This will be the first w/o Ed but it should still go smooth. They take good care of the dealers. I'll do a show report.
As long as good care is extended to the customers, by the dealers, any show can be enjoyable and smooth. For those attending, share.
This will not be such a good report as I was too busy to get around much. Better to be busy then not. The promoter said all the tables were sold except for two. The show has evolved to mostly coins and my postcard dealer was not here . That was a big disappointment as I buy cards when there are no customers. I was very busy until the afternoon and then just caught up on reading and the occasional customer. ICG made expenses + a good profit on the first day so I cannot complain about no postcards. One dealer had a big grin as he did 40K the first day. I'd call the show steady. A big storm today may have kept folks at home. I expect Friday to be busy again. I'll try to find out what is selling. l
I was there from 10 to 1. More empty tables than I recall from previous episodes of this show. Pretty steady traffic but not crowded. Bought a 1943 steelie, PCGS MS-67 with a nice reverse die break. Also a 1833 half dime raw, well worn, for $10 that might be a R-7 cherrypick. Won't know until it goes under the microscope. Also got a coprolite for the 5 year old grandson for Christmas. What 5 year old boy wouldn't like dinosaur poop?! Saw Insider but he was busy so didn't say hello. ANACS had a table. Didn't see PCGS or NGC but didn't expect to see them at this show. Spent some time with West Coast Coins but didn't buy anything. Looked closely at a 1839 No Drapery half in VF-25 which had nice original surfaces and a circcam look about it. Also a 1796 LM-1 "Likerty" half dime in VF-35. OK coin but more weakly struck on obverse left than usual for this coin. He also showed me the five, yes 5, 1916 SLQs he'd brought to the show, four in VG-8 and one AU-55. The two coins I really liked though were two Morgans (don't remember the dates), both in Proof 6, yes 6! Received several comments on how much I'd grown out my hair, usually accompanied with the "hairy eyeball" look. It's now fully covering even my old man earlobes. One very nice lady said she liked it to which I replied, after thanking her, that my wife has been very patient but asked me the other day if I was next going to go with cargo shorts and Birkenstocks? Got killed by a monsoon rainstorm and road closures on the way home which turned an hour trip into 2-1/2 hours of misery. Gave me time to contemplate how I would explain the fossilized dino poop to the trooper if pulled over.
Apparently, Most dealers are having a very good show. One said the best of any show, and two said excellent. I guess it comes down to what's for sale. I like this show because there are several dealers who have unusual stuff from fossils to knives. Sad no Picture post cards but I got some jewelry, faceted stones, a bunch of #2 Lincoln cent albums ($5-$9) - my inner CRH, and a few foreign coins. I know from what collectors show me that they bought at the show there is a lot of money to be made if you look around (I cannot get away from the table). Best scores I saw were an under graded BU 31-S 1c for $15 and a 1844 Baggy, lustrous ,Unc dollars bought at an XF price. He is sending that one into ICG so I'll get to drool over it again. ICG is having one of its best Lakeland shows. I was goin to leave a little early but I didn't and we took in 7 gem+ original 1951 -55 proof sets in original boxes, Not one spot on the cents. Looks like all coins will be 67 and higher. Amazing sets!
Home from what appears to have been a very successful show for most dealers. Next one is in Feb. and the promoters are already at work to expand it. I predict that in two years this will be a large reginal show, pre-FUN, on par with the big show in GA. It was busy and at times quiet at our table, nevertheless, we had our best Lakeland Show ever. Unfortunately, I cannot say how good. Another TPGS showed up for the first time and I expect even NGC will take a table in the future.
My understanding -- maybe it's just the case at the larger shows like FUN and Long Beach -- is that most of the dealers business/profits are done PRE-SHOW dealer-to-dealer and not the retail end. Yes or no ? What does that do to the set/coin population numbers ? Huge change or nothing at all ? Interesting....it's as if the Covid-experience is reversing and at least for select shows MORE dealers and TPGs are showing up instead of looking to cut down on T&E and leaving the B&M shop. Or relying solely on online sales.
GoldFinger1969, posted: "My understanding -- maybe it's just the case at the larger shows like FUN and Long Beach -- is that most of the dealers business/profits are done PRE-SHOW dealer-to-dealer and not the retail end. Yes or no ? Yes. I think that except for rare occasions dealer to dealer sales make up most of the reasons dealers attend shows. What does that do to the set/coin population numbers ? Huge change or nothing at all ? I have no idea. Pop reports are a guide. I don't know how or when they are entered and I really don't care. Crack-outs screw the entire idea of pop reports. knowledgeable numismatists know what is rare for the grade and what is not.
But between new supply from hoards, SDBs, etc.....and upgrades via Gradeflation....what was once rare for the grade can suddenly show a 2x or 3x increase.
I buy things for what they are and their condition. If I like something and it meets my conditions/price, I don't cate how many were made. Take a 3c stamp from the 1940's, a small size $1 Silver certificate, or even a modern postcard from Florida with a pretty redhead in a green bikini.
