When a dealer walks the bourse, do other dealers just show coins within his expertise, or all coins?

Comments

• roadrunner Posts: 28,313 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 3:11AM

  It depends on many things, especially current market strengths. I've dealt with a gold dealer for several years who years ago used to specialize in superb type coins as well. While he doesn't typically look at those today, he's not adverse to buying something(s) that catch his eye. While looking at gold coins I had for sale he picked up an AU58 no drapery quarter I had and asked how much. I was surprised that he bought it. But in the same vein he knew what it was and where he could probably sell it for more. Some southern gold dealers are well versed in other areas such as seated material (lol). Buying a complete collection of nice coins outside their specialty would not surprise me. Sometimes I'm surprised at who buys what and when. So you never now.
  
  If you have time to show coins to said Southern Gold Dealer than by all means do so. There are times when I wouldn't want to show something to specific dealers even if they ask or specialize in it. Those reason are too numerous to mention.
  
  roadrunner

  Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold

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• tjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 3:49AM

  I would think that you would limit it somewhat. A Southern gold dealer might be interested in three cent silvers or Morgan dollars, but would probably not be interested in DCAM Kennedy Half dollars. If a dealer typically sells VG Walking Liberty halves, I would not show them an MS-66 Bust Dollar, small eagle.
  
  

  Tom
  
  

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• kranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 3:58AM

  I would imagine that if a dealer asks "whatcha got?" that implies the other dealer knows what specific area is being asked about. There's a currency dealer at the PAN shows who everyone knows, and they understand that's all he's really interested in. They aren't going to show him anything else unless they know he collects something on the side. In my experience being a helper at these shows, unless the dealer walking around knows the other dealer well, he will ask "Have any ______?"

  New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

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• ColonialCoinUnion Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 3:59AM

  
  
  << <i>We all know that some dealers specialize in certain types of coins. We also know that dealers are not afraid of making a buck or two flipping anything that is numismatically related.
  
  Let's say that a dealer specializing in Southern gold, for instance, is walking the bourse and asking other dealers, "whatcha got?". Does the selling dealer limit his response to only coins that the purchasing dealer specializes in, or does he show him all of his newps? Let's say the selling dealer just bought a great collection of three cent silvers. Would it make any sense to show it to the Southern gold dealer? Perhaps the Southern gold dealer might know someone who is interested. Or would it be a complete waste of everyone's time to show the dealer coins out of his specialization? >>
  
  
  
  Generally, dealers show each other their new stuff (which doesn't mean there couldn't be exceptions, or instances in which dealer A starts pulling out 27 large double row boxes filled with crap which will be of no interest at all to Dealer B while Dealer B stands there sternly with his arms crossed.

  Coin Rarities Online

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  June 28, 2008 4:12AM

  What commonly occurs on dealers-only days, is that numismatic royalty tour the playing field in a manner befitting their stature. As they pass the tables of humble purveyors, the lowly meekly hold out racks and black velvet trays with their miserable goods displayed as fittingly as possible. Heads must be suitably bowed and uncovered. At a slight nod, the regal ones might cast a critical eye on the base offerings and, if suitably pleased, motion to a uniformed lackey to reluctantly compensate the lowly one for the coin, medal and bit of paper currency.
  
  With ceremonial concluded, the bourgeoisie merchants will twitter among themselves about their largess at royal pleasure. Sometime later peasants of the Third Estate will be permitted to enter and will bleat and baah as they move toward a fleecing.
  

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• jfoot13 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 4:13AM

  you won't catch any fish if they can't see the bait... keep in mind this is a catch and release program so you can have the pleasure of catching them again

  If you can't swim you better stay in the boat.......

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• MidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,563 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 4:21AM

  This thread has given me several mental images...all of which are quite comical.

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• numisma Posts: 3,877 ✭✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 4:27AM

  
  I usually brings things outside of my area of expertise, but I am careful not to waste another dealer's time by showing him/her material that they would have no interest in. I know what each dealer is looking for....usually. In fact, I typically have 2 or 3 boxes that have coins/medals/tokens categorized. It saves everyone time. Occassionally, after looking through a small box of 10-20 pieces, a dealer will say, "do you have anything else in your briefcase?", to which I will reply, "yes, but you won't be interested unless you like contemporary counterfeit British half pence, jetons by Gadoury numbers, or are hungry for a prochiutto and mortadella panini with provolone and some pepperoncini."

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  June 28, 2008 4:29AM

  ...a prochiutto and mortadella panini with provolone and some pepperoncini...
  
  The above could not have been purchased at any known coin show in the USA.

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• numisma Posts: 3,877 ✭✭✭✭

  June 28, 2008 4:45AM

  
  
  << <i>...a prochiutto and mortadella panini with provolone and some pepperoncini...
  
  The above could not have been purchased at any known coin show in the USA. >>
  
  
  
  That's why I put it in my briefcase. I forgot to mention the butter. Now I am hungry. Shoot.

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  June 28, 2008 4:55AM

  The closest you’ll get at a US coin show is bologna and processed cheese food on white bread with oily mayonnaise…for $9.50 + tax.

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