My 2018 World's Fair of Money Berlin Day 1

I am lucky enough to be able to go to the Berlin World’s Fair of Money, because my wife let me go as one of my Christmas Gifts (she totally beat me this year on the gifts). I got to the show this morning around 10:40 after flying into Tegel, Berlin and taking the ring route straight to the show. I packed light, so everything fit in a backpack which I just carried with me. I was dismayed to see a ticket line so long, I couldn't see the other side of it. Luckily, the line moved quickly and it wasn't more than 20 minutes before I was in the show. I bought a “Dauerkarte” ticket for 16€, which I guess I’d translate to English as a “season ticket” since I’ll be here more than one day. They also had this passport thing you could buy, where you get stamps and coins from different participating booths. I didn’t think it was worth it, but might look at it again tomorrow. The floor layout is a bit confusing and even one of the guards I was chatting with admitted he didn't know the way out of the "labyrinth".



The picture above is the layout, the red marks are about where I took the following photo to give a show on how busy this place was.



This show is bigger than any show I've been to (Las Vegas, Baltimore, Gettysburg) and it honestly felt like I was at a carnival. There were dealers from around the world, though obviously mostly from Europe. There were a lot of places for precious metals investments, plenty of world coins and paper, and some supplies here and there. Some of the booths were more interactive and I am inspired to share my favorite one, where we got to mint our own coin with the old-fashioned hand crank! Okay, I'll admit that the guy quietly takes a hammer and hits the die one more time after the process, to make sure it was rightfully minted, but for 3 Euros, I'm not going to complain!



Here's the coin!



I met up with one of the writers and promoters of Coin World Magazine and dropped off an ASE at NGC since they’re going to have on-site graders at the Munich show. There’s a chance I’ll be able to go pick it up, but there’s also a chance my wife isn’t going to let me leave her and the kids for another show so soon.


I saw some really incredible coins and numismatic objects. I tried to do anything that was interactive or sign up for a drawing. I’ll probably spend more time tomorrow looking at drawings and setups, since today was mostly spent digging in coin bins. I’ll try to take more photos tomorrow so you can see more of what I saw. Here’s one of the displays that really caught my attention.





I left the show with a heavy backpack, sore feet, and a smile.

 

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And here's what I bought. Please don't ask how much I paid, I don't want to have to lie to you! Coin shows are far more expensive in Europe (at least the two I've been to) and thus everything is priced much higher at these shows compared to the US. The good thing is, there's more variety for world coins. For instance, I saw one table that had 10+ coins from Greenland. In the US, I've only seen one being sold. I couldn't let myself pay $25 or more for a single coin from Greenland just yet.

 

I'm green with envy

 

One question: Does your wife have a sister? J/K. Cool report and nice haul! Enjoy, TC

 

Fantastic. I wish I were there...

 

I went to the World's Fair of Money when it was in Long Beach...huge show.

 

Here's the coin!

If that's a pic of you, you're having way too much fun. You should be arrested.....[blasted devil emogie is on the computer in the shop]

Revel in it all my friend, as I'm sure you still remain free.......

 

Yes, that's me, and the first time I've shared my photo on this site. I usually try to keep a low profile, but this one was worth sharing.

 

I've seen more security guards at this show than I've seen tables in any other show I've been to. It's pretty huge.

 

Yeah that's Seattlite86 alright....I would recognze him in any line up...

 

The World' Fair of Money was held 1 time I recall at the Baltimore Whitman show. It was a fun time watching the kids going to all the countries having their pass ports stamped and getting a coin from that country.
Plus they has some great displays.....

 

Some of these displays are so expensive, I stay far enough away that even if I were to fall, I wouldn't land on them, just to be safe.

 

Have a great time! The biggest show I've ever been to is CSNS in Minneapolis back in 2000 and I thought that was huge. Even the RCNA convention in Winnipeg 2013 was small compared to that.

 

Thanks for sharing your photos from Berlin Money Fair Show. I did bid on a lot from Kunker Auction at show. It was a mint state AV Dukat from Transylvania 1732 Karlsburg Mint. Emperor Karl VI. I came up short Estimate was 1000 euros/ my bid 2000 euros/ winning bid 3000 euros+fees
John

 

Looks like loads of fun -- and a great way to spend loads of money .

Do tell me though...what does this translate to??? I'm dying of curiosity! Unless someone is really selling worms that is.

 

Münzhandel is coin shop, the name is under that and Worms is actually the city in Germany they're from. Sorry it's not as exotic as you might've imagined.

 

This isn't an ANA show. This is the World Money Fair, not the World's Fair of Money. It is more geared towards mints and interaction with countries looking for the latest minting processes and equipment. It has only been in Berlin, and I believe Basel, Switzerland. It began in 1970

 

This is the World's Money Fair, not the World's Fair of Money. Completely different shows. The WMF is only in Europe and began in 1970. It has only ever been in Basel, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany.

 

I even have a AV Dukat from Worms. This was a important medieval city.

 

You mean because he has 4 arms!