This week i was able secure a 5-day job with a media vendor who was servicing the 114th ANA convention at the Moscone center, here in San Francisco. The volume of coins and paper money being sold, traded and bought was overwhelming. I spent every free moment checking out the vender’s booths and for a coin junkie, it was heaven. They had everything from circ mercury dimes for a buck a piece to 6 figures One of a kind certified gold and silver, also lots and lot of paper money. Prices ranged from 10%-25% below average dealer wholesale, so I had to take advantage of the opportunity. This is what I picked up there. NGC MS-65 1959 Franklin half (strait trade for 1992 prestige proof set) 1946d walking liberty in AU for 20$ 1949s Franklin half in AU50-BU60 for 65$ (to complete my set) 1850 2 1/2 dollar quarter eagle in AU for 120.00 $(really nice piece) 3 circulated walkers for 10$ 1$ Hawaii note in VF-XF for 30$ 20$ FRBN in VF for (1929) 50$ 5$ red seal 1963 in crisp unc for 17$. 2006 Redbook for 12$ It was hard to stop there given the bargains and I ended up spending more money than planned. Every major dealer in the US was there as well as all the world mints. There were coins from all the shipwrecks (ss republic, johnson, central America etc) and the biggest bar of gold I’ve ever seen (the size of a brick) I also sat in on a meeting of the US mint were they were voting on design changes for the new platinum coins (very interesting) I talked to one gentleman from the mint who told me that they were discussing possibly changing the new 1 ounce gold piece to a 100$ denom. The show continues thru SUN the 31st so if you live anywhere near SF and are looking for just about anything in coins or currency you will find it there at a good price, admission is free. Next year it's in Atlanta.(good thing cause I could go to the poor house if it was here every year) Also got about 30$ in free magazines, which was nice. I’m going to scan the quarter eagle for you guy’s.
Sounds like a great show...the show I get to go to is about 25-40+/- tables so its small BUT it has a lot of coins and is just the right size for a young collector like me!... I hope this year to pick up some harder to find coins! Speedy
Any news about the CCAC meeting held on the 28th? Did they come out with a proclamation that "Liberty" or symbols of her are too politcal for future US coins? I would have LOVED to lobby them and give them a piece of my mind...so if you hear "SECURITY" in the future, it' me telling the woman of the CCAC where to go.
Be There or Be a Klippe Now you can see why I recommend saving your money and going to major shows. The ANA show schedules include: 2006 Atlanta, GA, April 7-9 Denver, CO, August 16-19 2007 Sacramento, CA, March 23-25 Milwaukee, WI, August 8-12 I live in Ann Arbor, so Atlanta is just a long day's drive away. I will also make Milwaukee in 2007. In addition to the ANA conventions, there are also large regional shows. These are all over the country. Pacific Northwest or New England or Florida, you cannot be too far from 200 dealers. FUN (Florida United Numismatists) convention in early January every year in Orlando is a national event, really. Blue Ridge will be in Dalton, Georgia, August 19-21 this year. The Central States shows are scheduled for 2005 Dearborn Aug-26-28 2006 Columbus May 2007 St. Louis May 3-6 I feel that it is worth a day's drive and a motel stay to spend a full day or two at a major show. Some people do not feel that way. Not only are the prices of 25% below CDN Bid not attractive, but they do not need to attend any club meetings or educational forums or waste their time looking at exhibits, and nightly auctions are not compelling, either. Meeting people for dinner or just chatting about numismatics over drinks and snacks all night is not that rewarding for them. Of course, the key reason why is that such people are correct in assuming that they are the only geeks, dorks, dweebs, or nerds in the entire hobby of numismatics, so no one will like them anyway and they won't like anyone else either since the rest of us are all rich and good looking like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston and in fact, we never go to coin shows alone but always come to coin shows with stunningly attractive members of the opposite (or same) sex. That makes it much easier to wheel and deal with Donald Trump, George Soros, Bill Gates and the other guys behind the tables who only sell rolls of BU 1804 Dollars. While all of that is going on as a smokescreen to lure the reporters... The rest of us are sitting through powerpoints about mintmarks on seated dimes, and reading exhibits about world bank notes, numismatic literature, and the paper money Paul Revere printed, chatting with the editors of Coin World and Numismatic News, and saying to the person standing there at the bargain bucket, "Hey! Don't I know you from Coin Talk?"
Hey Mike Go Blue!!! Old UofM alumni in Portland, OR. missing home. Do they have smaller showings in some of the major citys around? I would'nt mind going to one but dont really have the time to drive down to CA.
I would love too...but when your young and can't drive too far and you don't have a job that pays soo good that you can take that kind of trip I would much rather go to a small show with some good dealers. If the ANA ever gets a show near me...maybe.... Speedy
I’ve decided to go back tomorrow and spend another hundred or so, what would you guy's buy if you had 100$ to spend on a coin or coins?
Depends on what you like... Pick up a MS64/65 Morgan from the San Francisco mint. You may find one graded from PCGS and NGC. It will always be a keepsake and you will enjoy the beauty of how your hometown used to mint coins. You may also find a MS64PL Morgan as well. When you pull out these bad boys, they always make good conversation pieces and will always be in demand. If not that, find some nice slabbed proofs of coins you like. Silver Eagles, a set of the 2004 or 2005 nickels before they go back to putting Jefferson's home on the reverse (again), or simply pick up the oldest coin in the nicest grade. Again, how often to you hold a coin that is "old"?
For a bit more than $100, you might find one of the more common modern $5 gold commemoratives, such as the Constitution coin. They are frequently obtainable for approximately melt value, and nobody wants them. Someday this might change.
Nice show report. It sounds like you had a great time. I really wanted to go to this show but family priorities prevented it. I just love San Francisco and there's nothing to compare with a major show. Next for me will be FUN, it's outstanding.
Thanks for the suggestions. As it happens i already own the Constitution set,the problem is too many choices,so i guess i'll just see what grabs my fancy when i get to the show. when i get home i will post a scan of whatever i decide on I forgot to mention the 1958 proof set that i bought for 60$ at the show, It is the best looking of the 9 flat pack PR sets i own,here's a scan. The coins have quite a bit more luster than you can see in the scans.
