Charmy's 2015 SUMMER BALTIMORE SHOW REPORT w/lots of Pics!!!

This was the first time I attended the Summer Baltimore show, mostly due to conflicts with the ANA Summer Seminar, but also I had heard the summer shows were much slower with much lower attendance than the spring and winter shows. Also, with all the recent media attention about the riots, it gave me pretty low expectations about attendance and sales but I didn’t have any shows scheduled for July so I thought I’d give it a try. However, other than the theft of Rick’s rare 1864-L proof Indian cent, I saw nothing scary or problematic during my entire time in Baltimore, and I even ended up having really good sales and bought several great coins, so I was very glad I attended this show.

Due to flight schedules and that I wanted to do some auction lot viewing before the show, and maybe play some poker at the new casino, I left on Tuesday which is a day earlier than I usually leave for the Baltimore show. I got through security at the John Wayne airport with no bag check so I had plenty of time for my usual preflight beverage!



It seemed like a long time since I had set up at a show (almost 6 weeks), so this is me very happy to be going to the Baltimore show.



Other than the obvious perks of upgrading to first class, one of the other perks is that your bag gets tagged with a bright orange priority label and is put on the plane last so it can come off first – so I watched as my bag was one of the very last bags to be loaded.



Arriving in Baltimore!







The Whitman folks were also nice enough to open security a day earlier so we had a place to safely store our bags until the show opened on Thursday. Since I arrived after hours, we were led through a very empty bourse floor in order to get to the security room.



This is the security room – when you drop your bag off, they give you a ticket for your bags (the other half of the ticket is stuck to your bag), and they require the ticket, an ID, and signature when you retrieve your bag.



I had a really nice view of the harbor from my hotel room





On Wednesday morning, I took my time (getting adjusted to the time change), then headed over to auction lot viewing. I forgot to take a photo when I was viewing lots (it was very packed with folks looking at coins), but I took this shot of the viewing room the next day after the show opened.



I ran into these two wheelers and dealers in the auction room, and then we did some wheeling and dealing afterwards!

Rick Show and Brian Wagner



A pre-show very empty convention center registration lobby



In and around the convention center







Outside the convention center, a lone police officer was on watch

 

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Camden Yards is just a block behind the convention center









Coin business taken care of, I headed to the casino!





The poker room is large and was pretty full.




The show opened at 8:00am Thursday morning – way too early for this west coast gal! But I got to the show on time and began setting up.



Here’s me all set up and open for business!



One of the first people I ran into at the show is one of my most favorite (and handsome) dealers – Dino Koromvokis!



Thursday was a really busy day for me. I had some great sales, and by Thursday afternoon, I had bought quite a few nice coins, much more than I had anticipated I would find at this show!



Here are some highlights:









I even found an Indian cent proof in a DOILY HOLDER (which I am keeping for my own collection)!!




I also picked up a few Lincoln errors I had submitted to PCGS. This is an error I bought that came with the old ANACS cert card

 

This piece is actually the 10th planchet that broke off of my 9-planchet deep die cap error







I bought this very pretty nickel struck on a cent planchet at a local show a few months ago so I decided to get it graded too. I thought it would come back MS65, but what do I know!



After the show, Rick and I decided to head back to the poker room!



Outside the casino, they had this gorgeous classic car on display!





We decided to have dinner in one of the casino restaurants – the entrees were amazing, as well as over-abundant! I ordered the pasta and had enough left over for two lunches!



Rick had the meatloaf.



They even had some great live music in the lounge



Of course, the Penny Lady had to have a photo next to the Penny machine!




Friday there was a decent crowd, but it was slow even in the morning.



Stacks Bowers’ table seemed to always be busy.





At noon, I headed to the auction to bid on a few lots I had picked out. By the way, I understand that the auction the night before for the Early copper didn’t end until 5:00am on Friday morning!!







Unfortunately for me, but good for whoever was bidding, the lots I wanted had already reached my limit before they came up, so I watched a few of the sales, then went back to my table without even bidding on anything!

This is a view from the inside of the convention center looking out on Charles street.



This is one of the bottles of my local wine I brought with me to share with my friends in the afternoon. It went very quickly!



David at PCGS is always nice and very helpful.

 

After the show on Friday, we headed out to dinner. It was such a nice evening, we decided to walk over to Capital Grille.



They had complimentary hors devours – this is a lobster roll and their variety of breads





We especially enjoyed their special summer Generous Pour Wine Tasting!











Ron and I split their filet/lobster tail special and their halibut dinner so we could have a little of both



Rick had their delicious rib-eye



The poured so much wine, that even I couldn’t keep up!



Thus, we were all happy campers by the end of the meal!







After dinner, we decided to walk over to Vaccarro’s for dessert, so I took some photos along the way.

 

We passed by a street fair where they had live music.

























There was quite a line at Vaccarro’s, which I understand is usual.





This little boy was quite happy with his HUGE dessert – and I bet he thought he didn’t have to share it!

 

The three of us split two desserts, but we still couldn’t finish them!



We all agreed the apple strudel was by far the best!







Across the street from Vaccarro’s, they had a “movie in the park” going on – The Wizard of Oz was playing on the side of a building!







We then walked over to one of our favorite night spots, Howl at the Moon over at the Power Plant











Right off, they played the “Piano Man” and this guy did a great job on the harmonica!





They had the usual chalk board where you could pay $1 more than the last person to have them write whatever you wanted on the board – so of course, I had them get rid of some icky comment about the Baltimore Orioles and replace it with an comment about the wonderful Anaheim Angels!!!





Of course, I requested my favorite classic “Time Warp”





Then a cute group of girls from a bachelorette party showed up and really livened up the party!



And then the very tasty fireball shots came, and came…..

 

If I thought Wednesday morning came too early, then I was sorely mistaken, because waking up Saturday morning REALLY came waaaaaay too early!!!! I arrived just about the same time as the public was being let in!



Although Saturday seemed pretty slow, I had a couple of good sales, including an 1855 Pattern Cent I had just bought at the show. But I had an early flight out so I had to pack up around noon and head to the airport.

While I was waiting for my flight, I got a text from a friend who told me about Rick’s $127,500 1864 with L Proof Indian cent just being stolen. It just made me sick. Thievery at coin shows is not uncommon, but to me it is the most frustrating, disgusting, and maddening part of this industry. We all work hard for what we have, and to have some pathetic loser just steal what we work hard for is so disheartening. I fervently hope that this special and rare coin is recovered and that the thief/thieves are caught and stuck away for a long time.







Soon I was on my way home, with a 3-hour layover (plus an hour delay) in Dallas. Bye-bye Baltimore….



Hello Orange County…..





We arrived about a half hour before the 11:00 pm flight curfew, so the airport was completely deserted!



My hubby was working all night so my sweet daughter-in-law picked me up at the airport and dropped me off at home. Luckily, my adorable Penny was purring when I picked her up and smothered her with hugs and kisses!

 

Still can't believe that about Ricks Indian.
Great write up!

 

Thanks again for a great report, Charmy. That really sucks about Rick's misfortune. I hope they catch the perp and keelhaul him from one end of the Chesapeake to the other.

Chris

 

Hold on, we're talking Baltimore. Since the recent "difficulties", they'll probably just make him write, "I won't take things that aren't mine." 50 times if he's caught.

 

I knew by posting about Rick's coin in my show report that there would be comments like the one above, but please let's not go there any further. Although the theft of Rick's coin was extreme due to its value, thievery at coin shows is not uncommon, and is not unique to Baltimore. In addition to posting pictures of the coin show itself, I was hoping to show you all that Baltimore is a beautiful city with lots of positive things to offer. Yes, it has its flaws, like most big cities, but they are being dealt with and they were not evident to us and did not affect the show or the surrounding area whatsoever.

 

It is sad the coin was stolen, but I am a bit shocked because I would expect a coin like that to be locked up in some way. I mean, the dealers I visited had to unlock the cases for me to look at any coin. So, was this particular coin not locked under a case?

 

Yes the coin was always kept under lock and key - until the case was opened to show coins to a customer. Thieves are very slick and experienced, and often have magician-like skills when it comes to their "craft."

 

Thankyou Charmy. Sorry to hear about Rick's loss.

 

Great write up as always. Thanks so much for taking the time to do it. It really is a treat. That coin must be found. There should be no way to fence something like that. Which makes me even more sick to think what people might do to "disguise" it. Ugh. So, so ____ all around... On that note, I'll leave with my thoughts on the last 2 pictures: KITTY WITTTY WIDDY KITTY!! SO CUTE!!

 

Thank you Charmy, great slide show, may you produce many many more!! Hope to see you again in the Seattle or Portland area next year!

 

great write up. I hope they find Rick's coin.

 

They need to start putting " Micro Chips " in the slabs of theses high valued coins ...

 

Hi Charmy ,
You always seem to enjoy Baltimore , and from a native here I'm always glad to hear the positive . I did not have time to make the some this time as I've been busy since late Spring with a huge contact . Maybe catch you this fall or in the spring again.
You always seem to put in your shoe reports a little flavor of he cities you attend.
The photos of the USCGC Taney at its Morring at pier 6, was at Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41. Every December 7 there are services on board her, sad each year the men from that era get fewer.
You can't beat Little Italy for food, and of course "Movies under the stars"
Vaccarro 's is just sinful.... but soooo good! Everyone always walks off dinner ,and then heads there for killer desserts .
I'm always glad to read your reports on the shows here at CT.
It was good to hear the show was a success as being in the middle of summer I was thinking the turn out would not have been to large. This time of year everyone is "down the ocean hon"! Said in his best Baltimore accent.
Sad to hear about Rick ' s lost.... I had heard from dealer friends security was not up to par for this show.
Well glad you enjoyed the experience here ,there's a lot to do and see here. I look forward to reading more of your reports from future shows.
Regards Paddy

 

Great report Charmy.