Long Beach Musings from Drunner--Yeah, LONG !!!
DRUNNER
Posts: 3,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
Ladies & Gentlemen of the Realm (tried this post three times last night and lost a total of about 6k words to cyberoblivion, so I thought I'd try it again after a night's rest . . .):
OK, the Doily Count is at the bottom of the post, but to pose like a numismatist, I'll give a warped and convoluted 'coin' perspective of Long Beach from a typical semi-fat guy nerdy who blends in with the crowd.
First, driving down from SLC just ended. Flying will bring me into the 20th Century (forget the 21st) and the Long Beach Cafe is within easy walking distance from the local hostelries and the Convention Center. Easy, and the driver's ed. teacher who rode with me didn't even attmpt to take the wheel for any of the 11 hour drive either direction, but instead just battered his uvula into submission while permanently denting the passenger side headrest. Glad I could read a book and look at coins on the way and entertain myself with just a little bit of watching the road. The other SLC guys flew (in a plane), and I'll follow their lead.
The 'buzz' (oh I wanted to use that word . . . just like 'dreck') was abuzzin' on Thursday. A decent crowd was waiting and in we went. My first task was a track-800m style run past every case looking for the plastic of my desire. Lo and behold, I actually spotted two (discussed below). I love to listen to the dealer-speak and the dealer-to-dealer stuff was still hot and heavy with a lot more emphasis on collector coins and a bit less on the bullion stuff. One interesting note . . .the last few shows (local-yokel 40-table jobs) I've barely made it in before I was beaten up by dealers wanting to know if I 'had anything to sell'. Here . . nada. Zip. Maybe it was just me (I'm sure the gauze-thin 2-sizes-too-small greasy T-Shirt, not showering, and plumber-fit shorts were perfect anti-theft cover, but it works against me when I try to adopt an attitude of numismatic competence), but it seemed there was less aggressiveness on the 'buy-side'.
Typical Long Beach . . . the first three rows were occupied by guys in suits with laptops, cellphones, attitudes and no visible coins hoping for the one whale to stop by with his frizzy hair, coke-bottle glasses and David Hall-esque print shirt, ready to spring for the Stella Set or run of Proof Gold. The next 6 rows had action Thursday and Friday with an eclectic grouping of usual suspects and a few new characters. If you had coins priced to sell, they sold. It also helped if you had a personality. LB has it all, and I find I'd rather spend my time with someone who isn't desperate. Oh, need to escape a table or just want to walk on by without any delay? Ask the dealer for Classic Head Large Cents. Easy . . . , well, except our two copper guys. Try that with Doug Bird and it might backfire.
Oh, and I'll be teaching a course at the Summer ANA . . ."How to Look Like a Dealer and Get to Look at the Slab Boxes at Those Coleman-Foster Wannabe Tables". Guys, if you are Coleman Foster, you can pull it off. If not, ditch the dishwater blonde and the condescending smile and let me look at those generic MS63 Morgans that you are guarding for the next guy with the ratty roller suitcase and bad breath. After all, I won't tie up your table very long as I look for an escaping Doily. On the other hand . . . Julian, the Colonel, and a host of other guys at this show just make it worth the trip. I try to buy a coin from those guys most shows just because they make it fun. Again . . . avoid the desperation.
Food? Uh, wow. At $3.75 for a Diet Coke, I'd hate to see what an XF common date Indian Cent would sell for if you bought it at the snack bar! I think Charmy could buy a bottle of fine Chardonnay for less! But, no different that any other major show. It's called a captive audience. Speaking of Charmy, I have been in stealth mode for the last three shows waiting for Stairway to Heaven, but I think a few of you guys hammered her so hard on the music that she stopped. PCGS was doing a bang-up business on the submissions, and even I sent in two orders (I had this super nice-for-the-grade VF 1910 Lincoln that I know will 'Plus' and 'CAC'--and now I am waiting for the reverent grading-room-hush that will descend when it comes through the door). The PCGS people are always pleasant and were accommodating to dealers and collectors alike.
So . .Thursday was busy, Friday morning when the place opened up you could have shot a rifle through there and not hit a soul. I thought there had been a catastrophe or the end-of-the-world dude just missed it by a week, but then on Saturday the hoi polloi working guys headed in and collector's ruled. Frankly, except for the whale-hunters, the place was cookin' on Saturday! Few seemed to leave before about 2:00pm and the action in the back of the room was making everyone smile. I grabbed collector coins, a few screwy things to give out as golf ballmarks, and looked and listened. I think I detected a slight 'comeback' for the collector and a little 'park it on the sidelines' for the bullion guys.
OK, enough of that. Now to the real reason you scanned the first paragraphs and came down to the bottom of this post.
Thursday . . . BAM. Midway down the floor on an 'L' table there it was. MS66 1938-D Buff on top of a generic stack of Buffs. In all its Doily Glory. I have practiced the "don't show excitement" routine so I asked to see all the Buffs in the stack (Yeah, like I'm going to choose another? I just wanted to see if there were MORE underneath!!!), muttered something about "This one will do." and paid generic money and bolted. When the heartrate got back to normal, I headed down the same aisle to the back and was passing a gold table when there it was. Doily Nirvana. Manna from Doily Heaven. A $5 Lib. in MS60. 'Ask' money and I was on my way with my vision tunneling and ready to pass out. Geee . . this is EASY! Wei found me up at Barton's table (thanks for calling him Tom) and had a Frankie 1958 in MS65. Decent price and great coin. He is well thought of by everyone for a reason. That was #4. #3 was the 1892 Morgan that has been getting a bit of presstime here. Peter McIntosh and I worked it out to mutual satisfaction. We also worked out that it might be a 'shot-4' but only if you'd had 4 shots before you graded it. It is a super coin but it'll stay in the 63 holder. #5 was Todd's (blu62vette) MS65 1884-O Morgan. Fun guy. Photo'd a couple coins, let me drive away a bunch of his business with my chatter, and then sold me the Doily . . . uh . . .not cheap. Fair (I think?) . . but you think Todd was born yesterday? OK . . . now #6. This one convinced me there is an Almighty. I am walking by J. Cline's table when his tablemate asked me what I was looking for. Jay has already set me up with sweet Type SLQs, so I told the guy I was searching for something he might not be aware of . . . Doily holders. I get a (deserved) look like "Hey rube, go back to NASCAR where you belong." and he says . . .
Wait for it . . .
Wait for it . .
"I got a Kennedy coming in tomorrow. What'll you pay?"
I woke up in the Clinic just after they had wiped the grease off my chest where the paddles had restarted my heart and raced back. Yup. The guy brought it the next day and I realized that all those pets I rescued over the years bought me some good luck. Holy sheeeeebiscuits. PR67 1964 Kennedy. I might even look to see if it is an AH. Maybe.
OK . . . got home and also received Andrew's (Ahren'sDad) Doily . . . the Barber Half. He did well on it, but it was worth it to me and he is a super guy.
OK . . this qualifies as an epic post, but I warned you. No trashing on the length. Great show . . great people . . .great food . . .and the coin collecting hobby remains in good hands.
The plastic collecting hobby remains in mine . . . (with apologies to oreville, Bajjerfan, astrorat, and a couple others)
Drunner
(For the moment, a Satiated Doily Hunter)
OK, the Doily Count is at the bottom of the post, but to pose like a numismatist, I'll give a warped and convoluted 'coin' perspective of Long Beach from a typical semi-fat guy nerdy who blends in with the crowd.
First, driving down from SLC just ended. Flying will bring me into the 20th Century (forget the 21st) and the Long Beach Cafe is within easy walking distance from the local hostelries and the Convention Center. Easy, and the driver's ed. teacher who rode with me didn't even attmpt to take the wheel for any of the 11 hour drive either direction, but instead just battered his uvula into submission while permanently denting the passenger side headrest. Glad I could read a book and look at coins on the way and entertain myself with just a little bit of watching the road. The other SLC guys flew (in a plane), and I'll follow their lead.
The 'buzz' (oh I wanted to use that word . . . just like 'dreck') was abuzzin' on Thursday. A decent crowd was waiting and in we went. My first task was a track-800m style run past every case looking for the plastic of my desire. Lo and behold, I actually spotted two (discussed below). I love to listen to the dealer-speak and the dealer-to-dealer stuff was still hot and heavy with a lot more emphasis on collector coins and a bit less on the bullion stuff. One interesting note . . .the last few shows (local-yokel 40-table jobs) I've barely made it in before I was beaten up by dealers wanting to know if I 'had anything to sell'. Here . . nada. Zip. Maybe it was just me (I'm sure the gauze-thin 2-sizes-too-small greasy T-Shirt, not showering, and plumber-fit shorts were perfect anti-theft cover, but it works against me when I try to adopt an attitude of numismatic competence), but it seemed there was less aggressiveness on the 'buy-side'.
Typical Long Beach . . . the first three rows were occupied by guys in suits with laptops, cellphones, attitudes and no visible coins hoping for the one whale to stop by with his frizzy hair, coke-bottle glasses and David Hall-esque print shirt, ready to spring for the Stella Set or run of Proof Gold. The next 6 rows had action Thursday and Friday with an eclectic grouping of usual suspects and a few new characters. If you had coins priced to sell, they sold. It also helped if you had a personality. LB has it all, and I find I'd rather spend my time with someone who isn't desperate. Oh, need to escape a table or just want to walk on by without any delay? Ask the dealer for Classic Head Large Cents. Easy . . . , well, except our two copper guys. Try that with Doug Bird and it might backfire.
Oh, and I'll be teaching a course at the Summer ANA . . ."How to Look Like a Dealer and Get to Look at the Slab Boxes at Those Coleman-Foster Wannabe Tables". Guys, if you are Coleman Foster, you can pull it off. If not, ditch the dishwater blonde and the condescending smile and let me look at those generic MS63 Morgans that you are guarding for the next guy with the ratty roller suitcase and bad breath. After all, I won't tie up your table very long as I look for an escaping Doily. On the other hand . . . Julian, the Colonel, and a host of other guys at this show just make it worth the trip. I try to buy a coin from those guys most shows just because they make it fun. Again . . . avoid the desperation.
Food? Uh, wow. At $3.75 for a Diet Coke, I'd hate to see what an XF common date Indian Cent would sell for if you bought it at the snack bar! I think Charmy could buy a bottle of fine Chardonnay for less! But, no different that any other major show. It's called a captive audience. Speaking of Charmy, I have been in stealth mode for the last three shows waiting for Stairway to Heaven, but I think a few of you guys hammered her so hard on the music that she stopped. PCGS was doing a bang-up business on the submissions, and even I sent in two orders (I had this super nice-for-the-grade VF 1910 Lincoln that I know will 'Plus' and 'CAC'--and now I am waiting for the reverent grading-room-hush that will descend when it comes through the door). The PCGS people are always pleasant and were accommodating to dealers and collectors alike.
So . .Thursday was busy, Friday morning when the place opened up you could have shot a rifle through there and not hit a soul. I thought there had been a catastrophe or the end-of-the-world dude just missed it by a week, but then on Saturday the hoi polloi working guys headed in and collector's ruled. Frankly, except for the whale-hunters, the place was cookin' on Saturday! Few seemed to leave before about 2:00pm and the action in the back of the room was making everyone smile. I grabbed collector coins, a few screwy things to give out as golf ballmarks, and looked and listened. I think I detected a slight 'comeback' for the collector and a little 'park it on the sidelines' for the bullion guys.
OK, enough of that. Now to the real reason you scanned the first paragraphs and came down to the bottom of this post.
Thursday . . . BAM. Midway down the floor on an 'L' table there it was. MS66 1938-D Buff on top of a generic stack of Buffs. In all its Doily Glory. I have practiced the "don't show excitement" routine so I asked to see all the Buffs in the stack (Yeah, like I'm going to choose another? I just wanted to see if there were MORE underneath!!!), muttered something about "This one will do." and paid generic money and bolted. When the heartrate got back to normal, I headed down the same aisle to the back and was passing a gold table when there it was. Doily Nirvana. Manna from Doily Heaven. A $5 Lib. in MS60. 'Ask' money and I was on my way with my vision tunneling and ready to pass out. Geee . . this is EASY! Wei found me up at Barton's table (thanks for calling him Tom) and had a Frankie 1958 in MS65. Decent price and great coin. He is well thought of by everyone for a reason. That was #4. #3 was the 1892 Morgan that has been getting a bit of presstime here. Peter McIntosh and I worked it out to mutual satisfaction. We also worked out that it might be a 'shot-4' but only if you'd had 4 shots before you graded it. It is a super coin but it'll stay in the 63 holder. #5 was Todd's (blu62vette) MS65 1884-O Morgan. Fun guy. Photo'd a couple coins, let me drive away a bunch of his business with my chatter, and then sold me the Doily . . . uh . . .not cheap. Fair (I think?) . . but you think Todd was born yesterday? OK . . . now #6. This one convinced me there is an Almighty. I am walking by J. Cline's table when his tablemate asked me what I was looking for. Jay has already set me up with sweet Type SLQs, so I told the guy I was searching for something he might not be aware of . . . Doily holders. I get a (deserved) look like "Hey rube, go back to NASCAR where you belong." and he says . . .
Wait for it . . .
Wait for it . .
"I got a Kennedy coming in tomorrow. What'll you pay?"
I woke up in the Clinic just after they had wiped the grease off my chest where the paddles had restarted my heart and raced back. Yup. The guy brought it the next day and I realized that all those pets I rescued over the years bought me some good luck. Holy sheeeeebiscuits. PR67 1964 Kennedy. I might even look to see if it is an AH. Maybe.
OK . . . got home and also received Andrew's (Ahren'sDad) Doily . . . the Barber Half. He did well on it, but it was worth it to me and he is a super guy.
OK . . this qualifies as an epic post, but I warned you. No trashing on the length. Great show . . great people . . .great food . . .and the coin collecting hobby remains in good hands.
The plastic collecting hobby remains in mine . . . (with apologies to oreville, Bajjerfan, astrorat, and a couple others)
Drunner
(For the moment, a Satiated Doily Hunter)
0
Comments
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
<< <i>Speaking of Charmy, I have been in stealth mode for the last three shows waiting for Stairway to Heaven, but I think a few of you guys hammered her so hard on the music that she stopped. >>
Hey Drunner, I LOVE your reports, very fun reading - thanks for taking the (extra) time to post such a great read! And as far as the music goes, they play pretty decent music on the loud speakers at the Long Beach and Santa Clara shows, so I usually don't bring my iPod. But just wait for Nov Baltimore and Jan FUN, the music will definitely be cranking, in spite of all naysayers and especially in spite of TODD! So please do introduce yourself and I will gladly cease all other songs and promptly switch to Stairway to Heaven for you any time!
The Penny Lady®
Charmy . .the music actually WAS quite good. Wow . . . it was like they were playing my favs in the background . . . I was impressed and you are exactly right.
291 . .yeah, it's breach, but with those floral print SoCal shirts they get harpooned by the time they pass the Heritage table . . .
Illini . . your two Doilies rock, and I can't wait until the next meeting of the Doily Adoration Society.
Thanks Slammer & keyman . . . long, but I tried to make it tolerable. Had to build the Doily suspense.
Drunner
It was great talking and have the doily meeting. Of course you drove off enough business I did bankruptcy forms on the way home when I was not busy trying to hitchhike home.
You sure you were not in doily heaven?
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I can now see why the only reason some of the rest of us found doilies at the Sacramento ANA was because you sat that one out. Who will do the "doily dash" in Baltimore?
Wanna small task in Balteeemore??????
:-)
Drunner
Just in case you were serious, I'm pretty sure they don't give out plusses on VF coins.
Great post!
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I never got to tell Charmy that the beautifully toned penny I got from her last year came back from PCGS as "Genuine"
Man, you've got me looking now.
Coirn . . they are out there (makes me think back to the old "X-Files" series) . . .
oreville . . . yes, it was Doily heaven. Last year at this same show I came up with zilch. Now the little buggers are almost finding ME !!! But the Doilies are child's play compared to what I know you have !! :-)
Lane, funny. Really funny. :-)
Seth . . . could be the coin . . or could be the grader's interpretation of the coin. I've had a few grading 'twists of fate', but they have seemed to balance out in the end. But I still get a bear-growl whenever it doesn't go my way. I've liked a lot of Charmy's stuff and have bought from her several times in the past.
The Hunt continues . . . .
Drunner
(Semi-Poser Doily Numismatist)
<< <i>I wanted to go to the show this weekend, but went to Vegas for a photography workshop. I hate it when hobbies clash.
I never got to tell Charmy that the beautifully toned penny I got from her last year came back from PCGS as "Genuine" >>
Use your private message for this, geez