2021 ANA convention Who's Going?

Three years ago I posted to meet at the lunch tables, to the left as you enter - near the back, left side, at noon or what ever time.

No one showed and I put up a small sign.

 

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or it could have just been because of me.

 

I'm attending with my 12 (almost 13) yr old son on Saturday. This will be a first time for either of us as we just moved to Chicagoland and are looking forward to this.

My son even quickly got his junior ANA member last week to get the goodies and advantages as he's a collector, but also a slightly distracted new teen.

It will be a good time (I'm sure) and thankfully is effectively just down the street from where we live (a close-ish by NW burb).

How's the show been so far? I'm bringing some stuff to sell, but also looking for nice silver world crown types, certified Gem early clad business strike Washington quarters and nice VF/XF Standing Liberty quarters...and then whatever else strikes my fancy

 

Lots of nice foreign. I enjoy going through the double row boxes. Always find some goodies. @Treashunt ,if your still here I will be at snack area till 2:15. Blueish green shirt.

 

sorry, nope.

That was two years ago.

I chickened out this year.

But, I think I'll be at the Whitman Expo in November.

 

Last two:
Micipsa, King of Numidia, AE 26
148 - 118 BC

Micipsa was Rome's loyal ally; he sent archers, slingers and elephants to aid Scipio Aemilianus besieging Numantia with Jugurtha commanding the Numidian units. After the fall of Numantia, Micipsa adopted his illegitimate nephew Jugurtha, who after the Jugurtine War, was captured and executed by the Romans in 104 BC.

SNG Copenhagen 505 - 507
Ob.: Laureate, bearded head to left
Rv.: Horse rearing to left


and this one sparked also my interest, because it is a Pfennig that was struck using silver. Find it very interesting that such a low denomination was issued in silver.
Still have to research what is shown on the obverse and reverse. No idea yet:

AR Pfennig, Lower Bavaria, Regensburg,

0.90 g
Emmerig 246

 

I had a great time at the convention looking over tables on the floor and taking to dealers and collectors. Its been so long since talking to collectors and enthusiasts in person, I had almost forgotten what it was like.

Here are 2 of my 4 buys from the convention. Neither in my primary collecting interest these days (Greek). But I liked them a lot and the price was right so I pulled the trigger.

 

Last day at the show for me. Went to the Byzantine coin collectors meeting. 6 of us there including a new member. Took a couple of laps around the show and bought a few more Hungarian coins. Had a very enjoyable conversation with Mrs. Weiss. Bought several nice pieces from her husband at the CICF shows years ago. After saying goodbyes and making plans for Baltimore/Whitman. Went to the stamp show on the second floor. 30 dealers with a wide variety to choose from. One dealer had several $10K American stamps. I only recognized the mint never hinged Zeppelins. Overall the show was fun and a good learning experience.

 

I was there all day today. Hard to describe the scope of it all. Nobody has said much about the Tyrant collection. It’s bigger than I imagined. The display for it must have cost 50k if that gives you any idea.
Here’s just a little fraction. There is a MS64 half disme in the corner that is overshadowed by everything else around it. Most amazing proofs I’ve ever seen from the 3 cents to the gold.

 

Then there was this hiding out in a display case in front NGCs booth. No signs banners or fanfare. Could walk by it and not even know it was there. Really strange. When I came back later in afternoon it was gone.

 

I was happy to see some coin friends even though I ran out of time like usual and had to run out of there to pick up my daughter from camp.

I have to say the motto for the show must have been “Full Retail.”

I could not believe some of the prices being asked. Common stuff, like denarii and Greek provincials priced in the hundreds when they are $20-60 coins. I did see some tremendous stuff floating around though. Even Berk’s pick bin was $25 per coin this year so I didn’t bother. ($10 per coin three years ago, no bin two years ago at the reinvented CICF and no shows last year.). I only bought coins from two dealers. I spent $140 in total and had prepared to spend much more. I just couldn’t pull the trigger on things I felt were overpriced. I wish I had had more time to just dig in stuff that would fill a side collection but I couldn’t.

all of the provincial stuff I saw was either overpriced or super high end stuff I couldn’t hope to afford. CNG offered a Septimius Severus medallion for $35,000 that is spectacular. The fellow at the desk amused me by allowing me to look at it.

https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=394251

I did find some fancy little buys that I’ll share eventually. I just wish there were more. Also didn’t see a lot of dealers set up that I should have including Civitas.

 

The last time I came here in 2011 the parking garage cost $20 a day. Now it’s $29. And there’s hundreds if not thousands of vehicles in that garage.
I ran out of water and needed to buy some from the concessions. $5 for a regular sized bottle of Dansani. Run of the mill cheeseburger- $11.
I guess it comes with the territory now. Shouldn’t be shocked by anything. The multiple off ramps you need to catch at high speed ending with a double clover leaf to get down to it is incredible. And I’ve seen a lot. If you ever come in you better have the GPS going or you won’t have a chance.

NGC,PCGS and ANACs are here. Can send in submissions at their tables. Got the latest greysheet at their booth for $30.

Some dealers weren’t that pleasant to deal with and seemed burnt out. Some were content just talking with customers they knew so you couldn’t buy anything from them if you wanted to. Others were great. I got to spend many hours on the floor with no time limits. The show could be a multitude of different experiences depending on what booths you spent your time at. It’s so much ground to cover. I don’t know what the area is but you could fit multiple football fields inside. Tables as far as the eye can see. I’ve been able to check a few off my list and have enjoyed it.

 

Many on this thread are acting quite frugal and actually cheap regarding the location of the ANA show in Rosemont (I.e., Chicagoland). Sure, parking is 15 to 20 dollars daily, Rosemont is a mafia controlled town, concessions are high and they suck - I get it. But Rosemont is an ideal US central location, it is safe, there’s lots of room, it’s near Ohare and there are many excellent restaurants, including Gibson’s, nearby to enjoy. Besides, many here will easily spend 4 figures for a purchase and not think twice, but then complain about spending 15 bucks to park and 15 bucks to eat. Chicago is a big expensive city like many other big cities. If they have it in Chicago annually at a permanent basis, it will overall benefit the ANA in the long term. Believe me, a national show in Iowa City will never happen - you need better facilities and better restaurants than Olive Garden and Red Robin.

 

Agree...had those at the 2014 convention!

 

"Some dealers weren’t that pleasant to deal with and seemed burnt out. Some were content just talking with customers they knew so you couldn’t buy anything from them if you wanted to. Others were great. I got to spend many hours on the floor with no time limits. The show could be a multitude of different experiences depending on what booths you spent your time at. It’s so much ground to cover. I don’t know what the area is but you could fit multiple football fields inside. Tables as far as the eye can see. I’ve been able to check a few off my list and have enjoyed it."

This would be true of every major show I have attended over many years. It's about 50-50 on friendly, reasonable prices, nice to deal with, etc. A few dealers won't give collectors the time of day, but I have found that to be the exception. Some are very helpful and informative.

 

These too statements cannot both be true.

There's plenty of midwest areas with large airports where the area is much cheaper and much nicer without being a "mafia controlled town". Many people flat out refuse to go to Chicago at this point as well.

Nashville, Dallas, Omaha would all be better choices just to name a few

 

Disagree - you deal with the good and bad. At any big convention in a big city, you will pay for parking. Regarding concessions, why not go out and take advantage of Chicago’s world class dining experience? Also, Omaha is too small a city for a national show.
I get frustrated with collectors who like to throw nickels like manhole covers. It give us a bad rep.

 

I too am hesitant to go to cities like Chicago, I just don't like the "huge city vibe" but that's just me.

Anyway, mid-western cities like Indianapolis get short shrift. That is a lovely town that's safe, with plenty to do, and with more moderate pricing.

 

Because many people don't want to set foot in Chicago in its current state

It absolutely is not. It hosts the College World Series every year which brings in FARRRRR more people than any coin show ever would. I'm not aware of any coin show that has ever brought in over 100k people at once which the CWS consistently does every year in Omaha. They have a bunch of fantastic restaurants and places to stay, great zoo etc. Theres also a massive convention center near the stadium that holds events far bigger than a coin show. People sometimes forget Berkshire Hathaway is based there. Its a hidden gem.

 

Theres a ton of cities out there like that that would be better choices, cheaper, and realistically safer as well. Permanently setting up in Chicago would be a long term mistake with how that city is trending. If they really want to give people an "experience" they should give Vegas a try one year.

It doesn't need to necessarily keep moving around but there are a lot of people that won't even consider going if a city like Chicago is the permanent home. I say this as someone who has been to Chicago countless times and used to love going there but its gone downhill a lot since the 2000s