Report - My 2nd FUN Show

This was my second FUN show because I had such a wonderful experience last year. It is the largest show of the year and there are some great seminars if one can get away from the bourse. Of course, it is also an opportunity to see in hand coins at auction or just to drool and learn during lot viewing.

My objective was to continue to scan for pieces for my 1893 toned Philadelphia mint set I am building that I know will take me many years to complete (have the dime and quarter). I also am a fan of early copper, whether U.S. or British (Conder tokens).

I arrived on Wednesday and promptly went to the Heritage lot viewing after previewing their catalogues. I had targeted several large cents that I felt I had a chance at winning, assuming (wrongly) a limited turnout. My main target was to acquire a nice Matron cent and identified a nice Randall Hoard example. As you know, they are not rare and are often found in mint state. I especially like the die cracks along the stars that may not be special to some, but would be for me. So, after seeing a gorgeous representative in hand, I set my sight on Lot 104 – PCGS MS 64RB in an old green holder:




This would be one of the early lots sold since colonial pieces and early cents were up first in auction session one. I came about 25 minutes before the auction began and the room was about half full. Quickly the room filled up and I saw many of the heavy hitters who came to frolic – Laura Sperber from Legend, John Agre from CRO, and several of the early copper dealers; Doug Bird, Shawn Yancey, etc. I then figured that I was doomed since I don’t have the same guns as these cowboys do.

So, Lot 104 came up and once the 6 internet bidders exhausted themselves it was just me and……..



Oh no, I was already at my upper limit and after making a cut bid (and not doing so in a sufficiently dramatic manner, the auctioneer admonished me – smile, guess I need more practice!), I could not stomach keeping up with Chris and he was the winning bidder. I was duly crushed and disappointed. Yeah, there are a bazillion Randall Hoard large cents around, but I really liked this one. I didn’t think it would sell at the price it did – shows how much I know.

After watching the gunslingers for a few more lots, I slinked out to return to my rental condo. Thankfully, the next day would ultimately prove more productive.

If you have never visited a big show, there is nothing like walking into a convention center and seeing this (PCGS board member HighRelief’s photo of half the bourse):



Ah, nirvana to a coin collector! Thursday was the first day for the public to attend the bourse. I decided to walk each aisle patiently looking for any nicely toned MS 1893 Indian cents or V Nickles and found none for me. I completed my tour in around 5 hours and my feet were sore from the trek. Along the way, I met a few dealers that I knew – Glenn Holsonbake (Holsonbake Numismatics), Evan Gale (Aspen Park), Gary Groll (Groll Coins – a Conder dealer), Ron Sirna (more Conders) and someone I always wanted to meet……Charmy Harker – The Penny Lady. She is such an upbeat personality and we share an enthusiasm for all kinds of early higher graded copper. She lives up to her first name!

I also got to meet a few board members along the way – Collect89, rld14, bluevette (who has taken pics of my tokens/coins) and his Dad mustang(?) and a couple of others I can’t remember now. Even so, I would have liked to see a few more, but didn’t because I was too lazy to arrange to do so prior to the show.

So, after a short break, I decided once more to roam the bourse for any other coin that struck my fancy. I had seen an attractive Braided Hair large center earlier and decided to once more take a view. It was priced at the maximum for my budget and, after thinking it over upon several repeat visits and inspections, I negotiated my purchase.

What do you think? Want to guess the grade? It is an N-8 variety (the reverse is slightly rotated and not shown in the pics). I fell in love with the tremendous ice blue luster on this piece. Brown pieces can be just as lovely as their redder counterparts. Pics are from Todd Pollock:



And so, I was broke for Friday, but used that day to see more Heritage lots, attend Skip Fazzari’s session on “How to Detect Coins with Altered Surfaces” and attend my first Fly-In Club meeting (I’m not a member) to hear Rick Snow talk about PCGS’ decision to no longer guarantee their copper color designation. I then regretfully left Saturday morning - with my one coin purchase and another enjoyable hobby experience.

 

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Thanks for the show report.

Sad to hear about the auction loss, but you did get one coin.

 

Cool, thanks for posting. Would love to go to that show someday... too bad it's on the other side of the country though!!!

That's a great looking 1854! 65BN??

 

nice post. really enjoyed hearing it.

 

Bummer not getting that coin at the auction.
I tend to be attracted to coins with prominent die cracks.

As for the coin you DID get, gorgeous.
I cannot see any significant problems.
I would guess MS-65BN or MS-66BN, and wouldn't be surprised if it went -67.

Too bad you bumped heads with McCawley at the auction.
He's got deeper pockets than most.
I go to him for large old copper.
I got my 1798 cent and 1795 half cent from him.

 

What a beauty of a coin. Nice 1854 and I agree with 65BN. Good story and sorry you lost out on the auction, but you definetly got a keeper in that 1854.

 

I'm guessin' 66 Brown. Nice coin! Thanks for the cool show report too.

 

Thanks for the report, Catbert. The 1820 looks like a really nice coin that was no doubt tough to see go to someone else. (By the way, Legend has a new 1820 RB66 on their website).
I like the 1854 (and Todd's photo of course) a lot. I will guess MS65BN.

 

Thanks for the update and the pics. Looks very cool. You ended up with a great coin anyway.

 

I wanted to go so bad but had to work as always...
I wanted to at least be able to patrol the area but no no!

Glad some of yall enjoyed it though. Nice pics

 

Thanks for the report. I will go with the 65BN also.

 

Dan, great report, well written with much detail and suspense. And it was a wonderful pleasure finally meeting you as well, truly enjoyable. I feel like we're sort of kindred spirits with our love for pretty copper.

And that 1854 is stunning! I think it should be MS66 BN. I love its color!!!

 

To those of you who guessed MS65BN, what held you back from guessing 66BN, other than that is a lofty grade for the type?

 

I actually typed 66BN, but then changed it to 65BN before I posted... partially just because of the lofty grade for the type, though I know they exist, but also because the coin seems pretty lusterous, but just does seem to have that blinding luster that the really really high grades usually have. Of course, it's hard for me to tell that on a single photo anyways. So that and a few stars that looks at tad weak made me change the 66 to a 65. Great coin and doesn't seem to have any marks or spots of note that would keep it from a very very high grade :smile

 

The luster for a BN copper coin looks to be exceptional. And the weakness in a few stars is pretty much irrelevant with respect to grade. The rest of the coin exhibits an impressive strike.

 

Rim nicks and a few other minor nicks. I still would call it a 66, but I also saw that junk beneath the wreath. I am not sure just what it is, but it was enough to keep me from thinking 66.

 

Enjoyed reading about the show Catbert...that cent is a beauty!!! Maybe next year I'll be able to attend.

 

Fair question, Mark.

1. There is something strange northwest of Liberty's nose. Hard to tell from the photo what it is but it is at best a discoloration.

2. Something else going on underneath the wreath.

3. I assume that 66's are hard to come by for the series.

4. As I said, it was a guess.:goof:

 

NGC graded it MS 66 Star, BN. :hail:

 

I like your coin very much Dan. Good choice!
That 1818 was pretty too, but I guess the average bidder/collector has no chance when you are bidding against CVM....