Attended Thu and Fri. First time I’ve been since 2019. Show has been moved to a different hall in the Convention Center since my last visit. This would have been OK if I had known. Original hall was accessed via the main entrance to the center on Pine Ave. When I got to the main entrance at opening time, all the doors were locked. Must have been 50-100 people milling around wondering where the show was or if it had been canceled. There were no signs saying the coin show was on the other side of the center. Finally, I went exploring (long walk from one side to the other) and found the entrance, which did have signs. Told the officials they needed to put signs at main entrance directing folks to other side. Show itself was a little smaller than I remember, which probably is why it was in a different hall. Still seemed to be well attended. See the pic. Had to take the pic surreptitiously because there were signs prohibiting pictures and video. Really ridiculous because everyone has a camera in their pocket. All the dealers except one I remembered from before were there. So was the U.S. mint and the grading services. The missing dealer was one who always had a big booth at the back selling books, coin boxes and other supplies. Had a good time talking to many dealers. Met some new ones. Always learn something from dealers at every show. Saw some spectacular coins … far more expensive than I can afford … coins like the British Una and the Lion 5 pounds of Queen Victoria (the real one, not the recent Royal Mint reissues) and a matte proof St. Gaudins double eagle. Stack’s Bowers will be auctioning the Una soon if you’ve got a couple hundred thousand to spare. Didn’t buy anything for myself but recorded several coins that I might contact the dealer about later. Did buy a birth date proof set for my son. My wife bought a medal which is pictured below. It’s a bronze 70 mm French medal by Lucien Coudray. It was issued by the Paris mint in 1900 with a mintage of 4500. Reference is Maier 223. There is a lot of confusion on the internet and elsewhere about the artist’s name. Because the artist signed his medals with an L superimposed on the C of his last name, he is often referred to as C. Loudray. In fact, the dealer from whom my wife bought the medal had the artist as C. Loudray. Lucien Coudray was a popular French medalist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The obverse shows Orpheus holding a lyre and supposedly at the gate of Hades. Actually, I know of no authoritative source that states Opheus is at the gates of Hades on the medal. Orpheus is a mythical ancient Greek hero. He sailed with Jason and the Argonauts. After his wife died of a snake bite, he descended into Hades in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue her. He was a great poet and musician. Hence, the lyre in his hand. I’m not certain of the interpretation of the reverse. All in all, it was a great show for us. My wife and I really like Long Beach and being able to eat at our favorite restaurants again. Cal
Glad you found the show and had a great time. Your wife’s medal is great and I’m sure it was nice to have her along.
