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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;WingedLiberty, post: 1204502, member: 26030&quot;]I went the the Whitman (Baltimore) Coin Show today (Friday, June 17).&nbsp; It was my first coin show.&nbsp; My primary reason for going was to hand submit a number of raw coins to PCGS for grading -- but I was curious to see a show first hand.</p><p><br /></p><p>I bought this NGC-graded MS64 Standing Liberty Quarter while I was there (sorry about the photo, it doesnt nearly do the coin justice, my little iPhone really struggled with it).&nbsp; This coin looks SO GREAT in hand -- really great color (amber, pink, red, gold, &amp; green) and nice luster.&nbsp; This image just doesnt capture it very well.&nbsp; The photo shows a lot of black -- in reality there is no black on the coin at all.&nbsp; I think my lighting is too dark (taken in indirect low-sun-angle sunlight).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]127177.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A few thoughts on my first coin show:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. <b>Parking was a pain.</b>&nbsp; I was thinking a big convention center in Baltimore would have their own parking, but they leave you to struggle to find a public parking garage blocks away (parking cost me $11 for 2.5 hours).&nbsp;&nbsp; For first time coin show participants, scope out the parking in advance and bring a road map to the parking lot, then walking directions to the venue building.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. <b>The coin show was HUGE!</b>&nbsp; I was very overwhelmed.&nbsp; There must have been 600 to 800 tables/dealers.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was there about 2 1/2 hours and only saw tables down one outside wall, and a few tables in the middle.&nbsp; So I probably looked at maybe 5% of the tables there.&nbsp; I guess I will need to allocate more time next time I go to a show (like 10 hours or something!!!)</p><p><br /></p><p>3. <b>Cash Only (or Checks).</b>&nbsp; I was surprised that nobody I spoke with would take a credit card.&nbsp; I did bring my checkbook but only had 1 check in the register.&nbsp;&nbsp; I will have to make a mental note of that in the future.</p><p>&nbsp; </p><p>4. <b>Few Web Sites.</b>&nbsp; I was shocked how many people there said they dont sell on the net or have a website.&nbsp; They sell by going to shows.&nbsp; WOW.</p><p><br /></p><p>5. <b>No Price Tags. </b> I wish they would put prices on the coins; or organize their coins by price in the display cases (under $100, 100-500, 500-1000, 1000-2000, $2000+) however I completely understand why they dont (too time consuming and prices often change).&nbsp; Still it was sort of unwieldy constantly asking about their selling price.&nbsp;&nbsp; And often I would fall in love with a coin, wait to ask the price, ask the price, then the dealer would struggle to find the price, then I would find out it&#039;s out of my price range.&nbsp; Then repeat the process 100 times.&nbsp; There needs to be a better way!</p><p><br /></p><p>6. <b>Live Coins Are Great!</b>&nbsp; It was great seeing so many coins live.&nbsp; I am so used to buying off&nbsp; the internet where you are relying on just 1 photo.&nbsp; Nothing beats&nbsp; seeing a coin in hand before you buy it.&nbsp; It was nice the way all the coins were laid out in display cases. Allowing instant side by side comparison of hundreds of coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>7. <b>It&#039;s not all guys.&nbsp; </b>This is probably a funny statement but there were a lot more hot women there than I was expecting. Beautiful sexy women are into coins? Who knew? </p><p><br /></p><p>8.&nbsp; <b>Bring your own documentation/guides.</b> How do people handle knowing what the PCGS/NGC price guides say?&nbsp; I&nbsp; often asked the dealer what the guide price was (and they would check&nbsp; their computer and tell me) ... so I could find out how much of a&nbsp; premium they were putting on the coin.&nbsp;&nbsp; That was probably rude, but I&nbsp; claim ignorance!&nbsp;&nbsp; Do most people being some sort of bid sheet with them&nbsp; (like a grey sheet or something).&nbsp; I have to say in some ways buying&nbsp; off the net is easier -- but it&#039;s hard to replace the experience of&nbsp; seeing a coin live before you buy it.</p><p><br /></p><p>9. <b>Lots of guns.</b>&nbsp; It was strange seeing all the cops (security) with &quot;heavy artillery&quot; standing around.&nbsp; But it makes sense since the room was probably filled with $20 million+ in coins.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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