finaly my first "coinshow"

Tomorrow i will finaly be going to a "coinshow"
Its not exactly a coinshow, there will be about 60 stands, but hey, im exited (feeling like a schoolid the day before a fieldtrip )
Normaly i was going o one a few weeks back, but i did not make it due to health issues

Anyway, Any tips from you guys so i wont spend to much money on some coins would be greatly appriciated (if you can give any)

 

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60 stands sounds like a show to me. Some of the best shows I've been to have been the ones put on by local clubs.
Rule number 1, just like online, is buy the coin, not the holder.
I also compare prices on coins between tables. I was looking for a 1909-VDB red at the last show, and most tables that had one raw were about $75... I found another table with it for $60. However, the color wasn't appealing even though it was red, so I passed. I also passed on the $75 coin because it looked like it had PVC damage.

 

Another tip, is make sure you bring your coin price guide with you..and I recommend the Magazine "Coin Prices" or "Coins" because they tend to give lower estimates for the value. That way if the dealer's price guide says higher, you have ammunition to haggle a little bit. I aim for getting the coins at about 10% LESS than what my "Coins" magazine values them at. Dealers may be more willing to do this if you buy 2 or 3 coins in a group. For instance, if I buy three coins from a guy, and the price guide adds them up as 90 bucks total, I say, "Would you let these 3 go for 80"?
Another thing is to make a good rappor with the dealers. Don't take up all their table space for a long time if you're not thinking of buying anything, or if you're looking at 2 or 3 dollar coins. Move to the side so others can view the display. Most common sense courtesy stuff. Also, at many coin shows that I go to in the Buffalo area, if you are one of the first people through the doors, you may get a little bonus prize, like a free planchet, or a BU penny or something...
Good luck..

 

Might I suggest these ideas since I think your situation will be different than ours.

-Since you collect US coins and are in Belgium be aware of the current market prices. A price guide might not be too helpful since US coins may be considered rare by where you are.

-I might also suggest you don't buy any US coins. There is always the risk of overpaying and even buying a counterfeit. It is risky enough here in the states it may be riskier buying in another country. I'm pretty sure several members on cointalk, myself included will be glad to help if there is anything specific you're looking for.

-Make a list of what you're looking for. Also include a price with the list so you know how much you want to pay. Also keep in mind its okay to not buy anything, browsing is always free.

 

If its your first show, I would plan on walking around just looking for half an hour or so. Get your bearings, see what is around, generally don't try to get overwhelmed. After that, then pick out a table that looks interesting to you and look it over.

Have fun!

 

Medoraman makes a good point, especially if you are looking for one particular coin in the upper end of your budget. There could be six at the show you might consider, but one might be priced to move.
It's been a few years for me going to a coin show. I'm a bit jealous... have fun!!!

 

thank you all for the tips

 

Can I come with you Koen I never been to one either.

 

Go in knowing what you want and what you want to pay for it. Shop around. That being said, I have no idea what shopping for U.S. coins at a show in Belgium will be like, so its hard to give advice. Let us know how it goes.

 

At my first coin show, I was like a blind dog in a butcher shop. I was so excited I didn't know which way to turn next. Spent all my money at the first 3 tables I came to. Good advice from Medoraman above. Walk through the whole show and take a peek as to what is being offered. Don't have to spend a whole lot of time at each table to accomplish this. Make mental notes or write down items that interest you and come back to them. You'll have a blast for sure!! Good luck!

 

60 stands? That's bigger than mine was (about 10) but here is some of my personal advice:
Figure out what you want first. I hear you wanted to do a War nickel collection, so find what dates and conditions you need.
Shop around. Some dealers will have some coins overpriced and some will have underpriced.

Stay away from the problem coins it is a given

Look for what you like and want I'd suggest a classic commemorative because they are simply beautiful and you like them now that I told you you do

~Cannyn

 

I'm actually going to one today, run by a local club. 36 tables there. Very good advice given here. To summarize and add:

1. Know what you want before you go. Browsing the area is like going grocery shopping when you're hungry. It can get very expensive.

2. Take a price guide, but read it before you go in. Pull it out when negotiating a purchase.

3. Make a lap through the area before you buy anything. Compare condition and pricing for the items you want. Then go get coffee (or beverage of choice) and then go back through to the tables that interested you. Unless it's something very rare, it will either be where you want to buy it, at another table, or will come up again in the future.

Hope I'm not too late. Enjoy!

 

Take plenty of cash to fuel your "habit". Dealers at shows rarely take checks or credit cards.

If you're carrying any reference material, backpack, etc. keep it in your lap when sitting at a dealer's display case. Always thank the dealers for their time!

Chris

 

I noticed a small typo in my starting post but making a big difrence... its 6 tables, not 60

just when i seen everithing my wife called that my son burned his hand.
just arrived at doctor.

bought a few things, but will get back to that later.

 

back from the doc, his hand is wraped, but no big thing.

So, like i said before, i made a typo in the first post, it where not 60 tables but 6 tables.

About the organisation, i can only say thumbs up.
When you entered the first thing they asked was if it was to buy or to sell (or both)
I wondered why they asked and i liked the reason they gave:

First of all, people who wanted to sell needed to "rent" a table (understandable offcourse)

Second and best reason, if you wanted to sell the organisation wanted to look at he coins before you put them on a table.
If you had replica's or copy's you can sell them with no problem, but you needet to make it clear (with a paper) that they are replica's.
There was a man selling replica's and his paper has fallen on the ground under his table.
As soon as they saw he did not have the paper, they went to him and asked about it.
They where verry strict in the selling of replica's.
Liked it alot.

So far i have been stroring my notes in a picture album, so i finaly bought myself a book to place them in, together with PVC-free holders for the notes.
I bought some 2x2's because i was running out of some sizes.

And i bought some coins:

2012 P State Quarter Puerto Rico
1900 Barber Dime
2008 P Presidential Dollar Jackson
2009 P Presidential Dollar Taylor
2010 P Presidential Dollar Lincoln
2010 D Presidential Dollar Lincoln
1911 Liberty Nickel
1920 Buffalo nickel

Also bought my first Mercury Dimes:
1935
1936
1939
1940
1943

Some of the coins are diped or cleaned, was a bit doubtfull to buy them, but befoe i could ask something about them the seller said they where diped or cleaned, and he was taking something of the price because of that.
So i bought them anyway
It is not like i am going to get them graded or something, so i di not realy mind.

All in all i spend about $60 on all of it. (2x2's notemap and all those things included).

I have been checking on some sites for prices (had my phone with me and there was free wifi connection) and i dont think i have paid to much for any of them.

I will take pictures later this evening (first i am waiting for my camera to return and then i need to take pictures of the roosevelt dimes and ATB quarters i recieved from kookoox)

I have been told there is a big coinshow tomorrow also, but it is in Antwerp, its more than an hour to drive, and i have othe obligations for tomorrow.
To bad, wish i could go.

 

I was going to say, 60 pages sure sounded like a good size show to me. The largest I've ever been to was about 80...

 

i was tired when i posted that

 

Hey 6 tables is better than 0 tables.

Glad you enjoyed the show. Am curious too, were there any Morgan or Peace dollars?

 

some morgan's, but not in my pricerange at this moment
(prices between $80 and $200
Didnt saw peace dollars tough.

Pictures of what i bought are in the newest acq. forum http://www.cointalk.com/t158772/

 

Going to coin shows are always fund for me and I will always to continue to go to coin shows to find what I am looking for. I did not read the whole thread and someone might have already mentioned this but I would suggest is to have an idea of what you are looking for before you go to the coin show. It prevents impulsive spending because it can be easy to overspend at a coin show.