Central States Show Report

I’m not a writer. You know that. I know that. So who am I trying to kid? I have great intentions when it comes to show reports; really I do. I spend countless hours in my hotel room, on an airplane, driving home from the airport, thinking about what I’d like to say. And then it comes time to sit down at the computer and my mind goes blank. Oh well.

A lot has happened recently here at Numismatic Americana. First I would like to thank all of you who contacted me regarding the recent personnel changes. Thank you. I have a new photographer who just finished imaging the new coins and putting them up on the web site. Look them over; I’m sure you’ll agree they are top notch. As a one man operation I’d also like to thank those whose emails were a little slow in getting a response. I promise to do my best. Now on to the show…

I was originally scheduled to arrive in Chicago EARLY Tuesday morning. But I decided to change all that and get there mid-day. I didn’t really miss much in my opinion. I went straight to auction lot viewing to look at some things for clients. Wow! The auction viewing room was packed! Seeing that certainly raised my expectations for the show. But I was reserved and didn’t get my hopes up for the show starting on Wednesday morning.

Set up was what I would call typical. Lots of hand shaking and pleasantries exchanged. But only for a short while. It didn’t take long before the show was in full swing with a constant flow of collectors and clients coming by the table. One of the good things about a show with a major auction associated with it is that it tends to bring out the more serious collectors. The sale of the Eric Newman patterns and the 1913 Liberty nickel did just that. In fact I would say that there were more advanced collectors here than at any show in my recent memory. I was thinking about this on the way home and realized that we sold more BIG coins there than little ones. Big as in $50k or more. It appears that there is a lot of money chasing coins right now. That brings up a point I’ve wanted to mention for quite some time. There is an old saying…”You can overpay for the wrong coins, but rarely do you overpay for the right ones”. Never has this been truer than now. “Coins with Character” (Doug Winter), “Coins that matter” (Joe O’Connor)…these catch phases ring loud and clear now.

I was able to buy quite a few spectacular pieces in Chicago. Unfortunately some of them didn’t make it home with me or were sold over the phone to client who couldn’t attend the show. A few of them are

1831 25C PCGS MS65 CAC

1806 50c PCGS MS64 CAC

1861-D $G1 PCGS MS63 CAC

1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific Octagonal PCGS MS64 CAC

1836 $1 J-58 PCGS PR63 CAC

In addition to the above I was able to buy so really cool coins for my web site. By the time you read this they will all be up and listed (with photographs) for your consideration. Check them out and them call me or send an email (that I promise to answer promptly) if you see something of interest.

Remember…I love to talk coins.

PCGS’ Members Only Show Report

While preparing for the PCGS Members Only show last Tuesday evening I set the alarm on my iPhone for 3 and went to bed around 11 after writing up my submissions. Well, I guess I really am technologically challenged, because I set it for 3 p.m. And you guessed it, I woke up at 5 a.m. wondering why my alarm didn’t go off. A quick call to the airline and I was booked on the next flight out after my originally scheduled 6:30 one.

An uneventful five hour flight later and I was at the beautiful Venetian/Palazzo resort and ready to do business. Its kind of funny, but after 30 years of attending coin shows I still can’t figure them out. When ever I think I will have a great show, I don’t. And when I don’t get my hopes up, it turns out pretty good. So I’ve learned to just go and do my business and let the chips fall where they may (Vegas lingo). Well this was one of the shows that surprised me with the results. From the very beginning I was busy selling coins to other dealers (after submitting my coins for grading) as well as looking at potential items for inventory. You may recall that I really like this type of environment for coin shows. They aren’t too big that a person can’t get around to see everyone in the room. Unhurried and laid back. Just like I like them. After a few hours of the show it was time for dinner and I had the pleasure of dining with 3 of my fellow dealers at a great restaurant. A fitting end to a very long day.

Thursday morning arrived very early for me. Living on the east coast my internal clock is set to wake up around 5 EST. Well that my friends is 2 a.m. in Vegas. I tired to get a little extra sleep, but that is easier said than done if you know what I mean. So I answered emails and made notes of the things that I wanted to accomplish at the show that day. When the show opened up at 8 a.m. I was there for the bell and ready to go. From the onslaught it was busy and let up only when lunch arrived. Seems that the only thing coin dealers and collectors like better than talking coins is talking coins over a meal. After an hour or so business got back to usual and time started to fly. Early in the afternoon a customer, who awhile ago became a client, and is now a friend, showed up and we talked coins, collecting strategy and everything in between (as well as dinner plans). This is a classic example of relationship building that I have mentioned time and again. As the day went on business was done and coins were bought and sold. It was early Thursday afternoon that I started to get coins back from PCGS and I am pleased to say that, in my mind, they did a great job. Fresh, no problem coins were rewarded as they should be. After writing a few more invoices it was off to dinner and evening festivities. It was another great night of fellowship with yet another “coin geek”.

Friday was like watching “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray. Coins were bought and sold throughout the day, and I was constantly getting freshly graded inventory back from PCGS. “Coin Nirvana”. As hard as I try I still can’t predict what happens at a coin show. I sold coins that I never thought would sell there, and was able to buy a lot more that I would have anticipated.

To sum it up the show was great. From wholesale to retail I can honestly state that the market is very much in good health. And this is a trend that I think will continue for quite a while.

Christine has been busy getting my newps and freshly graded coins ready for the web. So check out the listing of new inventory and if anything rings your bell give me or Christine a call (or send an email). We’ll do our best to make sure its the right coin for your collection and get it to you P.D.Q.

Remember…we love to talk coins!