Summer FUN Show Update

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Publius2, Jul 10, 2021.

  1. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I spent Thursday and Friday at the Summer FUN show in Orlando (did not go the last day as I was worn out and spent all my money!). So, some observations:

    - Biggest show since last FUN in January 2020, I think. Certainly the largest I have attended. Many, many dealers large and small although some such as DLRC did not go because their flights were canceled at the last minute due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Elsa.
    - Thursday and Friday were packed with attendees. Every dealer I spoke to said inventory was flying. Every dealer I spoke to about it complained of lack of product. There seemed to be a consensus that prices were strong and one dealer told me that dealers were paying each other retail money. That jibes with what I saw at the retail level of sales. They all seemed happy at every level of the hobby that I could observe.
    - One dealer told me that a retail customer walked up and wanted to negotiate on a coin and said he never paid more than bid. Dealer told me he replied "Guess you won't be buying anything at this show, then." Can't verify the truth of this but it is consistent with what I observed.
    - I absolutely experienced how important it is to build and maintain a relationship with a dealer because I received pretty decent treatment from those dealers.
    - Pretty strong ancient presence with less in the World arena.
    - Seemed like every other case was full of Morgans!
    - Had to sign a Covid release, have my temperature checked and wear a mask to enter the exhibit hall. But by unspoken agreement, there was quite literally no one wearing a mask in the exhibit hall.
    - Nice to see some family groups and children in the crowd - not just us old men.
    - PCGS, ANACS, and ICG were there. Didn't see NGC but I could have missed them in the scrum. They seemed pretty busy whenever I walked by.
    - On Thursday I bought three very nice capped bust half dimes: 1830 PCGS AU-55; 1831 LM6 NGC MS-63; 1834 LM-3/FS-301 PCGS MS-62 (a pretty rare variety).
    - On Friday I bought a super nice 1840 ND half dime in NGC MS-65 and a 1811 Small 5 Half Eagle in PCGS OGH XF-40. I will post photos later in the week.
    - Friday attended the joint meeting of the LSCC/Barber Club. Nice presentations on "Grading and the CAC Effect" and the "Medals of William Barber" by John Frost.
    - Met and had a nice conversation with newly-elected ANA Governor Mayy Lynne Garrett. I had the pleasure of telling her she had received my vote and we talked about her goals for the Association.
    -I had the opportunity to hold and closely examine some quite unusual, expensive, and visually stunning coins in dealer's cases: an 1877 IHC PCGS 67+ that had a price tag on it of $33k and sold at the show; an 1836 (I think) Half Eagle that was a SS Pulaski shipwreck coin in a PCGS slab and the dealer told me it was the either the first or second finest graded with mirror surfaces with a sticker of around $34k; an 1833 Bust Quarter in PR-65 (IIRC) that had almost perfect mirrors and I seem to have had an attraction for this price since this one also had a price tag of around $33k.
    - Friday I met up with fellow CT member @One Mans Trash. We only spoke for a few minutes since he had the wife, children and grandkids in tow and they all wanted to get to the YN and gold panning activities. Nice to meet you!
    - And finally, and not the least, spent time with fellow Central Florida Coin Club members at the club table and also some FUN members.

    P.S. A lesson that Karma (in the current vernacular) exists: I was riding the shuttle back to the parking lot and when the bus stopped a man of my own age hustled up the aisle to be off the bus before his turn and beat out everybody else. Rude, of course, so I decided not to tell him that he had two feet of toilet paper hanging out the waistband of his shorts. Hope everybody else had a good laugh at his expense.
     
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  3. micbraun

    micbraun coindiccted

    Nice writeup, thanks!

    PS: Maybe he was heading for the restrooms again…? :-D
     
    love old coins, Rushmore and davdo like this.
  4. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Would love to go to local coin shows, especially FUN. However, with no guarantee of 100% vaccination by all participants, and no mask requirement, that lets me out. Sorry, but not worth the risk, as much as I would love to be there.
     
    Dynoking and AuldFartte like this.
  5. tibor

    tibor Supporter! Supporter

    Did you notice how much gold there was? When ever I go to a large show
    like the Fun, ANA and Whitman I'm amazed at all of the gold and Morgans.
    Makes you kinda wonder why there so expensive.
     
  6. davdo

    davdo Senior Member

    Exactly what I was thinking!!
     
  7. Dimedude2

    Dimedude2 Member

    Excellent report and really wish I could attend, but with the kids and a new job it’s difficult. Anyway, no doubt that coin prices are on the up and supply is down.
     
  8. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    Lots and lots of gold, both pre-33 US, numismatic World, and bullion coins of all types. Of the pre-33 US, my impressions sort of in the order of quantity as I recall it are:

    - tons of Liberty Head half eagles.
    - tons of Indian Half and Quarter Eagles.
    - Lots of Liberty Head and Indian Eagles.
    - Lots of Liberty and Saint double-eagles.
    - Small quantities of dollar coins. (Friend of mine bought two common. circulated raw ones for a fair price).
    - Very few, maybe 10-15 Capped Bust Half and Quarter Eagles.
    - Two Capped Bust to Right (1795-1807) Half Eagles.
    - No other early gold that I saw.
    - No classic commemoratives.

    I was not in the market for any of this so I didn't price any of it except for one super nice 1904 Double Eagle graded MS-65+. The dealer wanted $4300 for it which I thought was ridiculous. But it really was a PQ coin and far, far nicer than the run of the mill 1904 MS-65.
     
    tibor likes this.
  9. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    thanks for the report; look forward to seeing images of your new purchases. The concluding paragraph is priceless!
     
  10. Hey there Publius 2, I enjoyed meeting you also. I just wish that I had more time to talk coins with you. Maybe at the Winter FUN show, that's when just me and my son goes without the grandsons. Those 2 boys waste no time in getting their ANA treasure hunt maps and panning for gold! Hope to meet again, Steve.
     
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