I will be in Kansas City this weekend to attend my first coin show... I am very excited. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep me from spending all my money at the first booth?
Dont take any wooden nickels !! The only sure way I know of is dont go. Seriously If it is a two day or longer show buy nothing on the first day, but look and make notes of coins of interest, decide from those which are within your budget that you have allowed to be spent.
Be sure to ask questions to many dealers. Always be aware of customers though. Most importanly, HAVE FUN.
Carry your wallet in your front pocket and enjoy. I wish I could go just to see whats to be seen. Let us know how it went and remember you are the buyer so don't take the seller's price unless it is also your price. There will always be coins out there but we only have so much in our pockets to bear.
Take a digital camera - even if you can't buy the coins - you can ask permission to photograph them But don't take more money with you than you want to spend or you may end up going home broke
So, the coin dealer answered the phone and listened... and the caller said they just bought a coin on eBay and wanted to know if they got a good price... and dealer asked, "Why are you doing your homework after the test?" Personally, I always considered the bourse floor a practical exam, the test of how well I did my homework. From what you have posted here, I suppose that you will be searching for world banknote silver certificates. You will want to find the world paper money dealers and take your time and look at each note. You should be able to identify the word for "silver" (and its Chinese character), and so on. Then, you should be able to grade the note yourself. Whether you buy that note at that moment is a tough call. Some here have recommended NOT buying the first time around. I seldom do. On the other hand, someone else went home with a nice little silver Roman coin I liked. My life goes on, of course, and I found yet another on the floor later, so I suppose that validates the assertion that you should wait (and resist). My wife and I just declined a counter-offer on a house we liked. (Nice house; right price; other problems.) "Better to regret the purchase you did not make, than the purchase you did," I said. Some people feel lost without their price guides. I believe that dealers spot "fish" that way. Oh, not the Red Book, so much, as it sort of tags out as a out-and-out newbie someone to be coddled, not fleeced. It is the obvious collectors with Greysheet sticking out of their coat pockets who have painted targets on themselves. Myself, I listen to the words of Kenny Rogers: "There'll be time enough for counting, when the dealing's done." Shopping the floor will help, but ultimately, price guides only reflect what you the buyer do, so do it, or not. Pick up all the free newspapers and magazines. Buy a raffle ticket from the sponsors. If the sponsors are a club, join the club.
I attended the show on the first day. My stay was approximately 4 hours. I purchased a ticket for the drawing, which were to be held the next day, and took a moment to join the JCNS, so I could receive their monthly newsletters and auction listings. I doubt I will attend many meetings, because it is an hour drive - but if they have a special topic, I will now know ahead of time, and can make plans to attend in the future. On to the show. I had never been to one of these, and my first instinct said "So many coins, and so little time! (and so little money)". For some reason, I treated my attendence much like a trip to the casino - that is to say, I took just enough cash that I could afford to spend in my pocket. I asked a few dealers about some of the foreign notes I was looking for, and unfortunately, I did not have much luck, although one dealer mentioned that he thought he had a philipines silver note that he did not take with him, and we exchanged some contact information just in case. I decided to go in with the idea, spend big, buy small... I wanted to buy key pieces, with what money I had, and not come away with more than a dozen coins to add to my collection. I found two special pieces, one of which was not very expensive. I came across a GB Trade Dollar from 1900. The dealer had it marked for $45, but when I asked how much he wanted, he gave it to me for $35.00 and I snatched it up. It is absolutely beautiful. I also came across a 20 corona from Austria. That dealer came down in price a little, but it would turn out I paid exactly Krause value. I purchased 6 other misc. coins that were none too expensive. Some of the members of this site would be very proud to hear that I asked, very politely, for a receipt for each of my purchases - and each time one was provided to me with an equal amount of politeness. I watched the YN auction for a little, and was tickled when a particularly young collector tried to outbid his brother's ten dollar bid with $5.00, which he shouted rather enthusiastically. So I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but I certainly enjoyed the experience - I am also greatly looking forward to the ANA spring show, which will also be held in Kansas City in 2005. Maybe I will see some of you there?
You had a good time. You found a GB Trade Dollar and another coin. You did not find the silver certificates you were looking for, darn it. I will also be in Kansas City for Spring 2005. See you there! Michael
Well, I got some leads. He did have a cuban silver certificate, but it was one I already had, which started my interest to begin with. I thought about purchasing it, because his note was in a little better condition than mine, but I decided against it because I didn't feel like upgrading the one note I have at this point. He helped me browse through his asian notes, because I took your advice and I copied the particular characters I was looking for. No luck there. On the up side, I got a lead on the philipines note, and I went to the library on sunday and checked out the reference book for world currency. I spent some time last night looking through for examples, because there was a rather awkward conversation between us, when I tried to explain to him what I was looking for. I purchased some odds and ends from him, when I did not find what I was looking for, specifically.
I went to the ANA Club Listings and found the Johnson County Numismatic Society website at www.jcns.org. They seem to be a pretty active club! The collectors there in Kansas are apparently well-served. Your report on meeting the dealer was interesting as well. Thanks.
I will also be in attendence at the ANA spring show. I am glad to hear that you had a positive experience at this show.
Sounds like you had a good time Rick - and you got the butterflies out of your gut The next show you attend will be better because you'll know more what to expect and you'll be able to relax and settle into the hunt. I don't know about you - but the hunt is half the fun. If you could just go out and find what you want at the drop of a hat - it lessens the excitement. There's nothing quite like finding that special coin Or note if you're a currency collector. And another thing about coin shows - they expand your horizons and allow you to see things you never thought of before. I know they sure do for me
What about taking photos at coin auctions/shows of the people? I had some people masking themselves for the shots.
You should always be aware that some people don't enjoy having their picture taken. If you want a group shot of the show, that is one thing, but if you are looking for pics of dealers you should always ask permission. You have to take into consideration that these people have no idea of who you are, or why you are taking the pics.
Yes. The JCNS is very active, and I have heard that it is one of the larger coin clubs in north america - not sure if that is confirmed, but it appears to have wonderful support. I had a very good time. It was a fun experience - I think next time I will handle myself a little better, and I would have liked to have stayed for any topics that may have been discussed, but the weekend turned out to be a little more active than I was hoping for, so I was unable to go both days.
