I mentioned this in another thread, my first coin show will be tomorrow. I'll be going to the Coinarama show at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego. Is there anything I should know? Dealers I should be skeptical about? Dealers I should make a point to visit? I imagine it's going to be held in the large hall on the right when you walk in, is that right? I've read a lot of the general advice about coin shows posted already, which was very helpful, thank you! I've never successfully (I've tried, but haven't really found one) been to a coin shop in San Diego, so I don't really know what to expect from the dealers.
It was interesting. The first thing I did was walk around and scan all the tables to see which ones looked like they would have stuff I would be interested in. I don't think I'm at a point in my collecting where I could confidently buy any high dollar slabbed coins, so I was sticking to tables that had bins of lower dollar amount U.S. coins to go through. That limited my choices to maybe 5 tables. I only bought 1 thing this time. A 1922 peace dollar because I like them and didn't have any in my collection yet. In hindsight, I wish I would have bought the new park quarters that I don't have yet, but I don't think there will be any problem getting them at the next show in December (unless I find them in circulation by then). I have to say, it is intimidating walking into a room of people who all are much more knowledgeable and experienced with coin shows than me, but you have to start somewhere, right?
I liked this show, but I like even more the Heartland show in El Cajon in late Nov./early Dec. Be sure to look for it. Fewer tables, but many of the locals are there as the costs of setting up are less. And they have wonderful homemade pies like Mom used to make jim I hope the Cointalk T-shirts are available by then !
