When I got into coins last year, Coronavirus had already started to creep into our lives. By the time I was actively collecting, the UK was already in its first lockdown. Consequently, I never had the chance to physically attend a coin show or a coin club meet-up. This weekend I managed to work up the courage to attend my very first show which happened to be the London Coin Fair. I think it normally takes place 3-4 times per year and I imagine this was the first time it was allowed to run after a while, due to the lockdowns and the restrictions in place. So, I took my mask, my magnifying glass, and my cotton gloves and took the train to central London in great anticipation. I have been collecting other stuff for many years now, so I wasn't unfamiliar with the setting. Big conference rooms in a hotel filled with dealer tables and collectors in tweed hovering over the stock on offer. At least this is how it usually is in the UK. I was among the first to arrive so I was able to take a couple of photos before the place filled up. And it actually did fairly quickly. It seemed well-attended, but obviously I cannot compare it with previous shows, as this was my first. Obviously there were some rules in place. Masks were supposed to be worn by everyone (a rule that was followed by most while I was there), an one-way system (I don't think many followed that one), and an 1-meter social distance rule (easy to follow as unless you are a couple any closer contact would go against all British ideas of social interaction). There was one main big room surrounded by some smaller ones adjacent to it and on the upper floor. As a new-comer, I found the number of dealers quite satisfying, even though I was told that many European dealers that normally attend couldn't do so this time due to travel restrictions. As this is London, I was lucky to have some big-name dealers around. Baldwin's were there, as well as Spink and others. The selection of coins was rather good too. I have seen many complain in this forum that American shows lack ancients, but in this occasion I would say that they accounted for about one third of all coins on offer. Another third was British coins and the rest was everything else. I don't recall seeing any American coins, but I wasn't really looking for them. Price-wise, there were some nice deals to be found but also plenty of over-priced examples. I was surprised to see some dealers which I had never heard of, with small or zero internet presence. They seemed to operate mainly through a catalogue system. In the end, I did not buy anything, but I only stayed for about an hour as I increasingly felt uncomfortable as the place was filling up. I haven't had my second jab yet...I did get many freebies though in terms of old catalogues and coin magazine issues.
Very nice write-up. I hope you wrote the names of the vendors you thought had reasonable prices so you can check them out the next time you visit. I do not buy coins, but visited some local coin shows in the past to get a feel for the going prices. My experiences with vendor pricing varied, but pretty much fell along these categories. 70% overpriced significantly , 25% ridiculously overpriced and 5% reasonable . Good luck on your next trip.
Congratulations! I can't wait myself for the next NYINC in January, since of course it was canceled this year. (It took place in 2020 shortly before the pandemic hit.) I've been going semi-regularly since it was held at the World Trade Center. I miss it. There used to be other good-sized coins and antiquities shows held in NYC back in the 1980s, but I've forgotten their names. One thing I'll mention is at least at NYINC, almost every ancients dealer was willing and eager to offer a meaningful discount on the "sticker price" written on the coin envelope or other holder. Which the same dealers are not necessarily willing to do on the Internet. On the other hand, there seems to be a general expectation, except from the biggest dealers, that one should pay cash. Sales tax is not always charged, and a written receipt is not always provided. I can't imagine why!
I've been to the London Coin Fair a few times and enjoy it. Hopefully, I'll make it to the September edition, all going well. As I recall, it was usually very busy and hellishly hot, so the social distancing sounds like a very good idea Roll on NYINC in 2022 too ATB, Aidan.
