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PAN show report
kranky
Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
This was a whole different world for me as I was helping the bourse chairman with planning and on-site details. Number one thing I learned - there is a heck of a lot of work involved with putting together a show of this magnitude (150 tables)! Pat (PTVETTER here on the boards) did a wonderful job as bourse chairman with the expert help of his wife behind the scenes.
A few board members stopped by (papabear, beartracks42, golddustin, vam44, mar327) but not as many as I had expected. Usually RickMilauskas and ksteelheader make it to the show but I didn't see either of them this time. Attendance seemed pretty strong to me, as the parking lot was 90-95% full the couple of times I looked out to check both Friday and Saturday. I didn't have much chance to walk around but I did make a point to check out Rich Uhrich's offerings - he had a few killer toned Morgans along with the great selection of Seated material he always has.
golddustin had a very cool error Roosevelt dime to show and posted a thread with pictures - check it out.
Only a few minutes after the show opened on Friday, a dealer came up to warn us that an attendee offered him some gold coins which were counterfeit. Pat made an announcement over the PA system that dealers should be careful as there was some fake gold coins being offered around, and less than a minute later the person in question left the show.
The highlight of the event was the middle-aged man - a non-collector - who had a few coins his father had kept in a box, and came to the show to see if they were worth anything. Amazingly enough, the single gold coin in the group was a 1879-O Double Eagle, one of the great rarities of that series with only about 150 known. He was astounded to hear what the value could be. He had done some homework and had looked at a Redbook, but wasn't sure he was reading it right.
The Coins 4 Kids program that PAN sponsors was very well attended and PAN's special guest Jamie Franki (designer of the front-facing Jefferson nickel obverse and the Westward Journey Buffalo reverse) gave a presentation just for the YNs. PAN gives kids Whitman folders and allows them to search through piles of wheat cents to fill the albums. PAN also has a kids-only auction where the lots are donated, and the kids are given "PAN money" to use in the auction. Kids who don't win any lots can use the PAN money to buy fixed-price items after the auction, so nobody had to go home empty-handed.
Sorry I can't provide any state-of-the-market information but there wasn't any time to walk the floor and pick up on any buzz. The show must have been satisfactory for the dealers, though, as many of them dropped off paperwork to come back in Spring 2011.
A few board members stopped by (papabear, beartracks42, golddustin, vam44, mar327) but not as many as I had expected. Usually RickMilauskas and ksteelheader make it to the show but I didn't see either of them this time. Attendance seemed pretty strong to me, as the parking lot was 90-95% full the couple of times I looked out to check both Friday and Saturday. I didn't have much chance to walk around but I did make a point to check out Rich Uhrich's offerings - he had a few killer toned Morgans along with the great selection of Seated material he always has.
golddustin had a very cool error Roosevelt dime to show and posted a thread with pictures - check it out.
Only a few minutes after the show opened on Friday, a dealer came up to warn us that an attendee offered him some gold coins which were counterfeit. Pat made an announcement over the PA system that dealers should be careful as there was some fake gold coins being offered around, and less than a minute later the person in question left the show.
The highlight of the event was the middle-aged man - a non-collector - who had a few coins his father had kept in a box, and came to the show to see if they were worth anything. Amazingly enough, the single gold coin in the group was a 1879-O Double Eagle, one of the great rarities of that series with only about 150 known. He was astounded to hear what the value could be. He had done some homework and had looked at a Redbook, but wasn't sure he was reading it right.
The Coins 4 Kids program that PAN sponsors was very well attended and PAN's special guest Jamie Franki (designer of the front-facing Jefferson nickel obverse and the Westward Journey Buffalo reverse) gave a presentation just for the YNs. PAN gives kids Whitman folders and allows them to search through piles of wheat cents to fill the albums. PAN also has a kids-only auction where the lots are donated, and the kids are given "PAN money" to use in the auction. Kids who don't win any lots can use the PAN money to buy fixed-price items after the auction, so nobody had to go home empty-handed.
Sorry I can't provide any state-of-the-market information but there wasn't any time to walk the floor and pick up on any buzz. The show must have been satisfactory for the dealers, though, as many of them dropped off paperwork to come back in Spring 2011.
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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I hope that you did not miss the game because of the show.
Great show Pat, I thought you did an excellent job. Jim, you also ran your tail off and were a great right arm to him. It was sad when registering dealers as they came in Thursday, how many complained about having to be PAN members to be behind tables, as well as their helpers. I never saw so much squabbling about a few dollars to join an organization they benefited from. This was never enforced in any of the 11 years I've been attending. But I charmed some for their money and twisted a few arms for the rest... we got a LOT of new members!
It was a good show for us, having changed a few selling strategies since previous years. Instead of rare coins, we have switched to a lot of cheaper items, and it flew out the door. We bought a few collections and a lot of silver, and most of that was also turned over quickly. One highlight was the purchase of 100 Hobo Nickels which everyone enjoyed looking at. For the life of me I can't remember who made them, so I'm only omitting that due to a case of Someteimer's.
Thank you, Pat, Betty Jean, and Jim! Looking forward to the May show.
amazing about the 79-0!
I believe this was do to the beautiful weather and the downturn of the medals market.
On the other hand those that came seemed to buy (fewer tire kickers).
Sure is different frunning a state show compared to setting up at one.
I wnat to thank everyone tht helped make the show as good as it was.
Steelers now 5 and 1
Pens are in first place also... Pittsburgh is a great place for the sports person
Yes the drive is worth it, just to meet with Kranky. Don't you think so!
...and I bet your banker appreciates you recognizing you could benefit from this change in tactics. Surely he likes the improved cash flow. I bet there are several other dealers (or former dealers) who wish they had acted on this idea of change in a similar manner a couple of years ago. hang in there.
We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
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.