Charmy's Big Adventure in Boston with Photos!!!

So, I arrived Saturday evening, met Karin (Rick Snow's assistant) at the airport, took a cab to our hotel (we're also sharing rooms), went to PF Changs for dinner (next door to the Sheraton), where Rick and his friend joined us on the patio. The weather was fantastic, much like I left in SoCal, so it was a very pleasant and relaxing evening.

Then Sunday, I went to the preshow, bought some wonderful coins, including a couple very nice 1877 Indian cents - one in MS62 and two in XF45, as well as several half cents and some other Indian cents. Karin, Rick and I went over to the Bunker Hill museum, ran into Wei, and toured the USS Constitution together.

Later, we had a delicious dinner in Little Italy, then found a fun pub across from the oldest tavern in America and listened to a fantastic 3-piece band play 70's-90's music until around midnight. On our way out, there were two guys in the alley actually punching each other! After someone finally broke it up, they both walked away but with bloody faces - wow, that was really weird to see.

Wei and Rick on the USS Constitution



Charmy on the USS Constitution




Band at pub



Monday we went to PNG day where I bought as beautiful eye appealing 1877 Indian cents (PCGS MS65 RB CAC)! It is almost as nice as my own 1877, so I'm trying to decide which one I'll keep. I'll have Todd (who is set up at my table taking on site coin photos) take some photos and post them when I can. I also found several other great coins, including an 1857 Large cent so I can use it as a demonstration piece since I'm on the kiddie treasure trivia game tour and my question is "what's the last date the large cent was minted?"

Later, we took a ferry to Salem, hopped on the trolly as it toured around town, saw some beautiful old homes and ships, and even toured the witch museum. We even stopped by a coin shop in Salem, but it was closed. It was a really great little side trip, with tons of neat history of the Salem witch trials.

on ferry in Boston Harbor on our way to Salem





This is in an old cemetary where the judge who presided over the Salem witch trials is buried (the judge is the great great grandfather of Nathaniel Hawthorne). We kept looking for the 19 people who died from the witch trials but we later found out they were not allowed to receive a formal burial and their bodies were simply dumped in a shallow grave where, later, their relatives would secretly dig them up and bury them properly. This cemetary has graves dating back to the late 1700's.




None of us could remember what the House of Seven Gables book was about, but on our tour we passed right by the house from the book, so I snapped this picture. We went past so many beautiful famous old houses, it was really fun and interesting.



more to come......

 

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NOTE!!!! Let me be the first to say that some of us are not happy campers in that the show is in TWO SEPARATE ROOMS, and when you tell people in the "main" room that you're in the second room, they say "what room?" So please pass the word, there are a lot of DEALERS IN THE SECOND ROOM off to the right of the main room, past the elevators and rest rooms!! Todd and I are set up at table 1444 in the second room against the back wall - so please stop by, say hi, drop off some coins to be photographed, and maybe even take a gander at some pretty Indian cents!

By the way, I won several Conder tokens at the Stack's auction and can't wait to get them (I just missed the time cut off to pick them up in person, dang it!) but I'll get Todd to photograph them and post them later but here are photos from the Stacks auction...

 

On Wednesday, I was pretty busy, though I did do a little running around to take some photos! And I just had to see some of the exhibits, and also purchase the Greatest US Error book and run around to find the authors so they could sign it for me too!
Any way, only a couple of my photos turned out from the ANA cruise (all my pictures are taken from my blackberry), so here they are.....




I did take some photos on the bus over to the ANA dinner, but they were terrible, so I couldn't post them. And, by the way, there really is a Karin (Rick's assistant), but her photo was pretty bad, so I will try and get some of her tomorrow. We did get a "formal" photo taken by the ship's crew and I'm going to see if Todd can take a picture of that picture so I can post it here.
So the cruise was much better than anticipated, actually it was really very nice. The food was great, the weather was perfect, and even though the award announcements were hard to hear, by all accounts, the ANA dinner cruise was a complete success! I was at a table with some fun folks (Brian, Rick, Karin, Jonathan, Todd, etc.), and everyone really had a good time.

Then of course a few of us went pubbing after we docked, we even "accidentally" tried to crash a private party that was being held on the lawn at the hotel but didn't have much success success, so we ended up at the Cheers bar in Nathanial Hall. Unfortunately, I tend to "talk" with my hands somtimes and ended up spilling a whole glass of red wine all over me. Good thing I was wearing black! Of course, that didn't deter me from having another glass of wine!

At the show on Wednesday, a few forum members stopped by, and Ricky (900 Fine) and his wife are set up just up the aisle from me. It was nice to finally formally meet Mark Feld, though I've crossed paths with him a few times at some other shows. Also, it ended up being quite humorous as Mark and another forum member kept trying to connect at our table - they kept JUST missing each other - it was very "three stooges-ish" in their timing! Luckily, they were finally able to catch each other and hook up. But it truly is wonderful to meet the faces behind the avatar/user names on this forum, and it continually surprises me that the image I had pictured of a particular forum member always turns out to be completely different!

I bought a bunch more coins today, spent more at this show than at any other show - ever! But I was presented with some coins I just couldn't pass up!!!! So far, I've bought a total of 4 very nice certified 1877 Indian cents from XF45 to MS65, some really pretty half cents, and several Lincolns that I needed for inventory as well. Even though sales are going well, it has been a GREAT buying show for me.

Any way, I took some pictures at the show today, some of the exhibits - ship of gold, etc., and a photo of what I refer to as the "red headed stepchild" room our table is in, as well as the "main room."






If you look closely, my table with the red banner is against the back wall at the very end of the aisle of this secondary "red headed step child" room


This was taken in the "main room"


Then, Rick and his FBI childhood friend and I went to another pub right across the street from the convention center - Rick was waiting to bid on some auctions but his lots weren't going to come up until around 11:30 pm, so we had to kill some time. It was a great little pub that had a fun party atmosphere, and they played the best music! Here are some pictures of me, Rick and the FBI guy...





I took this picture on my way back to the hotel, which is through the convention center, so this is what the convention center hallway looks like after hours!!!! (sorry some of my photos are not that clear)



p.s. And, to answer a question in a pm by another forum member and to sort of "set the record straight," YES there absolutely is a "Mr. Penny Lady" - he is a wonderful guy who I absolutely adore, and who doesn't mind my "covorting" around the country with all my gentlemanly coin buddies!!!

 

Nice post and thanks for sharing.

 

It looks like you are more tourist than numismatist. Either way, enjoy and looking forward to seeing your Lincolns.

 

Glad you enjoyed the adventure and I enjoyed the photos inside the bourse rooms...

Clinker

 

I always love your coin show posts. It makes me realize just how much I want your job and how much my job stinks.
Guy~

 

Great pictures, nice to see a pic of Rick too. Lots of good positive reports so far.

 

that was a fun read! i would have loved to go, but was to late hearing about it.

i hope to see more story and pictures!

 

Thanks for letting us flyover country folks vicariously enjoy the show. BTW Congratulations to Rick, I just read in the Numismatic News that he is the Numismatist of the Year!

 

Thank you for sharing

 

As always a great write up.
Thanks for sharing.

 

Charmy

It was good seeing you and Todd in the "other room". That was a bad job by ANA, splitting up the dealers into two different rooms. All of the dealers in the other room should get some money back on their table fees.

Hope you got to see the Simpson 1874 Bickford patterns (they were in your room) -- I thought they were the most impressive of the many great displays. The gold pattern was one of the most impressive coins I have ever laid eyes on.

You picked up some nice Conders -- I really like the look of the Clerkenwell(?). It's in beautiful condition.

I will let you know how Petty is when I see him in a couple of weeks. Enjoy the rest of the show. And keep Todd in line -- I notice his collection is getting nicer and nicer coins so he must be getting more and more customers.
Jeff

 

Charmy, your posts are, as always, informative, entertaining, and irresistible. Thanks.

 

Fun post to read through, thanks for that.

I like the buggy in the last picture! I was on the sand dunes a couple of days ago. FUN FUN FUN! Here's a video clip from my dune trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhFPJYZ7a6g

 

Thanks for the nice travelogue Charmy, say hi to Todd for me and we are looking forward to seeing your new toys.

 

Great read, Charmy. I'm looking forward to seeing the new coins you bought.

Bruce

 

We went to Legal Seafood last night here in the mall area, the Lobster bisque was amazing but we had some service issues, so not sure I'd recommend this particular restaurant. There is another Lrhgal Seafood here in the mall and one at the harbor which was great the last time I was in Boston, so perhaps it was just an off night. Then I went to a private poker tournament some dealers held at the hotel - it was $100 buy in, I came in second!

Here are a few more photos from yesterday's show.

This photo is of Mark Feld and Todd at my table taken yesterday morning when I came in. Mark brought Todd a lot of coins to photograph, and Todd just presented Mark with his bill....



There is an awsome MPL exhibit put on by FunwithMPL's - it is one of the best exhibits in the competition. He even featured the 1909 MPL new die variety that I was involved in helping to discover!




Here are some photos of the error book I bought with the authors' signatures.




More of the bourse floor...




And this is the hallway between the main floor and the red headed step child room we're in....



More later.....

 

Keep the reports coming, but you need to find a way to send me some of that lobster bisque. That stuff and I have a problem - I like it too much. Problem is that there are not too many lobsters growing in Oklahoma.

 

Here's a picture of Ziggy - he has been so wonderful making sure his young pages have been helping us. The little guys/gals are very attentive to the dealers and we have really appreciated their assistance! Thanks so much Ziggy!!!



And Ricky and Robin (900Fine) are just up the aisle from me - here they are working hard behind their table!



We're in the room with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which has been a very popular destination. This morning they had a really long line waiting to see some of their exhibits.





That's it for now....