We have a coin show this weekend in Houston. Today 11 - 5 and tomorrow (Sat) 9 - 3. The weather is a frosty, for Houston, 30 this morning. My wife is not a fan of me driving in this weather (Houston drivers are not ice trained), but I will probably go to see my son. I know of one ancient dealer planning to go as of yesterday, but he may have second thoughts with road conditions north and west of us. A recent purchase, but not here yet to make this a coin post... Hadrian and Croc on AE Drachm.
Safe travels and have a fun show. I've attended numerous small shows where the dealers had little to no ancient coins, but I still had fun and learned a great deal. Recently I went to a small show and the dealer that specialized in US currency gave me lecture on all his wares, which was enormously interesting. I walked off with $500 worth of bills, and I don't even collect them! Lol.
Houston's Winter Coin Show February 4-5, 2022 West Oaks Fellowship Event Center 14440 Richmond Ave. Houston, TX 77082 Friday 11am-6pm Saturday 9am-3pm
Have fun, and drive carefully! Is NYINC the only big annual coin show in the USA that specializes in world and ancient coins rather than US coins, so that if you go you know that even if a few dealers don't show up, there will still be plenty to look at?
I had a good time. Crowds were small. I visited with one ancient coin dealer and a book seller who a set of RIC for sale. (I think I have the right name for the books. I did not look, not my collecting area.) Bill K had heart surgery in Jan and passed on this show. He should make the next one in May. Nick E was at the Conroe show last weekend and passed on this weekend. I hope he makes the May show also. I did pick up a couple of nice coins - The same dealer had a nice and large (70 grams) cast triens for $500. Roman Republic, Janus/Prow to r. series, Cast Triens, Rome, ca. 225-217 BC; Head of Minerva l., wearing Corinthian helmet; below °°°°, Rv. Prow r.;
Wow, if the news blurb was true, you're a brave person to go out! Cool coins, and I'm glad you were safe. My area *only* had 3.5 inches of sleet and snow,but it was the kind that's harder to shovel than a foot of snow. I still haven't cleared the driveway.
From my perspective the best thing about shows is that you never know what you will find and you rarely come home with nothing more than your want list items. US collectors can go and find a dozen examples of the same thing but ancient surprises are the rule rather than the exception. I recall moving from Indiana to Washington DC in 1969 and working with some people who had never seen snow because they were from South Florida or other sun filled places. It was fun until a rare DC snow event came and taught them things they never learned in driver's ed. The last few years seem to have brought more snow to the Middle Atlantic and made some coin show trips questionable. We don't need snow now. If we want a show canceled, we can count on Covid.
I seldom find wish list items at shows outside of the NYINC. I try to buy an ancient coin from dealers who set-up at shows I attend. I'd like them to think it might be worth their while to return. They often have something interesting even if it is not on my wish list.
Essentially, yes. Although the best approach is perhaps to keep track of the Ancients dealers and check the rosters at the shows. Many fine Ancients dealers go to the Whitman/ Baltimore shows and the ANA World's Fair. But the focus shifts. Travelling from NYC, Baltimore is about as far as I have seen any return on my investment of time. But that is highly subjective, of course. I have often been very happy popping into local shows, although sadly one frequent local event allows a "dealer" to display current political propaganda for political purposes, not as collectables, so I have stopped going.
