PCGS’ Members Only Invitational

This is the third attempt at writing this show report, (I love computers!) so please bear with me…

I have just returned from Numismatic Americana’s final show for 2011, PCGS’ Members Only Invitational held at the posh Venetian-Palazzo Casino and Resort in Las Vegas. It was a little difficult getting there (i.e. aircraft issues), but it was well worth the trip.

The show opened to dealers at noon on Wednesday and by the time I got there the room was a buzz with the sound of commerce. It seems that many dealers attended with the hopes of doing a little year end business. In fact, there were more dealers in attendance this time than in any time I can remember. I submitted our coins for grading and then jumped right in buying and selling. Selling was the easy part; buying not so much. I’ve said this many times before, but if it weren’t for Christine’s and my relationships in the business we probably wouldn’t have had as much luck. It’s been said “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” and that was clearly evident in Las Vegas. We bought a few cool coins that we were offered early on, and then had the opportunity to buy some freshly graded ones later in the show. Even though this isn’t our largest offering we are really happy with what we bought.

Another thing that really shocked me this time was the LARGE amount of collectors that showed up. We saw, and got to chat with, many old friends. Call them clients if you will. We did meet many new customers, people that we may have, or may not have, done business with. It is always good to put a face with a name. In addition we had the opportunity to help a few new comers to the hobby. These were collectors who were just getting started (within this year) and were very enthusiastic about their new found passion. It is great to see the excitement in their faces when they talk about their coins.

I also met many of the members on PCGS’ forums. Again it was great to put a face with a name. As you know, I’ve always thought that coin collecting should be fun. And while I’d like to do a million dollars worth of business with every person who comes to the table, I know that building relationships takes time and you can not put a monetary figure on friendship. It was great meeting you all.

The Holiday Season is in full swing now. We hope that each and every one of you has the luxury of spending it with loved ones. I know that Christine and I will be taking some well deserved time off, but if you find yourself in need of a “coin fix”, please feel free to call either of us. Remember…we love to talk coins.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Bill and Christine

The 55th Money Show of the Southwest

The annual Money Show, held in Houston, Texas at the George R. Brown Convention Center was held last week, the second week of the Holiday season. And while I didn’t really meet any people there that were looking for Holiday gifts, it appeared that many were giving themselves a little something early this year. One of the ways I measure a show is by the number of new clients we meet. That is those collectors that give us their want lists or take a little extra time in explaining their collection. The second is ratio of wholesale to retail sales that we make at a show. At this show the retail won by a landslide.

They say EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas, and this show certainly lives up to that. The bourse floor was large with wide aisles. And unlike many of the other shows we attend, there wasn’t an issue with either the air conditioner or the heating system. Both Christine and I would like to thank the show promoters for bringing in an outside food vendor. It was really nice to have a choice at lunchtime for a change. The weather, both inside and out, was perfect. Much like a log cabin amidst snow covered trees. Not too hot, nor too cold, just right. Plenty of collectors and dealers made the annual journey. Oh, I might add that there wasn’t a hint of snow down there like there was two years ago.

Several of the bigger dealers, many from Texas, didn’t make the trip though. And there wasn’t the usual December auction this year. Many of those in attendance would look at that as a bad thing, but we didn’t. This gave us time to spend talking to, and doing business with, numerous collectors and dealers. The action wasn’t as fast paced as we’d like it, but when we added up the sales we were surprised we did as much business as we did. I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it a thousand times again, but virtually all of the collectors we dealt with were armed with a want list and knew exactly what they were looking for. Not a whole lot of impulse buying was seen by us.

One of the really neat things about Numismatists is the free sharing of knowledge. We had a coin, one which we had sold to a client, and submitted it to PCGS for reholdering. When we put it out on display with a “NOT FOR SALE” sign, it created quite a stir with every major Mexican and Latin America dealer as well as most U.S. dealers. It is really a neat coin, probably the finest known for the type. It is an 1847-A 8 Reales from the Central American Republic, in PCGS MS 66, the coin you see imaged in this show report. As one dealer put it, it was the “coin of the show”. We’d like to thank all of the specialists in the field who came up to us and shared what they know of this short lived series. It was a lot of fun.

So…what was hot? Well, the usual. Gem Commems with color, or type coins exhibiting that little something extra, like outstanding eye appeal. Christine and I were both really pleased to meet and do business with three different collectors of Three Cent Silvers. As you probably know, this is one of our favorite series and it was great to see others appreciate them like we do.

Buying on the other hand was a little more difficult. Seems those Texans don’t like to part with their coins. But we were able to find a few which are up on the web under the “All New Coins” header. Check them out and if you see something of interest give us a call.

I apologize to those of you who were expecting to see us at Parsippany this month. I just needed a day off after Houston. We will, however, be in Las Vegas next week at PCGS’ year-end Invitational, held at The Venetian/Palazzo resort. If you get a chance to sneak off for a few days during this Holiday season, stop by and say hello. Remember…we love to talk coins!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Bill and Christine

Baltimore…Location, Location, Location

Since the ANA’s monumental summer show in Chicago this past August I have written about several conventions Christine and I have attended. And while I’d like to write a glowing review of all of them, sometimes that just isn’t possible. As great as the ANA’s Chicago show was, the fall show in Pittsburgh wasn’t in the same league. Then there was Long Beach, followed by Philadelphia, and St. Louis. And while those shows weren’t bad, they just weren’t good enough that I couldn’t wait to write a report about them. Then here comes Baltimore…

In the real estate business they say the most important thing to consider is location, location, location. Well it appears that this also applies to the coin business. The team from Whitman (the parent company that owns the Baltimore show) has proven in the last few years that they know how to run a show. They do not cut corners when putting together a show, yet they do it in a manner that doesn’t become an unbearable cost to the attending dealers. Add to the equation the fact that there are MILLIONS of Americans within a 2-6 hours drive of Baltimore and you get the idea. I have talked with dealers who opted to miss closer (to their home) shows, just so they could attend this one. And collectors start to replenish their coin buying fund the day following the last Baltimore. I could go on and on with the reasons why this show is the ONE to attend on the East Coast, but I won’t. Suffice to say it works. If you haven’t come to one of Whitman’s Baltimore show you owe that to yourself.

On another note I owe you, our customers, an apology. Sometimes I’m a little arrogant. Location inside a bourse floor used to mean nothing to me. I always thought that if we had the coins then the customers would find us. Christine, on the other hand, always told me location DID mean something. In a large, major league show like Baltimore it can be intimidating just entering the show. The size can overwhelm a collector. Christine had told me on several occasions that we needed to do something about our table location in Baltimore. So when we had the chance to move to a more central location on the bourse floor I (reluctantly) said yes. Well I am the first to say that I am glad we did. I have been doing the Baltimore shows since they were held in Festival Hall back in the 1980s and I met more collectors at this show than ever before. Rest assured that we will do our best to make our company easier to find at shows from now on.

Christine and I arrived late Tuesday so that we would awaken fresh and ready to view the auction lots for Stacks Bowers. Usually when we do an auction, it is to selectively view lots that we have an interest in, either for stock or a customer. This time we looked at virtually the entire sale, paying close attention to the session with the Tiech Family Collection. This collection was formed by a husband and wife, with assistance from their three younger sons and has remained off the market for the last fifty years. If my memory serves me correctly, no coins were added to the collection after the early 1960s. Many of the coins came from “big name” auctions of the period. Of special note were the coins they acquired from the Stack’s sale of the George O. Walton collection held in 1963. Many of you will recall that Mr. Walton once owned a 1913 Liberty nickel, which was with him when he had a terrible, fatal automobile accident in 1962. Along with his prized nickel, many of the coins in his collections were also thrown about the highway as a result of the crash. The accident made the headlines in the numismatic press, as the passing of Mr. Walton affected many collectors of the time. Mr. Walton was a well respected numismatist who was always willing to share his knowledge with others. I am not sure if any of the coins sold by Stack’s back then were with Mr. Walton on that fateful day or not; but I do know that Mr. Walton thought enough of the coins his heirs sold in 1963 to include them in his collection along side his fabled 1913 Liberty nickel. Pretty cool pedigree if you ask me.

If you looked at all the coins you could find some really neat ones, and some not so neat ones. Many of the coins were GEMS, and many were not. Many were cleaned. That brings up an interesting point. These coins have been off of the market for nearly half a century. Surely they weren’t cleaned in the mean time. So if you think about it that way, one has to wonder how they’ve survived in such great condition. It has been said that the day after the first coins were made, the first counterfeits were made. I’d like to add that on the second day they started cleaning them. It is such a pleasure viewing and bidding on such wonderful pieces. You know what kind of coins I’m talking about. Those that you know you’re buying, even before you ask the price. So Christine and I tried our best to buy what we could at the auction and on the bourse floor. It wasn’t easy, but nothing worth having ever comes without some degree of difficulty.

Along with our ability to purchase coins, we were quite pleased with our sales results. As usual the coins had to have something special going for them. Eye appeal, rarity, and/or a combination of both were needed. We sold coins from $300 to upwards of $40,000 retail. It’s good to see that the collector is actively seeking coins for their sets.

So to summarize the show, we had a great table location, bought and sold some really neat coins, and got to meet some wonderful collectors. Now, how’s that for a show report?

Christine and I will be available to discuss any coins of interest with you most of this week, and then it’s off to Houston!

Until then, we’d like to take this time and wish each and every one of you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Pre-Baltimore Newps and a Holiday Wish…

Since our last show report Christine and I have been busy traveling around looking for some interesting items to offer you. From Portland to St. Louis, New Jersey to South Dakota, we have been hard at it. And as we get ready to attend the fall Baltimore show next weekend, we thought it would be a good idea to get some of our new purchases ready for you. Christine has been working diligently preparing them as a Pre-Baltimore offering.

There wasn’t a whole lot to report regarding the last few shows we attended, hence the lack of a report since the Pittsburgh ANA convention. That is not to say that we didn’t find coins, as we did. Look them over and then give us a call.

Next week Christine and I will be in attendance of the aforementioned Baltimore Show. If you are planning on attending, please stop by and say hello. Please note that for this show, and this show only, we will be at a new table, number 505. This promises to be the last “Big” show of 2011. We will be there looking to purchase new inventory for you (and possibly from you), as well as participating in the Stacks Bowers auction. If you have any questions regarding lots in this sale, I will be in New York this week looking at lots, and both Christine and I will be looking at lots starting on Wednesday of next week. Let us know if we can be of help.

At this time both Christine and I would like to be one of the first to wish you a great Holiday season. With Thanksgiving the week after Baltimore, and Houston the week after that, we thought this would be the perfect time to give a BIG THANK YOU to you, our valued clients. And while our business continues to grow, we never want to forget each and every one of you and your business this past year. Thank you. And HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Bill and Christine

Iron City and the ANA

Christine and I have just returned from the inaugural fall show put on by the ANA and the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatist. I have read many of the other show reports out there and now it is time for our take on the event.

History has shown us that while the ANA’s annual summer show is one that most collectors should attend, their attempts at the annual spring show has usually proven somewhat disappointing. With that said, I did not have high hopes and expectations for this first ever fall show, and with good reason. First the show report though…

Tuesday and Wednesday was PNG day. While I am not a PNG member, for reason that shall remain personal, as an ANA life member I don’t really think it is fair to the non-PNG table holders to have to wait until the PNG has their moment in the sun for the regular ANA table holders to set up. What ever I think is irrelevant, but from all accounts I’ve heard, it was a bust! Strike one!

Pittsburgh. We’ve had some great ANA conventions here in the past, most recently 1989 and 2004. From what I remember both of these shows were pretty darn good. And let’s not forget the twice a year PAN shows. Virtually all of those that I have attended were good (or great). The convention center was just like I remembered it, very adequate and close to our hotel. Everyone, from the regular ANA employees to the PAN volunteers, did a great job. No issues with checking in and setting up. Base hit!

I have heard a few, (okay a bunch) of dealers complain about the high cost of food in downtown Pittsburgh. I don’t think the cost of dinning in a nice restaurant is any higher here than most of the other shows on the Majors circuit. But the food inside the convention center was flat out terrible for the first three days. Foul ball, Strike two!

From Thursday throughout Friday what I saw attendance wise was pretty dismal. Western Pennsylvania, and virtually the entire state, has a pretty advanced group of collectors. We were able to do business with some of them, but not really enough to warrant attending a show of this size and expense. What this show needed, but did not get, was an influx of out of state collectors coming to it. Perhaps the recent Philadelphia show on the other side of the state, or the up coming Baltimore show had something to do with it. I don’t know, nor will I guess. Strike three, One out!

We’ve talked about collectors and sales to them, now it is time to address purchases.

If it weren’t for our 35+ years in the business and the relationships built along the way, we wouldn’t have found many coins. And while the offerings from this show might not be the largest to date, we are very pleased with them. In fact, we feel lucky to have found this many. With collectors, and investors, not knowing what to do with the proceeds from the sale of their coins many are just sitting in the dugout waiting for something to happen. Base hit!

And then there was the grading. While I will never bash the grading services, I will stand up and speak my mind when i feel it is needed. It is my belief, and I’m probably the only dealer who feels this way, that BOTH of the major services have tightened up to the point where they are too conservative. Let’s try and find a balance here folks. Let’s call this a “hit by pitch!”

Saturday; Ball games, Boy scouts, and protesters. That sums it up. What little conversation we did have with the public on this day centered on these issues. Not exactly what we wanted from the public, but it is what we got. Thankfully we were able to put together a few wholesale deals that made the extra day worthwhile. Base hit, allowing one runner to score!

So there you have it. An unexciting ball game with one run and one out (which is why I favor football)!

Check out the NEWPS and if you see anything of interest, give us a call. And remember, Christine and I love to talk coins…

Fall Long Beach Show Report

I love my job. I really do. I like the buying and selling of beautiful coins, the hunt to find them as well as the selling of them to excited clients. I love meeting new people and finding out what direction they have taken their collection. I love almost every aspect of my job; except the writing. I can talk for hours on end to people in person when it comes to coin collecting. But I seem to have an aversion to writing. Oh well, I guess that’s why they call it work.

I arrived to Long Beach early on Wednesday, the assigned day for dealer set-up. I used to go out a few days early to do business in the hotel and at the auctions, but lately I have found that the pre-show business hasn’t warranted my early arrival.

As usual, like for the last 25 years, the show management didn’t turn on the AC in the bourse room until Thursday. That meant that the show on Wednesday was hot. Not as in coins were selling like hotcakes, but hot like you just wanted to go back to the hotel and take a nap. Not a good start to a show if you ask me. But business we did. Not a lot, but enough to make it worth while.

I’d like to take a moment and comment on this show, as well as many others, from a TRAVELING dealers view point. Nearly a month ago we had the largest show in America, the ANA, held in Chicago this year. After such a monumental show many of the dealers are tired and in need of a rest. Not that the traveling dealers didn’t know that Long Beach was around the corner, it’s just that it came up so quickly. And on the heels of Labor Day weekend. And a week before the Philadelphia show. That is a lot to ask of any dealer who makes a living traveling around America setting up at the MAJOR shows. I don’t have the answer for this dilemma, nor do I even know if I have any questions. I guess I’d like the show promoters to take in account that MOST dealers who attend MAJOR shows try their best to do them all, and to accommodate their clients, from coast to coast. It would be nice to see the show promoters work together so that dealers, and collectors, could enjoy some sort of normal life.

Now on to Long Beach! I’ll say it first; I give this show a C+. As I’ve said before, I get the impression that this show is old and tired. After all, it’s been around since I was a kid. And I’m far from being a kid now. Every Long Beach show I see less and less of our regular customers. Yes there are those that would attend no matter what, but I can’t help but think the collector is tired of this venue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not placing blame on any one thing. I just think this show is old.

How old is it? Well to give you and idea, when I first started coming to Long Beach there was a waiting list of dealers wanting a table. Now it seems there as many tables UNOCCUPIED as there were manned, at least in the front of the room. Many dealers, major dealers, have given up their high profile tables in the front and rented much cheaper ones in the FAR back of the room. It just looks wrong. Again, I don’t have the answers, but I know something needs to be done.

As far as sales go, Christine and I were pleasantly surprised. The clients that did show up came to buy. Sometimes there was a trade involved, other times sales were structured so that the customer could afford the coins. The main thing here is that they were buying. Of note were GEM Commems with really nice (sometimes outrageous) colors. Also in demand were high end type coins. Again, and I sound like a broken record here, they had to have outstanding eye appeal for the collector to entertain them.

The best thing to come out of Long Beach was our purchases. Through mine and Christine’s many contacts we were able to buy some pretty cool coins. As usual, as I write this, Christine is busy getting them up on the web site. So check them out and then give us a call. And remember…we love to talk coins.

P.S. Although I might have sounded like I was complaining about the amount of shows we attend, I know that this is the life we have chosen. With that in mind, I will be in Philadelphia starting on this Thursday at the show. Stop by and say hello.

American Numismatic Association – 2011 World’s Fair of Money

Christine and I have justreturned from our 11 day marathon in Chicago and what a trip it’s been.

I flew out to the official “Pre-show” to do the auctions on Thursday and didn’t look back. After viewing both of the sanctioned venues for two days all I could think of is “wow”, where did all these coins come from. I know that many collectors, or their heirs, specifically wait to have their holdings sold at the annual ANA auction and this year it proved to pay off. Although the sales were chock full of nice coins, we found it difficult to acquire many at reasonable (or what we thought were reasonable) prices. We did however get to buy a few really nice type coins as well as some super original U.S. commemoratives from the Guttag family estate.

Many people I spoke with at the auction, and the ANA’s show, didn’t know who the Guttag Brothers were. As a student of virtually all aspects of American numismatics I was well aware of them and even had a few pieces of Americana relating to them in my collection. In a nut shell, they were early 20th century coin dealer, somewhat on the same line as B. Max Mehl, as well as brokers down on Wall Street. They published many pamphlets and booklets relating to various areas of numismatics as well as the usual buying guide. Not as well known as the aforementioned Mehl or Wayte Raymond, they were indeed a force to be recognized. They flourished up until the stock market crash of 1929 where it is reported that they lost upwards of $8,000,000 in 1929 dollars.

Anyway, I saw an opportunity for Christine and me to acquire some really nice, TOTALLY original, commems from their holdings and did my best to do it. This worked out well as the other coins from this group, sold Friday of the ANA in the auction, went through the roof! Ours will be available shortly, with notation of the Guttag Family pedigree.

Monday marked the beginning of what was the “Official” ANA World’s Fair of Money. From the opening bell, straight through Saturday, it was non stop. First thing we did was buy a really neat deal of type coins and better date material from one of our contacts. I have always said that the most important thing in this business is relationships. Without strong affiliations with one another, Christine and I would never have had the opportunity to buy this deal. I am sure you will be please with our purchases.

Although this was the largest ANA bourse in history I have to take time and give credit to the wonderful staff at the American Numismatic Association. While I am sure there were minor snafus (I didn’t personally experience any), putting on a venue of this magnitude isn’t a small feat. They really did an outstanding job.

Speaking of which, Christine and I did take a little time out after a very hectic Tuesday to go on the ANA’s excursion to the local aquarium for some great camaraderie with fellow collectors. It was a blast!

As I said before, this was the largest bourse in the ANA’s history. This can be good and bad. It is good for the collector as he/she has an enormous amount of table to look at while searching for the perfect coin. From the dealer side it makes it difficult for us to look at ALL the other tables to find coins for you our customers. As has been the way things have gone recently, Christine and I had the luxury of dealers and collectors alike bringing us coins for consideration. We were able to buy quite a bit, even by our standards, of fresh material and tried our best to bring them home to you. That wasn’t easy. Many collectors came by two and three times asking if we had any new purchases. Seems they can smell fresh coins.

So…what did we buy you ask? Take a look at the coins listed below and you’ll get an idea.

1877 1c PCGS PR 65 RB
1915 5c PCGS MS 67 CAC
1891 10c PCGS PR 66+ DCAM CAC (one of my favorite purchases)
1921 10c PCGS MS 66FB; a totally original GEM
1887 G$1 PCGS PR65 CAM CAC
1887 $3 PCGS PR64 CAM

And that is only the beginning! Christine, as usual, is working feverishly imaging our new purchase and getting them up on the web site.

I am sure that I have left out some important information regarding the show, and if I did, I apologize. But mark my word; this year’s ANA will go down in history as one of the great ones. So look over our NEWPS and give us a call if anything strikes your fancy. And remember…we love to talk coins.

PCGS’ Las Vegas Invitational Show Report

When I left New Jersey it was hot; 98 degrees and humid.

When I arrived in Las Vegas it was hot; 103 degrees, but not humid.

When I got to PCGS’ latest Invitational, held in the opulent Venetian & Palazzo resort, it was a refreshing change to feel cool air. After many decades of traveling I have learned to pack and dress for any weather. Long sleeve shirts and sweaters were in order for the day. But that soon changed.

Once I arrived to the show, off came the sweater. Not that the bourse room was hot. In fact it was just the opposite. Fresh, cool air, with just a hint of fragrance added was constantly pumped into the room. But once I started to do business it seemed just a little warmer in there.

This particular Invitational wasn’t as well attended by the public as have some of the ones in the past. Perhaps collectors were busy doing other things like fishing and swimming. I mean it is summer after all. But it seems that when something is absent, something else steps up to take its place. By this I mean wholesale. Again, there weren’t as many dealers as in the past, but those that came to this event were there to do business. In fact this is the only show in recent memory that we came but left with less coins than we started out with. And that includes over a double row box of coins we got back from grading at the show. One of the interesting things about the coin industry is the many levels of involvement of the collector. There is literally something, at some price, for everyone. We sold relatively inexpensive coins as well as very expensive pieces there. It seems that demand it steady for ALL quality coins at virtually all price levels. Let’s see if this continues throughout the summer and into the fall.

The next major show Christine and I will be attending will be the ANA’s annual World’s Fair of Money held this year in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. This is the PREMIER event of the show circuit and tends to set the trend for the upcoming fall season. If you plan on attending please stop by and say “hello”. As I’ve always said, Christine and I love to talk coins.

Next week our offices will be closed as we will be taking a well deserved vacation. But don’t worry, we will be checking our email and voice mails daily and will do our best to get back with you as soon as possible.

Until then, check out our newest additions to the web site. If you see something of interest, give us a call. We’ll get it out right away. And remember, we love to talk coins.

June Baltimore Show Report

Funny thing about coin collectors and coin shows, there are those collectors that wouldn’t miss a major show for the world, and then there are those that go “in season”. Historically coin shows have been a Fall/Winter/Spring venue. With the exception of the ANA’s Worlds Fair of Money and the June Long Beach show, there have not really been many, if any, major ones after Memorial Day and before Labor Day. The team at Whitman Expos has tried their best to fill that gap. And to a certain extent they have. Problem is that many collectors, and dealers, like to take some time off in the summer to spend with the family. Unfortunately this show suffers from those taking the summer off. The “if you build it they will come” philosophy just doesn’t work here.

Not that this show was a bust. It wasn’t. Christine and I did some of business and saw many of our East Coast clients there. We just didn’t see the foot traffic we would normally expect to see. And we weren’t in the minority. Many of our fellow dealers were talking about the lack of collectors there. And the lack of fresh, quality coins available. Something we certainly can agree with. As I’ve said many times before, the number of “fresh” coins coming onto the market lately has been pretty dismal. Christine and I did our best to “ferret” out something for you, but I was disappointed in the number we were able to acquire. I was, however, very pleased with the ones we did get our hands on.

So…in a nutshell was it worth it? Yes, and given the chance I’d do it again. I just wish there was some way to balance the number of major shows throughout the year so the collectors and dealers could take some time off and not feel like they were ignoring their hobby or business. Something to think about!

Check out our new purchases. Christine has been working hard photographing them and getting them up on the web. If you see anything of interest, give us a call and let’s talk. Remember…we love to talk coins.

Our take on the June Long Beach Show…

I tried my hardest to come up with some catchy phrase for this report but came up empty. Not that I didn’t have many different headlines that I could have used, but they all seemed so down and out and the coin market is over for good ,or everything is Rosy and the market is on fire. Neither of those analyses could be further from the truth. But before I get to this let me tell you a little story…

When I was just a fledgling young numismatist in the mid 1970′s I went to the Heart of America coin show held in the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. And I went on a Sunday afternoon. When I got there, well over half of the dealers had already packed up and left. Most of the dealers that were still there were in the process of packing up. I remember stopping at one table, a corner I believe, and while the dealer emptied one show case, I tried to look, quite quickly I might add, at what was left in the other ones. I finally asked him what was going on, why was he leaving at 3 in the afternoon? He replied, very politely, that he had been there for several days already and the show had slowed down by this time and he thought it would be a good idea to leave a little early so that he could spend some time with his family before the weekly regime started up the next day. I didn’t quite get that concept back then. But I do now.

Long Beach is one of those shows that suffer from several ailments. One: It is old. This show has been going on for decades now. Not much can be done about old age. If something else doesn’t get you first, old age will. Two: It is just a few weeks before Whitman’s Baltimore show. And Baltimore is basically a newer show. Three: In the interest of profitability, the management has priced the table fees to the level where many dealers are crying “Uncle”. I personally know of several “MAJOR” dealers who refused to pay HUGE bourse fees just so they could be up front. They chose to pay around 1/3 of the normal price and be moved to the back of the room. This created a large amount of bourse tables to remain un-sold up front. These weren’t tables where the dealer didn’t show up, these were tables that the show promoters DIDN’T SELL! When you combine this with many of the East Coast (and West Coast) dealers that left on Friday or Saturday, the show looked pretty empty on Saturday afternoon.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve heard every argument there is for making dealers stay until the closing of a show, and every argument against it. I also know that most, but not ALL, serious collectors show up early on knowing that most of the coins they are looking for would be sold by Saturday afternoon. I also realize that many collectors can’t make it to a show during the week. That is why we stayed until closing on Saturday, to service you, our clients.

To the un-informed eye, or someone who hasn’t been to a major show before, then Long Beach was a bust. But if you looked closely, and watched a dealer’s table for a while, then you would have seen something totally different. Collectors were there. With close to half of our dollar volume in sales going to collectors it is clear to me that if you have the right coins they sell. There is no doubt that the serious collector is still actively seeking pieces for his/her collection. What I didn’t see that many of were the casual, sort of interested in coins, attendees. Perhaps the economy has something to do with that. I don’t know. What I do know is this: The collector is alive and well. And buying!

I don’t want to continue repeating myself, but high end, solid for the grade coins were in demand. GEM proof type coins, slightly better date (as well as the better dates) mint state type coins, high end mint state Walkers, and colorful Commems were the most sought after at our table. Lower grade mint state coins, as well as those with problems, along with generic gold coinage appeared to be very weak throughout the show.

Christine has been busy imaging our new purchases and getting them ready for your consideration. Check them out and then give us a call if you see something of interest. And remember…we love to talk coins.

Central States Hits the Windy City!

As you all know, I have a hard time writing, especially when I have a deadline. Since I have returned from the Central States Numismatic Society’s annual show, this time held at the Donald L. Stephens convention center in Rosemont, Illinois, Christine has been working feverishly imaging our new purchases to get them up on the web site. So now it is my time to get back to work and write this show report.

I got into Chicago Wednesday mid morning and went straight to the PNG show. It was busy, but not overly. There was business being done, both buying and selling, but there wasn’t any frenzy, just steady business. While I didn’t show any coins on Wednesday, I was able to buy a few, but not a bunch, for you our customers. Little did I know what would happen in the following 24 hours.

When Christine and I walked into the bourse floor on Thursday we were greeted by numerous dealers waiting to look at our coins. From that moment on it was off to the races. Within the next 8 hours we sold over 60 percent of the coins we brought. Most dealers would look at this and smile with delight, but late in the afternoon Christine and I looked at our show cases, looked at each other, and then realized what had happened. From that point on we tried every chance we could to get out on the bourse floor and buy. Let me tell you, that wasn’t an easy task either.

The good news is that Christine and I have over 50 years of making relationships in the business, and it paid off this past week. Slowly, one by one, we were able to acquire quite a few really choice items for your consideration. We got in the middle of a few big deals that broke at the show, but by and large we bought our coins one at a time. In fact Christine told me I needed to start bringing more checks than I am accustomed to, as we buying coins usually one or two at a time. Not the 10-15 we like to.

Like the FUN show in Florida, all three Baltimore shows, or either of the ANA’s annual show, the CSNS show brings out the serious collectors. We had the opportunity to meet many of them, and many of you our loyal readers. It is always nice to meet new clients, and potential clients, at a show and see their passion for the hobby.

Unlike this past ANA in Sacramento, I was able to slip away from the table for a few minutes and view the exhibits. And boy am I glad I did! There were some phenomenal displays there. I would have hated to have been a judge there. There were just that many great ones to choose from. Three that did stick out in my mind, in no particular order, are:

A complete set of two cent pieces with outstanding text:
Beautiful condition complemented the collectors research and artistic display.

An unbelievable exhibit on the Stone Mountain Commemorative Half Dollar and related medals:
From the earliest Children’s Founders Roll medal, through the incredibly tough Counterstamps, to later U. S. Mint made medals, this multi case exhibit made my heart pound!

A four case display of a complete set of U. S. Seated Dollars:
I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking on two different occasions with the dynamic father and son duo that built this set. Their unbridled enthusiasm coupled with an in-depth knowledge of the series held me captive throughout our conversation. Congrats on such a monumental task.

Writing about the exhibits reminds me of a subject I’ve been asked numerous times, and have been meaning to address. What does a passionate collector do when their set is almost complete and have no idea of what to do next? Easy! Go to a major show that has both, competitive and non competitive, exhibits. Seeing so many different approaches to collecting seems to spark some creativity in most numismatists. Not that you have to go out and replicate an exhibit, but it will give many of you some ideas, or possible directions, that you might want to pursue. If I could somehow squeeze an extra 12 hours out of a 24 hour day I would love to build exhibits for display at major shows. Seeing these exhibits brought my love of the hobby to new levels.

So there you have it. Check out our latest offerings and then give us a call if you see something of interest. And remember…we love to talk coins.

P.S. Try and take time this month and get your coins out of your safe or bank vault and have a play date with them. I promise you, and your coins will have a great time.

If they build it, they will come. My take on Baltimore.

I’ve been going to coin shows since the late 1970′s, close to 1000 total. From VFW halls to the Staple Arena in Los Angeles, I’ve seen them come and go, from their humble beginnings, to their rise to the top, and with some, their eventual demise. I can say that as I write this, the team at Whitman Expos has put Baltimore on the fast track as the show to attend. In fact, it currently rivals both the January FUN show and the ANA’s summer event. First off it has a lot going for it. The ease of getting to (three major airports and unparalleled train service), a large choice of lodging (two Marriott’s, 1 Hyatt, 1 Sheraton, 1 Renaissance, and several other smaller boutique hotels) within walking distance, and countless numbers of restaurants to choose from. Everything that an attendee at a show could ask for. Add to that, a staff that makes the entire experience, for both dealers and collectors alike, very pleasurable. Whitman’s attention to detail is amazing. The security staff is very courteous and professional, the aisles are wide and easy to navigate, the booth setup is first rate, and in addition to all that, Whitman’s expertise in show promoting is the best in the industry in my opinion. Keep in mind that there is a HUGE population of collectors within a 4 hour trip. From Boston to Richmond to Cleveland the trip isn’t that difficult and that brings in the clients.

As far as the show goes, I was personally surprised on two fronts. Christine and I went into the show with an optimistic attitude. From the beginning, at 8 a.m. on Thursday, until we left on Saturday it was non stop. The clients who stopped by our booth were again armed with want lists and check books. Our biggest sellers were U.S. commemoratives from the classic era of the 30′s and GEM Buffalo nickels. Following a close third were GEM type coins. As has been my feelings lately, whenever we sold a coin I would wonder if we could replace it with another of comparable quality and fairly priced. Well that is where I was pleasantly surprised. With both Christine and I looking for inventory we were able to acquire a nice little group for your consideration. In addition to the GEMS that Christine has listed on the web site we were able to buy and sell, at the show, some great pieces. Included in this list were:

1808 $2.50 PCGS AU 58 CAC
1825 $2.50 NGC MS 64 CAC
1795 $5 NGC MS 60 CAC
1902 $20 NGC PR 64 CAC

If you see something listed above that you would have liked to been offered, please keep in mind that we work with many collectors and their want lists and sell a lot of coins quietly that don’t make it to our web site. So don’t forget to contact us if you have a special piece that you are looking for. But don’t forget about our current offering. It includes some beautiful coins. Some of the highlights are:

1901 5c NGC PR 67 CAC with incredible color
1850 S$1 PCGS MS 64 CAC. A top pop coin in a very collectible area.
1860-O S$1 PCGS MS 64 CAC. An amazing piece, NOT from the Treasury hoard of the 1960′s or the “Chimney hoard” from a few years ago.
1881-S S$1 PCGS MS 66. Wonderful rainbow toning, no doubt from the “Continental Illinois” bank holdings from years ago.

But wait. Later this week Christine and I will be listing a few VERY special coins. Most will be the finest know, either for the date or type. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

So look over this listing and check your want list (or wish list), and give us a call. And remember…we love to talk coins.

Sometimes when we’re wrong it’s a good thing

When Christine and I talked about the ANA’s spring show in Sacramento, we didn’t really expect much. I knew that there would be a large group of east coast dealers who wouldn’t attend, and I figured that many retail customers wouldn’t go the extra mile to get to a show in such an out of the way place. In this case I was right and wrong. There were many people one would expect to see that didn’t show. Yet there were many that surprised me by showing up. Seems I forgot one thing, two actually, San Francisco and the Bay Area.

From 10 a.m. on Thursday through closing, and virtually all day on Friday, Christine and I were steadily busy. Don’t get me wrong. Not everybody was buying five figure coins. Many collectors came to sell and we did our best to purchase all we could (as long as the coins met our standards). Numerous collectors, some who we know and some who we just met, weren’t there to sell, they came to buy. And like I said, it wasn’t all big coins. Many came looking for commemoratives from the classic era of 1936-1939. Others sought out GEM type coins (one of my favorite ways to collect), while more than one individual was looking for GEM Walking Liberty half dollars (we bought and sold a PCGS MS 65 CAC 1920-S at the show). High grade examples of Buffalo nickels from the complete set we just bought were also in demand.

Over the course of the past year I have noticed something that I’d like to talk to you about. It has become apparent that there are many of you, collectors that Christine and I have never done business with, that watch our website looking for that special coin. More than once a potential client has said that they read our show reports, love Christine’s photography, and generally like the look and business model of our company. And this is after following us on the web for sometime, all while remaining anonymous. It isn’t until they see something on our site that they come up to our booth at a show and introduce themselves. I would like to extend an invitation to introduce yourself at the next show we both attend. Yes it is great to either buy or sell a coin during a first meeting, but Christine and I like to build relationships. We have found that the best customers are those that we build strong relationships with. And any good relationship has a beginning. So next time your at a show we’re attending, stop by and say hello. Remember, we love to talk coins.

As I said earlier in this report, Christine and I did our best to buy some great looking coins for you. While I am writing this report, Christine is busy photographing the coins and getting them ready for this email and show update.

Our next show is in Baltimore next week. If you are planning on attending, and see something in this email, let us know and we will put it on hold for you. Or we can ship it out to you. Whichever works best for you. And remember…even if you don’t see anything, please stop by and say hello. We love to talk coins…

Numismatic Americana Acquires Finest Known
1874 Proof $3 Gold Piece

For the second time in as many months, Christine and I have purchase the finest known (top pop) specimen of key date in a very collectible series.
With a documented mintage of just 20 pieces, this coin, graded PR 65 DCAM by PCGS also carries the green seal of approval from CAC.

With deeply reflective fields and intensely frosted devices the eye appeal is unparalleled for the series, let alone the date. As stated above, this date has a known mintage of only 20 pieces. Looking at the PCGS population report we find the following:

In regular proof, that is non cameo or DCAM, there is 1 PR 63, 8 in PR 64, and 3 in PR 65. Undoubtedly there are resubmissions in those figures.

In Cameo there is one PR 65 CAM. Which by the way will be on display next week in Sacramento during the ANA’s spring show, at PCGS’ table, as part of a complete set of proof $3 gold pieces.

In Deep Cameo there is this piece. The lone PR 65 DCAM.

While the 1874 in proof has long been recognized a rarity by students of the series, the large mintage and availability of circulation strikes gives the illusion that this should be a common date. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, when one looks at the official mintages for “documented” proofs dating from 1859-1889, it becomes clear just how rare this coin is. There are only four dates with “official” mintages of 20; the 1874, 1875, 1877, and the 1878. Even the highly prized 1873 open 3 has a higher production figure of 25, of which PCGS has designated two as PR 65 DCAM. And the last sale of an 1873 in PCGS PR 65 DCAM was two and a half years ago in auction for $212,750. Granted there are no circulation strikes for the 1875, and few business strike 1873′s , creating extreme pressure by date collectors of the series. But from a strict mintage and population view point one can see that the opportunity to acquire the finest known example of any coin with such a low mintage, is one that doesn’t come along often.

This coin, as well as all of our new purchases, will be available for viewing and consideration next week in Sacramento.

PCGS Las Vegas Invitational

Christine and I just returned from latest PCGS Invitational held at the wonderful Venetian & Palazzo in Las Vegas, and now it is time for our take on the show.

Held earlier in the week than normal, Tuesday through Friday, but that did not stop the die hard group of dealers and collectors who regularly attend. It may have affected the occasional attendee, as there was no Saturday venue, and most dealers were gone by Thursday afternoon.

Those that did come were there to do business. Wholesale was brisk, and the collectors that came were armed with want list and CHECKBOOKS! It is always great to see such collectors who are as passionate as we are about coins. Seeing their enthusiasm when they find that elusive coin is what makes this business/hobby so great.

As I said earlier, the attendance was slightly down from the previous Invitational shows, but there was a bright side to this. It allowed us more time to get to know you, our customers, better. Sitting down and talking coins with our customers is the biggest, non monetary, benefit that this industry provides. It stirs the collecting fire in all of us.

A lot of what happens at a show takes place on back-up tables and sometimes never make it out to the show cases. So don’t be afraid to ask what is new the next time you stop by our table. You just never know.

A few of the “deals” that we bought were:

1846 $1 PCGS PR 65 GOLD CAC sticker: A phenomenal piece that caused quite a commotion at the show.

A complete set of Buffalo nickels in GEM. It will take a little time to process them all, but they will be posted in batches after our want list customers are called.

1874 $3 PCGS PR 65 DCAM

While this report might make it seem like this show was less than spectacular, it wasn’t. We were able to have some wonderful coins graded, as well as purchase some from other dealers. Christine is busy photographing them and getting them ready for the web and our new purchase email. So look them over and I am sure you’ll agree with us when we say that this show was a “hit”.

Long Beach & Parsippany Show Report

The February Long Beach is one of those shows that dealers and collectors alike look forward to attending. And while it took me almost a full day of canceled flights and delays, it appears that I was luckier than most. There was no doubt that many of those who planned on attending the show couldn’t get out there or just decided to bag it. The weather sure it taking is toll on the shows this year.

I arrived late Wednesday, well after the show started. Christine kept busy looking at auction lots as well as looking at other dealer inventory before I got there. Once I showed up, with our inventory, it was a different story. Many of the other dealers had been waiting for us, and our usual (unusual?) inventory. After a flurry of activity on Wednesday, it was a little different on Thursday. I noticed that, like me, many other dealers had had a difficult time getting to “The Beach”. Bad weather, not just in the Northeast, but throughout the Midwest and South, had prohibited many dealers from attending. This in turn left many of the tables at the show unmanned, making the show look weaker than it is. Or isn’t. Empty tables do not look good no matter what.

The interesting thing about the Long Beach show is that it has a loyal following in the Southwest. There are many collectors who only attend this show and it made up for the lack of dealers not present. We had our share of those “die-hards” come to our table. Many bought for their collections, while others were looking for VERY specific coins, the kind of coins that sell quickly when they come to the market, the tougher than tough to locate coins.

Midway through the show something dawned on me. We were selling coins faster than we could buy them. In fact we sold 6 coins for every 1 that we bought. Short term that makes for a good show, long term is a totally different story. Great coins simply are not available like they used to be. This can mean only one thing. Prices must go up for the better coins in order to get their owners to sell them.

While our offering of new purchases isn’t as large as we’d like, I am sure you will see that Christine and I did work hard to find pieces for you, our loyal customers. Look over our NEWPS and then give Christine a call.

Numismatic Americana Announces Purchase of Finest Known
1896-O Barber Quarter

Numismatic Americana Incorporated has recently acquired the finest known 1896-O Barber quarter. Graded MS 67 by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and displaying the coveted seal of approval by Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC), this lightly toned unusually sharply struck specimen is without a doubt the finest available specimen on the market today.

Long considered to be an extreme rarity in high grade by both collectors of the series and dealers alike, it stands amongst the top four dates in terms of scarcity and desirability.
There are three areas of information that should be used to evaluate this date. They are as follow;

PCGS’ Population Report:

The 1896-O, along with the 1896-S, 1901-S, and 1913-S are the most sought after dates in the series (in high grade). An analysis is below:

1896-O has a population of 7 MS 65, 3 MS 66 and this the sole MS 67, for a total of 11 Gems known.

1896-S has a population of 9 MS 65 and 1 MS 66, for a total of 10 Gems known.

1901-S has a population of 7 MS 65, 3 MS 66, 3 MS 67, and a lone MS 68+ (a coin we sold earlier in 2010 for excess of $400,000), for a total of 14 Gems known.

1913-S has a population of 18 MS 65, 11 MS 66, 1 MS 66+, 3 MS 67, and 1 MS 68 for a total of 34 Gems known.

With the above information, it is clear that the 1896-O is as rare, or rarer, than any of the other big 3.

PCGS Set Registry:

Looking at the set registry we find the following:

Experts at PCGS list the 1896-O in the top 6 most difficult dates to acquire. In fact, John Feigenbaum, specialist in the series and son of well respected author David Lawence (who wrote THE book on Barber quarters) had this to say about the 1896-O:

“The 1896-O is one of our favorite dates in the entire Barber quarter series and especially rare (and underrated!) in the highest of grades, owing in large part to the dearth of high quality manufacturing at the New Orleans Mint in that era. Coins are typically found with below-average strike and high grade specimens were clearly not saved. Ironically, I now find that it can often be harder to find a high grade 1896-O that the more celebrated key issues (like 96-S, 01-S and 13-S).

The All Time Finest Registry sets had the following grades for an 1896-O:

The Sunnywood Collection ( #1 set): MS 66
Louis Eliasberg (#2 set): MS 65 (estimated grade)
Allen Harriman ( #3 set): MS 65 (estimated grade)
Michael Hayes (#4 set): AU 58
Dr. and Mrs. Steven Duckor (#5 set): MS 66 (this is also the Eliasberg coin listed above as an estimated MS 65)

Even the current set with the highest grade point average, doesn’t have an 1896-O. Clearly finding a true GEM example of this date was and still remains a challenge for students of the series.

Auction records:

The last auction appearance for a high grade GEM was an MS 66 in July of 2009, in the mist of uncertain economic times. It still brought $20,700. The last appearance before then was 7 years ago, in May of 2003.

Comparatively the following examples of the other tough dates have sold at auction as follows:

1896-S: The last time an MS 66 sold was 13 years ago, and it brought $25,300. More importantly in MS 65 an example sold for $40,250 in April of 2009, prior to that another MS 65 example sold for $56,925 in May 2008. There are no MS 67′s graded to compare auction records with.

1901-S: An MS 67 example sold in January, 2005, for $149,500, and we (Numismatic Americana) sold the lone MS 68+ privately in excess of $400,000.

1913-S: At the top of the population, an MS 68 sold in April of 2009 for $86,250. Earlier in January, 2005, the same specimen sold for an astounding $172,500. The second finest graded specimen (MS 67) sold for $60,375 in July, 2009; again in a softer market. And remember, there are 34 specimens in MS 65 or better for collectors to choose from.

Using the above information, we can clearly see that this 1896-O is a special coin, and that the opportunity to own it is unprecedented.

We your inquiries about this piece, or any other coin on our web site, and look forward to talking with you.

FUN 2011 Show Report

It seems as if the Holiday season of 2010 was six months ago. Not because it wasn’t eventful, but because Christine and I have just returned from TAMPA (not Orlando) and the first major show of the year. When you get back from a show, especially one like FUN, you’re still running on adrenaline for a few days and anything that happened before then is ancient history by the time you get back.

First I would like to thank the board members of FUN for putting on a great show. While there are a few things that could have been improved upon, all in all they did a wonderful job. Tampa isn’t quite the town Orlando is for a coin show. After all, when most people think of the FUN show, they think of Orlando. I am glad to see it going back there for the next few years.

Before I get into the meat of this report, I would like to personally thank all of our customers, those that attended FUN and those that did not. I thank you for your business and friendship, your conversation and camaraderie. It is because of you that Christine and I get to do what we do. Thank you.

In Florida we had the opportunity to meet some of our newer, or should I say “faceless”, customers in person. As usual it is always great to put a face with a name. And to those of you who have been following our website for the past year and finally introduced yourself at FUN, it was an equal pleasure to meet you there as well. Christine and I look forward to building a long lasting relationship with you.

Speaking of relationships, I would like to thank Stewart Blay for asking Christine and me to help him sell some of his Barber dimes. The coins are really special! When I asked Stewart why he was selling his Barbers, he told me he wasn’t. These were coins that he had recently replaced with higher grade ones! If these are any indication, then the Barber dime set Mr. Blay is assembling is world class and will fit nicely with his monumental set of copper coins.

Sales in Tampa were about what we expected. The really cool coins sold quickly to collectors, and the dealers took what they could get. Purchasing? That is a totally different story. The FUN show is one where many collectors and dealers wait to sell their special coins. Christine and I took advantage of that as much as possible. While I write this, Christine is busy imaging and cataloging our new purchases for the web site. Check back often though out this week, and then give her a call.

In addition to our new purchases we had the pleasure of buying, and subsequently selling, some pretty cool items at the show. Many of you stopped by our table numerous times, hoping, some successfully, some not, that we had found something for you. I personally think that relationships are the most important aspect of our hobby, but it doesn’t hurt to be lucky either. One never knows what we will find on the bourse floor from one hour to the next. A few of the coins that we bought and sold at FUN are:

1917 50c PCGS MS 67 CAC

1920-S Walking Liberty Half PCGS MS65 CAC

1915-S $50 Pan Pac Round NGC MS 65 CAC

A very Gemmy 1865 Proof set with original box

1905 Assay Medal presented to W. A. Blair

Again, thank you for your patronage in 2010 and we look forward to hearing from you though out 2011

Happy Holiday’s to all and a little Vegas on the side!

During this Holiday Season we would like to thank you all and wish you a wonderful Holiday and a very Happy New Year. It has been a great year for us, thanks to all of you that have been supportive in our transition. New friends have been made and old friends have stood by our side. Thank you again and as this New Year approaches we look forward to being here for you as you have us.

We just returned from Las Vegas last night for the PCGS Invitational show and there are quite a few new pieces for you to peruse. Let us know if there is something you would like to view in person. We will be checking our email throughout the next few weeks and look forward to hearing from you.

Houston Money Show

Another Texas size show is in the history books. The 54th Money Show of the Southwest held last week in Houston was a fitting tribute to the saying “They do everything BIG in Texas”. Carl and his team of volunteers definitely did Texas proud.

Arriving late Wednesday evening after spending the day in Newark’s Liberty Airport, Christine and I were there on the bourse first thing (read 9 a.m.), Thursday morning ready for business. After submitting our coins to PCGS, we did a little wholesale business and then set up for the public who were let in around 1 p.m.

As most shows have been lately, it was a mixed bag. We did plenty of business earlier on, and then it started to slow a little by that afternoon. We saw quite a bit of business being conducted, but I got the feeling that most of that was bullion oriented (generic gold coins, circ dollars etc). That is not to say that the “true” collectors did not attend. They did. And a great deal of them bought coins for their collections. But as usual, they were picky. Great coins sold quickly while “so-so” pieces remained in the dealer’s showcases.

Friday brought in a larger crowd than I expected. Many were new to the hobby, and many were seasoned veterans to the show circuit. Looking back, it seems that we were busy all day long answering questions and showing individual pieces. All in all another good day!

It seems that most of our readers want to know two things: What was selling and what did we buy? Well I can say that without a doubt Gem type coins were the top seller for us. Three cent silvers to Trade dollars, and everything in between, the common denominator? Quality! Sorry to repeat myself every week, but it is true. Quality rules!

Purchases? First off, both Christine and I looked on the floor. Then we looked at every dealer’s inventory that walked up to our table. With that said, it was tough. Really neat, high quality, and reasonably priced coins are drying up. It doesn’t appear that the current economic environment has scared many collectors into unloading their holdings. The only thing that I can think of that will shake them loose is higher prices. I guess time will tell.

Christine and I will be attending the PCGS Invitational next week in Las Vegas. If you plan on attending stop by and say hello. As usual we’d love to talk coins.

Happy Holidays!