've spotted) since 2003.
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
Dan
<< <i>great report Don. I hope your waist line didn't increase.
Dan >>
That buffet at the Casino has got me thinking about driving out there this weekend .....
I know, I know, it's sad
<< <i>That buffet at the Casino has got me thinking about driving out there this weekend ..... >>
I can see it now.
Immigration officer at Rainbow Bridge: You are coming into the US for what?
TwoKopeiki: To eat at the Seneca-Niagara buffet?
IO: You are coming all the way from Toronto just for lunch?
TwoKopeiki: yep!
IO: Pull over there, keep your hands where I can see them, and open your trunk.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
<< <i>Roman was looking for a very specific tyoe of coin that wasn't available at the show. Every time he asked a dealer 'do you have any Spanish Colonial coins? Mexican Revolution?' he either got a blank stare back or a quick 'No'.
I know the feeling. After a while, I was almost forced to expand my horizons if I didn't want to come back empty handed from US shows. But it's the blank stares that were pissing me off the most, especially in the afternoon when I was getting tired.
Nice report and you seem to have done quite well. >>
Maybe it's the red fez.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
<< <i>
I didn't come home empty-handed, though. On my way back I stopped by a flea market near Toronto and picked-up another counterfeit Cap and Ray for my "black book".
>>
How can you tell this is counterfeit? Is it not made of silver?
<< <i>
<< <i>
I didn't come home empty-handed, though. On my way back I stopped by a flea market near Toronto and picked-up another counterfeit Cap and Ray for my "black book".
>>
How can you tell this is counterfeit? Is it not made of silver? >>
The weight was way off. After handling a lot of 27-gram coins, I could tell it was too light the second I picked-it up. Closer examination of the eagle and the lettering supported my suspicions. Check-out the freakish "high toe" on the eagle, as well as the feathers, eagles' head, glob of metal on the beak, filled-in letters, etc. I haven't done specific gravity testing on it yet, but I would suspect to find low grade silver.