There's a monthly coin show in Kansas City. The next one is coming up this Saturday. Does anyone have any experiences with these shows? I'm a new collector thinking of driving over just to check it out. Thanks
A lot of people in the Topeka coin club have told me they have attended before, but not every show - just once in a while. They said it's a decent show, but one guy told me it's primarily for dealer to dealer inventory trading. I've never been to one, before.
Best advice is a norm here.....READ READ READ. Before you go, read up on coins you might like to purchase, learn about coin grading, aka. arm yourself with knowlege. Hmmmm other show advice....paper speaks louder than plastic, i.e. cash is king. If nothing else, think of it like going to a museum, lots of great stuff to look at and learn about
I've never used a card at a coin show before - I bring exactly as much, in cash, as I am willing to spend that day. A lot of dealers at coin shows aren't even set up to take plastic, and will only take checks if you're well known by them, personally, or another dealer will vouch for you... I prefer just using cash to remove any questions.
By all means - DO go check it out. Coin show are a blast - but can be a bit overwhelming the first time. So plan on returning. Once you get used to having more coins than you've ever seen before all around you - you'll settle down and be able to focus on what you want to find. Coin shows can also be an extremely valuable learning experience - particularly when it comes to values and grading. Look at all the coins you are interested in - think what you grade it. Then compare that the grade assigned by the dealer or on the slab if it is slabbed. Then think about the asking price as compared to what you think the coin is worth. Coin shows are the leading edge when it comes to values. They determine what the rest of us will be paying for a given coin in the coming months or year. So even if you don't ever buy a single coin - you'll have an advantage over those who do not attend coin shows.
