I just spent the last three days (T, F & S) at FUN in Orlando. Among shopping, rubber-necking, and chatting, I also manned our local club table (Central Florida Coin Club). The tables were sold out according to my Mark I eyeball and also as heard from a FUN Director. Lots of retail traffic including through Saturday until about 1 or 2. Many dealers told me they were having a good to great show. I did hear a couple of dealers complain about not having a lot of material offered to them for sale. I found asking prices high for choice material and even lesser stuff. Generic pre-33 gold seemed to be reasonable (I bought a 1908 NM Double Eagle in PCGS MS-65 and a 1908-D Indian Eagle in PCGS AU-55). Overall, I picked up seven nice coins but I left with money still in my pocket. I've been getting pickier. I'll post photos on the US Coin Forum later in the week after they're photographed. Saw four, count 'em, four 1796 quarters from VF-Details to AU-58. And a couple of 1796 dimes, Handled several very high-priced and high-quality coins including proof LS and Trade dollars. One dealer had a complete set of Trade Dollars in high AU and MS grades that he was offering as a set sale only. We had a couple of nice conversations about his strategy for selling or auctioning this set. As usual, tons of Morgans and bullion on offer. Ancients and World was pretty well represented although I still cannot find any hammered pre-Norman silver penneys at these shows. The show was back in the West Concourse and it was cold in there! Pretty much everybody shivered through the show. The four TPGs were all there and did good business. The line for PCGS was always heavy. Had a nice chat with @johnmilton and, as always, he taught me a thing or two. Showed up for the EAC Club Meeting at 9 on Saturday morning and while the room was labeled and set up for the meeting, Tom Reynolds and I were the only two to show up so we had our own meeting. I'd never spoken with Tom before and found him a nice conversationalist and obviously hugely knowledgeable on early copper. Attended a nice presentation on So-Called Dollars by Tony Swicer. I knew almost nothing about these medals so came away with more than I started with. Jeff Shevlin was also there promoting his new book on So-Called Dollars so I bought the deluxe edition with an actual Columbian Exposition (I think, it has to be shipped to me) SCD embedded in the cover. Several other people bought the standard edition so the publication looks like it will be popular. Last January, the food vendors started taking only credit cards, no cash. This Summer FUN, the parking attendants were only taking credit cards ($10 parking for the FUN show, a discount of $10 from normal) and it was seamless if not quite as fast as cash. So, if your going to go to the next FUN in January, be prepared to pay for parking with a CC. Weather was good if steamy and we got the typical Florida thunderstorm at 3 on Saturday but it didn't last long. Slept in this morning 'cause I was tired.
Nice write up, thank you. One day maybe I can make it to a real show like this. The stuff we get in Maine is lacking...
I've made a few midsummer trips to FL on business (another industry), and don't have the courage to do it again. The heat and bright sun really get to me. In fact, I was once so blinded by the sun that I nearly got hit by a car while crossing the street. Winter FUN is an entirely different story . . . won't miss that. Thanks for the report, @Publius2. It's good to know what's going on.
It's all in what you're acclimated to. My sister and BIL visit from Michigan in January and when all us natives are bundled up in sweaters, jackets and long pants, they're running around in tee shirts, shorts and sandles. You know what they call me and you can guess what I call them when they visit in the summer.
