I will be attending my first coin show this weekend in Fort Worth. I have an agenda to pick up some Seated Liberty 1/2 dimes, dimes, quarter, and half dollar for my type collection. I will also be looking for 1/2 cents, half dollar commemoratives,and a toned specimin for diversity in my collection. I plan to bring only the exact amount of cash which I have budgeted for the event. Once it is gone, I window shop. Other than the $s, any suggestions on what else I should or shoud not take along? I don't want to appear as the "sightseer carrying the camera in New York" type. Also some tips on what and what not to do. ie. etiquite(sp) Taking my wife to keep me in control of the budget. Thanks
Have fun #1, Many people are going to tell you many many things/ideas of what they think you should do. Just remember....it should be about fun. I am a dealer that sets up at coin shows so I will tell you a few things I think. 1. Have fun 2. Leave your REDBOOK in the car, you look like an anchovy for a shark with that book. get a copy of coins or coinage magazine if you need a reference. 3. Be polite with the dealer, if he is busy with another customer. Just tell the dealer you will stop back when he is not so busy. He will respect you for it and believe me I remember the good customers and I give them price breaks on coins. The Jerks get price increases. 4. Walk the bourse first before pulling out any money. Then decide if you saw something you liked. I have purchased a coin at one dealers booth and then got to the end and found a better specimin that would have suited much better. 5. Have Fun, and let us know how the coin show went after it is over!!!
Don't buy the first coin you see. Compare shop and when you do find the coin you want don't pay the asking price. See if they will take less. The first day of a show it is hard to talk down a dealer but it can be done. Good Luck!
Good question, first thing is it sounds like you have a plan, that's always good, if you can stick to it. Don't be afraid to spend a little more if you find something that you like that you can get a deal on. Lots of times I find something I wasn't planning on getting but I got a deal on it I couldn't get otherwise. Next, take your time, don't just go in commando style just looking for what is on your list. Take the time to look at several examples of coins you are interested in so you can get a better idea of grading etc. Use it as a learning experience, there isn't too much ettiquite wise to be aware of that isn't common sense. Most dealers will be very friendly and happy to answer questions about what they have, also tell them what you are looking for, they may have a box not on the table. Don't be afraid to walk away from a deal if it isn't what you want. Most of all have fun and learn everything you can, it is also a good place to get some cheap supplies, albums etc. If you have stuff to get rid of tell the dealer you would consider a trade, you may get more than selling outright. Good luck, have fun.
I am going to my first coin show this weekend as well. After coming back from taking a break from the hobby I have yet to figure out what I want to collect, so I decided to pick a few varieties to focus my learning on and I will try to pluck a few out while I oogle all the coins for sale. Along with the varieties that I will be keeping an eye out for I want to pick up a book or two to go into the 'library' of coin literature that I have amassed.
My suggestion? 1. Bring your bank card. Believe me, you will kick yourself if you find a coin you were not initially in the market for during your window shopping exercise, but stumbled across the deal of the century. If you decide to come back the next day and get it, you chance more parking fee's another admission price, gas, and thats with no gurantee it will be there when you get back. Is it now worth it? 2. Bring a loupe as well. You may not use it, but its nice to have instead of asking they guy to borrow one. I can't tell spotting from corrosion easily, especially when the lighting is inadequate. I love those small colaspable ones that tuck into the corner of your jeans pocket. 3. Small note pad, writing implement, for phone numbers, addresses or websites of dealers, they may not have any business cards left. 4. Coffee/beer money, its nice to take a break and go over your loot, before going back in. 5. Your spreadsheet of all the coins you are after for your collection, so you can tick them off as you acquire them, that also has the trend value listed. 6. I was at one 2 weeks ago, and I kick myself for not bring something to put them in. One dealer gave me a flimsey plastic bag that I didn't feel comfortable with. It was like something from the dollar store.
As usual my suggestions are based on security. Where I live that is of MAJOR concern. 1. Park where you can see the main entrace if possible. Helps when leaving. 2. Do not take a back pack. Bumps into people if the place is crowded, a place for someone to put a GPS in, a place where your stuff could be removed. 2. Do not bring a check book or credit cards. IF you do be carefull using them. Remember someone behind you could have a camera phone. 3. True about not bringing a Red Book. Not real smart to look like you have no idea what's going on 4. Don't buy the first coins you see. Walk the place first. Get there early as possible so you can take your time. 5. Carry all cash in front pockets. And not all together so when you pull some out, no one sees a bundle. Use a waller if possible. 6. Be very aware of other people in the place. Watch for someone that never buys anything and watches people. Might be a security guard or criminal. 7. Never pay what a dealer is asking for a coin. If he will not go down in price, walk away. Most dealers at coin shows raise thier prices due to they know EVERYONE haggles with them on prices. If you pay their asking price, you blew it. 8. When leaving if someone is leaving the same time, go back inside and pretend to look at a table. Then when leaving if the same person also appears, go inside again. If this becomes a repeat more than two times, find someone to report that to. 9. When leaving in a car, if someone starts to leave in thier car, make a u-turn, go back inside again. Might and might not be a follower. 10. prior to going to a coin show, locate the nearest police station. If followed or think you are, go there, pull up, get out and ask directions and see if that same car is nearby. 11. For the coin show it may be advantageous to take along a small camera type bag, some zip lock bags, magnifing glass and smelling salts if you see some of the prices. I stress security due to a big increase in coin show people robberies lately. Probably due to the economy and many people out of work. A bag of coins lifted from you would probably end up in a coin counting machine, pawn shop, flea market or just spent as money.
Hi SonLarson, You going to the Lockheed rec center? I am planning to get there this weekend too. It's a two day show so keep your entrance ticket/coin and you can get in the next day for free. Parking is free. Fill out a card and they will send you reminder cards for the next show; they have it every couple of months. BTW, most of my purchases fit in my shirt pocket
Thanks! This is the information I was looking for, Did not plan to bring Redbook, but did not know this was the "rookie" tip off i was trying to avoid. Plan to have all my data on an excel spreadsheet on my PDA. Did not know about the haggling. You just saved me a lot of money. Security is always on "orange" when in any crowded place where a lot of money changes hands. Fun is on the top of the list. My wife is excited about going and she could care less about coins. Except the kind she spends. Don't know about trading or selling. My collection is still to lean. I do have a lot of Wheat cents, but saving these for the grandkids. Perhaps this would be the place to unload some rolls from my 1966 uncirculated bank bag? Kinda of heavy and would be hard to keep up with. What would a roll be worth? $4-$5 ea? Like the plan to walk it and look first, then go back and buy. The best deal might be the last. Only have the 1 day, have to work the 2nd. My only loupe is 16X, a little too powerful, will bring it anyway, or buy a 7X or 10X when I get there. I like the camera bag idea, have just the thing, small and lots of pockets. Plan to be at the Lockheed center in Fort Worth on Saturday, maybe I'll bump into one of you. Thanks for all the tips, glad I made the post, I think I will be better prepared. Mike
the only other thing i might suggest is wearing a "fanny pack" turned around so it is in front. I've worn one to a few shows and kept my coins right there in the front of me all day so I know right where they are.
