Post your beautiful coins gotten through a dealer or show

I'm not sure what this thread is supposed to prove since great coins can be found from a variety of sources. However, there is nothing like the thrill of attending a big show and being surrounded by many great coins in which to choose from. This is particularly valuable for me because I can wait until I see a coin that speaks to me rather than going with a specific coin/date/condition requirement. This gives me flexibility and a sense of freedom while still addressing my collection goals to build a basic U.S. type set.

Here's a coin I bought from Chris McCawley, an early copper specialist at the Central States show in Chicago. In my opinion, it is desirable to carefully examine early copper for surface quality and color in hand rather than buying based upon pictures since there are a lot of messed with pieces out there! PCGS AU58 CAC:



Here's a coin I bought at a St. Louis show from another early copper specialist, Tom Reynolds. I was enamored with the superb condition and thought long and hard about whether this was a 65 coin (it was housed in a OGH PCGS 63 plastic). I sent it to CAC hoping for a gold sticker (came back green), so I took the sticker off and sent it in for the PCGS reconsideration service and it was regraded 64+. It again green beaned at CAC. So, I was close and paid close to 65 money for the coin. Hopefully the coin will appreciate over time so when it's time to sell, I'll be fine.



Another coin that spoke to me was this Indian Head cent bought at the Florida FUN show. I had a more valuable example that I decided to sell at the show to fund other purchases. Being at a big show is a great way to solicit several dealers to quickly sell your coins (and get fair prices if you know what you have value wise and have desirable coins). This coin was bought from Angel Dees' Andy Skrabalak (PCGS MS64 RB):



At the same FUN show, I bought this Barber Half (MS 64+ CAC) from Tom Bush who had bought it from the Heritage auction at that show. Obviously, if I had decided I wanted a half in advance of the show, gotten there in time to review all the Heritage lots, and then made a successful bid, I could have saved his added premium. However, I knew what he paid for the coin, decided that his price was reasonable, and since I really liked the coin, felt it should be mine. Additionally, since Tom is a Barber expert, it was reassuring to me that my instincts about the coin's attributes were correct.



Again, great coins can come from many places and methods. I've added coins to my collection based upon pictures, but always reviewed the coins (on approval) before committing funds. I believe seeing a coin first is the best way of ensuring a coin is right for your collection.

 

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The OP created the thread since somone else created a thread contending its always cheaper to buy online than at a coin show. You are right, good buys can be made at any location or method of purchase if one has the knowledge. We said that on the other thread as well, but the OP on that one kept insisting ONLY online is where you can make the best deals.

Btw, excellent point about surfaces, one that most newcomers do not appreciate. Photos are a very limited look at the coin, especially for older coins. There is a distinct reason why most prices are only "sight seen", buying a coin from a dealer you do not know is simply dangerous. Even slabbed coins are not a simple numeric grade comparison. Two MS 64' can rightfully be priced very differently. Collectors who get into the "I am going to buy X grade dated coin the absolute cheapest" usually end up with a collection of humdrum coins, coins that when they sell get severely discounted.

 

what if the show is a two-minute drive from your home? Besides, there's tons of profit to be made at shows.

 

Ignorant post

 

not ignorant, just didn't read the later post. Besides, your points are hilariously flawed, as others have said if your worrying about death in a two-minute car drive, you have a lot more to worry about on ebay/paypal. Why live life in fear?

 

You are more likely to get in an accident within a few blocks of your house.

 

by whom?

 

I'm pretty sure you are wrong about what the op from the other thread said. But if you want we can cut and paste the whole thread. The truly beautiful thing about online discussions is how everything is frozen in time, able to be easily referenced and rechecked.

I don't understand why people don't simply argue for or against exactly what is being discussed. My experience here in the last few contentious threads is that instead of addressing exactly what is being discussed people first change the idea into something that specifically was not said then argue away against this new statement, something the op never even said.

If you need me to cut and paste some more please just let me know I'm happy to help out.

Thanks

 

Fine. Sorry if you believe I mischaracterized "almost always" as always. Still, your thread was pretty dogmatic that collectors will ALMOST ALWAYS do better online, and that is just not true sir.

First, you have the fact deals can be had anywhere. Believe it or not, some dealers still do not sell online. Others are not dealers at all, but sometimes sell coins. Just last night I bought some coins at my ancient coin club. I bought a very nice VF, (VF ancient, modern people would call it XF), Hadrian Sestertius with a desirable reverse. I bought it for $200. I checked today. No one has this high of grade example for sale, but I found a lesser example online for $450, and a major online dealer sold one like mine last year for $875 plus commission. This is only ONE example of many I have from LAST NIGHT.

I have many other examples, if you want more please ask. I can probably related at least 50 examples I have bought coins in person cheaper than any dealer I know of selling online. Want examples the other direction? Yeah I have those too, buying coins online much cheaper than in person dealers are asking. Does either fact prove the best way of buying? Heck no. It proves a person needs to be open to purchasing and be knowledgable in all situations.

One huge advantage in person gives you, if you are a knowledgable numismatist, is the chance to inspect the coin. Photos are a VERY poor substitute, especially for many coins, of seeing the coin in hand. There are many things I cannot tell well from a photograph I can in person. So, buying in person allows me to make sure the coin is acceptable to me.

 

and VV I tried to demonstrate in my last post that there are some advantages to going to shows that are not AS EASY to obtain via the buying on line method. Not that they can't be accomplished, but going to shows can bring positive and convenient outcomes in addition to other methods used to acquire nice coins.

 

The "I don't buy Coins from coin dealers at shows and stick to online buying" thread

The title of the prior thread says "I" not "you" or even "everyone else. My experiences are clearly stated. And I'm not the only poster that is less then enamored
With shows. But I'm still pretty sure it was with a relatively open mind if I went so far as to post a thread titled

Please show me your good deals at coin shows

Everyone shapes their understand of the world based on their own experiences. Both myself and others have had quite disappointing experiences with shows. I think it says something when this "closed minded" op asks for examples instead of simply declaring that the examples are not there.

My experiences are that there are few bargains at a show. Others have posted great deals.

So I think that where the communication break down is this.
Most of the shows I go to seem to feature slabs. And on the slabs I have seen few if any "great deals"
People have posted great examples of either the dealer not selling varieties at the correct price or dealers misgrading raw coins. And that's great if you can capitalize on others errors or poor understanding of what they are selling. I think what the "poor show deal" crowd is trying to say is on the slabbed, recognized, clearly graded and marked coins prices are not typically cheap. And this seems to be the specific difference everyone seems to be discussing yet not clearly defining.

I think this difference is what the "prices clearly marked on slabs"
Thread was touching on as well.

 

Osama Vic Vegas says no more coin shows.....lmao.

 

Ok, let's accept everything you said sir. Let me accept every premise. STILL there are deals to be had. Why? Because not all coins are alike. You seem to be under a (common) misconception every MS64 1884 O Morgan is identical. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have no idea what they sell for today, (not a US collector anymore), but if the "greysheet" price is $80, some are only worth $60 and others are worth $120. Going to shows and having knowledge helps you sort through and find the better coins. Online with only pics this is MUCH harder to do. Greysheet prices are an AVERAGE of sales, not the going rate for each coin. Collectors who focus solely on X grade of X date usually wind up with a collection of inferior coins for the grade, and poorer resale value. Any dealer will tell you the same. Many times, (and I have heard this from the dealers themselves), they sell the crap 64's online, and save their better coins for shows, because they know many show collectors truly understand there are poor, average, and superior coins for the grade, and are knowledgable enough to recognize the differences.

Having said that, yes I have gone to shows and been disappointed. Everyone has. But I have went onto Ebay for a few hours at a time and been disappointed as well. Both have pluses and minuses. I think as you are in numismatics longer maybe you will recognize that. If the shows you go to have "overpriced" slabs, well use the chance to at least examine the coins in the slabs, and find some superior coins. Being in person simply has some important innate advantages.

 

There's no point in arguing with you. You just don't get it.

 

Ok fair point. But my response would be that it appears to some of us that those coins are still "drowning" in a sea of typical coins for high prices. It is really not just me. Sometimes it feels like this discussion is being framed
Into an "everyone but you"
believes this argument. Others have started multiple threads on these topics.

I also think there is an attention gap. I can search a database of hundreds of thousands of coins quite rapidly. Were I to go on ebay and search coin through coin my brain would go numb. But at a show I do have to go coin by coin. The younger collectors buying online might simply have less patience.

As to the inferior coin part I would ask this. Please sincerely and honestly look over my coin porn posts where my personal coins are located. Please point out mistakes you think I've made so I the less experienced collector can learn from you. If I need to post other pics I'll be happy to do this.

 

I was justing saying in generalities sir. I was trying to just explain that even if you may be rigth in your area of the country that every single coin by grade and date/mm was higher at a show than online, (huge if), even then there could be reasons why. I do not know what that Nordic medal at the show looked like versus the one you bought online, nor do I care, I was simply trying to help you and the many others who read these posts why coins at a show, even if priced higher, might still be good buys. Most newer collectors, (not saying you are), concentrate way too much about getting the best price for X grade coin, when the simple truth is no two coins are identical, and there ARE huge price difference for the same grade coin. We do not have a commodity hobby where every MS64 1884 O morgan is worth identical. Its just the facts. So, hearing if a person paid below, at, or above greysheet tells me nothing about how good a deal was. TPG's keep trying to convince people coins are a commodity, but they physically cannot be. Every experienced dealer will tell you this, and not just to try to sell you coins.

I never meant to make this as a me against you, I am just reacting to your posts to try to help you and others understand this point. If a collector ONLY decides to buy or not buy based on price, over the long term I would say his collection will have lower quality coins on average than someone who goes out of their way to choose the best they can find in that grade. Does this mean one is a better investment than the other? No way to tell. But, people are not stupid and many times, (not always), there is a reason why one coin sells "below market". Can you find good deals on really nice coins? Heck yeah, I am just saying the price versus the grade should not be your ONLY factor in choosing what to buy.

Most of us here are not belligerent or like arguing for no reason. Again, I was not trying to make this about you personally, just responding to your posts and trying to educate as many people as possible.

 

I only attend local shows - maybe $5 in gas round trip. The prices at the main one I attend are much lower than I find online....plus I get to actually see what I'm buying. To me, that's well worth the gas!

 

Congratulations. You are the very first poster to make it to my ignore list. I sure am going to miss your insults and personal attacks. Goodbye.

 

That is racist. Just because vic is muslim, doesn't mean he is a terrorist.