Well folks I went to the show today and sorry to say not much to report. There were about 50 dealers maybe more. Talking to one of my friends, he said a lot of the dealers were from out of state. I went in at 1200 and was out by 1:30. Most of that time was spent talking guns with one of my fellow police officer friends who was doing the security. Anyway, this would have been a perfect show for someone that has not been to one before. There was a little of everything but not enough to totally confuse anyone new and small enough to talk to most of the dealers since it wasnt too crowded. I went specifically to look for coin supplies and there was none to be found...not even 2x2's LOL!! I saw a dealer that I believe was from England and he had all ancients. They were sorted in piles...yes that's right piles about 12 inches in diameter by 2 or 3 inches high. I didnt talk to him because 1) Im totally lost with ancients and 2)not really my interest. I didnt realise they were so small in size. Most looked smaller or as small as a dime. I can say one thing overall about this show.....I never saw so many slabs in my life LOL!!!!! I even saw some with a name of Renaiasance....who ever that is. Some didnt even have names on them but did have bar codes. Didnt see too many foreigns but there were some. I may go back on Sunday since I saw a Japanese silver 1 bu piece. Didnt have a price on it but I may go and give it a second look. That isnt what I collect but it caught my eye hehheh. Funny thing was that dealer had some trade dollars also that looked like the bogus ones on ebay (Im sure these were real) but I thought it was funny since he was wearing one of those Chinese style coats and the first thing that came to my mind was all the ebay ruckus that was going on recently with the coins coming in from China. Saw a lot of slabbed state quarters but almost every slabbed coin in the place didnt have a price on it. I guess thats how it's done. So here is the skinny. If you are coming to Hawaii to visit, vacation etc come on down. If you are coming specifically for the next coin show...I wouldnt. If you are coming to the next show as a dealer, please bring some nice foreigns especially those fancy colored ones from Canada and bring airtites!!!! LOL.
Good report, cush. If that's what a typical coin show is like, I don't think I've been missing much. LOL There are more coin dealers, with a better variety of material, at the larger gun shows in my area. Heck, I can get all the AirTites and 2x2's I want from the coin guy at the local flea market. Thanks again, and good luck if you go back on Sunday.
Jody: I think it is typical only for here. I have been to some although it ways reallllllllll long ago in NC and CA and they were huge. What few coin shops remain here are mostly specialized and you wont see anything at the swap meets. You know how there are normally displays at almost any type of show / convention. Well the ones at this show (I think I saw 2) were in the small display cases that dealers have on their tables. One display was in one case and the other took up about 4 display cases hehheh. I was seriously thinking of joining a coin club in Honolulu but Im having doubts now hehheh.
Yes, I think there is one (large coin show) in Hickory, NC, and another in Lynchburg, VA, that are in my general area, but they are both such a long drive, that it would make it impossible to enjoy myself once I got there.
Thanks for the report on the show. I can understand how confusing the ancient coins are. At the Palm Beach show, I spent several hours with an ancient dealer across from me. My knowledge is incredibly limited in this area, so I have been trying to learn more about them. Most of us have a certain appreciation for the early coins, but if you take a little time to look deeper, you may find a love for these early hammered pieces of metal.
