A Day (or Two) in the Life of a Coin Dealer

Personally, I think it's a breeze. I carry many hundreds of coins through security all the time and never get any hassle.

 

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I enjoyed reading this article, as a novice it is always good to pick up some tips such as coin show ettiquette.

 

Nice article, Charmy. I'll bet that sometimes you're thankful for the security at the airports these days.

Bruce

 

Jack, you will always and forever be welcomed at my table for wine, cheese, snacks, but especially just to see you and catch up with my dear friend!

Thanks everyone for all the kind words - I am truly grateful for all the support I receive here on CT! And, yes, I am grateful for the tight security at airports - sadly, it's a necessary evil and it teaches us all to be a little more patient.

 

Thanks for the write up Charmy.
It's good to get info like that.

 

Thanks for the write up, interesting.

 

Another way to increase the text size if you are using XP (don't know if it works for Vista or Windows 7) is to press Ctrl+. The text size increases for each press. Ctrl- takes it down a step.

Charmy, as you say if they ask to examine your bag you can request a private screening. You should be able to make arrangements for a private screening when you check in. Just explain that for security reasons you need a private screening. You might even be able to do this by calling ahead to the airline. That should stop the shouts of "Are these coins!"

 

Conder, I always ask for a private screening, but really would prefer not to make arrangements ahead of time because I never know if/when they will decide to examine my bags (it would also be difficult to inform TSA ahead of time because I never know which security area I will be using). I know some dealers hand the TSA people a business card as the bags are going through the screener with a phrase printed on the reverse briefly stating that they are carrying rare coins and asking for a private screening if they want to examine the bags. I have been thinking of getting some of those printed up which should allow for more discretion.

 

Interesting article, nice job!

I'm still somewhat perplexed as to how you traveling dealers can make enough money to cover expenses. All I could be thinking about is how many nice coins I could have bought with all that money spent. LOL

 

I'm curious as how much it would cost to ship your coins to the motel and back, if doing that would be worth it as opposed to going through all the airport stuff.

 

What would it cost if the coins got there early with no one to accept them and put them in a secure area, or got there late and she had no coins during the show? No I don't think shipping them is the answer.

 

Clearly, the answer is teleportation.

 

The added $$$ is cost prohibitave. Have you seen Charmy's inventory? The registered mail fees and insurance but be over the top......more cost to an already tight margin.

 

Ah gotcha. I figured it was something like that, but wasn't sure

I think I need to go into the supplies business

 

I really like the idea of teleportation - if only..... But Jack is right, it would be too expensive (not to mention too stressful) to ship my coins to a show. Besides, I've gotten used to carrying them through airports, and if possible I try to travel with someone, lately my son (who used to be a wrestler and a rower so he's pretty strong and can easily heft my bag into the overhead compartment!) has been traveling with me and helping me out at shows. Even when my bags get personally examined, the TSA people do it pretty efficiently and since I usually get to the airport quite early, there hasn't been any problematic delays so far.

 

Thank you for the read Charmy. It's a side of the story we don't normally get to hear.

It sounds pretty stressfull, and the airport seems to be the least fun aspect. I've never flown, I'm deathly afraid of heights, so bad that I am affected standing at the top of the staircase in my home, if I look down to the bottom, and we have only 13 steps.

What is your favorite aspect of traveling to out of state shows? For me, despite being in a population center here in NY, the only shows I have any intention of going to are in different states, but they are in easy driving range.

 

Bill, as you said, the getting there is probably the most stressful part of doing out of state shows, but once I get there the most favorite part for me is chatting with coin customers, learning interesting coin tidbits from them, helping them find just the right coin for their collection, and even having them "ooh" and "awwwe" over my coins. That's why I love doing this.

But I also love getting together with all my dealer friends that I only see at these shows. We usually get together for a nice dinner, drink some good wine, catch up on coin happenings, and sometimes go to a casino, etc. Getting together with them is when I learn the most interesting things, both about coins and the market, but also about other dealers and big deals that might be in the works, and once in a while, I learn some not-yet-announced big behind the scenes happenings.

 

Very cool...like I have always said in all my hobbies: It's all about the people who make it happen, and not so much the hobby itself!

 

Thanks for the write up Charmy. When you are on this end of collecting you never think about how the person selling you everything is haveing to go through just to supply you with those coins. Most people think they can just pay grey sheet but as you said, not only do you have the cost of the coin but the cost of meals, flights, hotels, cabs and everything else to make the cost to you a little higher.
It kinda puts things int perspective.

 

you must have lost all your other senses as well as your eyesight LOL if its been that good Im happy for you!

I will drive for hours or days to avoid a plane trip. Seriously Id rather have a root canal than walk into a airport. Airport security sucks, a complete joke! the airlines suck, a complete ripoff and i no longer want any experience with either of those idiots.
I simply cant deal with that much stupidity and incompetence. I admit its my failing for not enjoying the sheep like compliance necessary to travel by air anymore. I truly envy those who are numb enough to be able to endure the flying experience.