My hubby and I went to the coin show today. There were tons of people selling bags of junk silver. It really did seem like a silver convention and not so much a coin show at times. Kinda bums me out a little. The table where they were buying silver, they were flipping it just as fast. I don't even think they knew what they were handling. It was just buy-sell-buy-sell. I got an 1885 morgan for $50 that I swear is a proof. I could almost fix my makeup in that coin! And my husband bought a 1900 that is just flat out gorgeous. He says it's easily an MS64. I finally found an 1805 8 Reales that I really like. Stunning coin! I got a 1917 BU Walker that is, again, just plain stunning! Plus the guy selling it and his wife were a total trip to talk to. I sat there for a half hour or so just gabbing away about silver prices, old copper coins, copper tokens, Gucci purses (and how they're a waste of money) and the cool coins you can get working at a liquor store. Great people! And finally, on the way out, I saw a guy selling 2 2002 Silver British Britannias. They are reverse proof coins. Beautiful! My husband and I each got one. Oh, and I also got a 1935 $1 Hawaii silver certificate and a bunch of hyperinflation notes from around the world (Zimbabwe, Yugoslavia, Hungary). We wanted those for historical value. The currency guy said he had a bunch of teachers buying these from him for their classes. Hmmmmm, perhaps demonstrating what could happen here if things don't change??? Anyway, today I am a very happy Cookey
sounds like you had fun. and it sounds like you bought some really neat stuff. Are you guys going to get any of those coins slabed?
BTW, that's not a scratch on the reverse. That's a hair in the airtite that I just noticed (hubby is fixing it now)
Sounds like you had a pretty decent time at the show. I attended a big show myself out here in the midwest today (Central States Numismatic Society Convention). It was, as you described yours, more a silver convention than a traditional coinshow. No doubt about it, silver is the main attraction these days at coinshows, coinshops, and even television. Dealers were pushing silver rounds at $50 apiece and SAEs at $60 and folks were snapping them up like the world was going to end tomorrow. For those of us old enough to remember, it's kind of reminiscent of the 1980 Silver bubble hysteria (Hunt Brothers). It will be interesting to see what ultimately happens this time to the silver craze. The good news is that for collectors like ourselves we can pass on todays seemingly high priced silver bullion and take advantage of the relatively depressed prices of numismatics. Before I left, I picked up a 1800/79 large cent to add to my collection in G-4 condition for $60. I said why not. I mean what is $60 today? A one ounce silver eagle?
It's weird how so many coins are sold at melt value no matter what the grade. How can kids afford anything good? Speaking of which, there was a little boy at the "fun" table (that great couple I was talking to). I was asking him what kind of coins he liked and told him about the grand canyon quarter and how if you look real close you can see a guy standing there. Sure enough, he got a magnifying glass and looked at the coin. There it was! It was kinda cool talking to him. I hope he had fun. Speaking of large cents, I forgot to mention I got 2 old tokens: an 1837 hard times token (reverse says "Millions for Defense, Not One Cent for Tribute") and a Merchants Exhange, New York Joint Stock Exchange Co. I thought those were pretty neat.
It was indeed a blast. The only downside is that 85 Morgan his a nasty ding in the rim. As cookey said, the coin looks for all the world like a proof. I would grade it at least PL, but given what some proof Morgans I see look like, this one is certainly a candidate, ding or no. I'll take pics later and post em. I do have a pic of my big pick up from the show. I finally got a 32 D Washington Quarter. Its only a Good, but I sure as heck can't afford a high grade. LOL
It is interesting that recent US coin shows are being described as "more a silver convention than a traditional coin show" while the international show I just attended in Tokyo seemed to be more of a traditional coin show, with particular emphasis on Chinese coins. http://www.cointalk.com/t172594/
That's great ! I have a hard time getting to them, but really enjoy going. I plan to become a flipper at the next one I get to by taking along stuff to trade. The shows are great ! gary
I went to a coin shop while I was working out of the area. He was busy selling/buying silver. he even cut up some proof sets from 1959-1964 for the silver. He "let" me go through his Washington Quarters and I pulled out a nice AU 1950 S/D and several high grade quarters minted marked from the 1930s (no 32 D or S) for eight bucks each. I was a kid again. I took out an blue folder and when I go to that area again I will see how many "holes" I can fill. He even gave me a 1959 proof cent.
WTG, Cookey! Sounds like a really fun time. Gorgeous Britannia! 8 Reales, huh? America's first dollar. Every collector should own one. Lance.
