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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;calcol, post: 3866454, member: 77639&quot;]I go to 1-2 major shows and 1-2 local small shows per year.&nbsp; I have my short want list, but my expectation is I won&#039;t find the coins at a reasonable price.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most of my purchases are via auctions, especially pricier coins.&nbsp; I often look at lots for upcoming auctions at major shows.</p><p><br /></p><p>So why go to shows?&nbsp; Three reasons:&nbsp; looking at coins, socializing and learning.&nbsp; I often meet old friends and make new friends.&nbsp; Some are collectors, some are dealers, some are both.&nbsp; Great to catch up with them and sometimes share a meal.&nbsp;&nbsp; The learning aspect at shows is huge.&nbsp; Yes, sometimes learning occurs at exhibits and presentations.&nbsp; But most of my learning is done by walking around and talking to dealers and other collectors.&nbsp;&nbsp; Many dealers, if they don&#039;t have customers at their table, will talk to you at length.&nbsp; Dealers know a lot about pure numismatics, but also, by necessity, a huge amount about the commercial aspects of coins ... sources, pricing, negotiating, dealing with TPGs and more.&nbsp; I&#039;ve learned a huge amount about TPGs from a dealer with a reputation for being crusty and arrogant.&nbsp; You just have to catch him in the right mood to get him to open up.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dealers vary a lot in their knowledge.&nbsp; Some might as well be selling nuts and bolts for all they know about numismatics; others have written books on the subject.&nbsp; It doesn&#039;t take long to determine which ones can teach you and which ones can&#039;t.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another way of learning at major shows is to look at auction lots, including coin series that you aren&#039;t familiar with and don&#039;t currently collect.&nbsp; One aspect is learning to grade better.&nbsp;&nbsp; Pull a slab out of the box covering the grade with your thumb.&nbsp; GTG, then see if you were right.&nbsp; If far off, try to see why.&nbsp;&nbsp; Looking at auction lots is also a great way to get acquainted with areas of collecting you&#039;ve never considered collecting.&nbsp;&nbsp; Never looked at US colonials or coins from Great Britain or ancient Greece or ...?&nbsp;&nbsp; Easy to have a quick look.&nbsp;&nbsp; In the auction lot viewing room, you get a nice seat at a table, often with a free beverage, and a nice light.&nbsp; The servers will bring you whatever you ask for. You have to ask by lot number, but catalogs are available.&nbsp; The server will bring an entire box of coins that includes the lot you requested.&nbsp; So you get to look at dozens of coins in addition to the specific lot.&nbsp; You can look at as many lots as you want.&nbsp; Be sure to take a reference book or two when you go into the viewing room.&nbsp; I take the RedBook and 1 or 2 others.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, if I spend to fly and get lodging for a major show and don&#039;t buy anything, am I disappointed?&nbsp; Not at all!&nbsp; Main purpose was to look at coins, socialize and learn ... any buying is just a bonus.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cal[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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