What do you bring to coin shows?

Thank God you bring pants!

 

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I do have standards. They are quite low, but I do have standards. For example, I like @CoinCorgi and @MeowtheKitty and both of them put up with me (the low standards I referenced).

 

I keep it simple. I bring a loupe, my want list and lots of Federal Reserve Notes in all denominations.

 

I normally will wear my backpack containing one of my aluminum slab boxes so that any slabs I purchase are not banging around loose together. I also have my wallet, phone and bottled water in the backpack. I always wear a 10X loupe to a coin show as well.

 

Cash, wallet, gold, flashlight or 2, phone, combo 5x/10x loupe

I don’t have a linear collection so no holes to fill

 

Was it Groucho Marx that said it first? Kudos for remembering and double kudos if you came up with it on your own.

I think it was from the movie "A Night at the Opera" when he said "I have standards and if you don't like these, I have others."

 

Thank you friend, I've been accused of far worse than stealing from Groucho.

 

Wow I wish I needed to take s duffel bag with me to a coin show. My pocket is usually plenty big enough...

 

That reminds me of a good friend, many years ago, and great times. We were out on Fire Island in NY. After more than one libation he says to me, hey swimmer, I don't think I've ever told you, but I'm bi. I said, don't worry buddy, I'm not selling.

 

I have always traveled light when it comes to coin shows. My wat list, a wad of cash, and a magnifying glass was all I needed. Unfortunately, many of our area shows are no longer being held. Is this a nationwide trend? I would love to take my kiddos to a show some weekend without traveling too far.

 

It does seem like many of the smallest local shows didn't survive. The promoter passed away or just discovered the money and joy wasn't there.

Clubs stopped - a once a year show was a big source of funding for the club, but nobody wanted to work on it. So the club contracts and dies.

The question is whether new promoters will step in to fill the holes. It's a lot of work, but if you can get a core of dealers who always show up, it can work.

 

I agree, Burton. I am a member of a couple non-profit organizations outside of coin collecting, and there seems to be a trend across the board. Less people are committed to organizations these days, and recruiting younger people is difficult. I think the idea of giving back to society has been forgotten by many.

 

I bring a 5x loupe with light, a UV light for banknotes, cash, buy and sell lists on paper, inventory to sell, usually a reference book or two, and a good small wheeled suitcase for bigger shows or satchel for smaller shows.

 

I don't care to carry much with me at a show. Just my phone, a loupe and lots of cash. I go back to the hotel at lunch and research items I may wish to buy on the laptop.

 

Good idea about going back to the hotel to research...IF you don't meet up with anyone and get lunch/beer with them! I was thinking of leaving my laptop in the car (trunk), and researching (if needed - I do have the phone for quick reference) if I have to. Since my collection is of low value, and the items I would buy would generally be under $100, not much research is really needed. If I were buying 4-digit or 5-digit coins, I'd have to do a lot more research, for sure! Well, I'd have to do a lot more pre-show research, first.

 

So, I thought I was onto something with using the cell phone MagnifierPlus app to view coins rather than a 5x loupe and 10x loupe. I figured other people would have already been doing that. But, apparently, I'm more technologically advanced than everyone else! LOL! No, actually, more like I have no idea what I'm doing! I'm still going to test it out on some of my coins, just to see if there's any validity to using the phone as much as I was thinking.

I was imagining the cell phone could replace a lot of the things on the list: 5x magnifier, 10x loupe, light source (use the phone's flashlight), paper Want Lists and research (can have Excel files, Word docs, PDFs on the phone), laptop (for research), price guides (could have PCGS apps, Numismedia, Greysheet all on the phone), notepad and pens (can use the phone's Note app), and even cash/credit card in some cases (IF the dealers take PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or other forms of digital payment).

Of course, viewing all of that on the phone can be a bit eye-straining (itty-bitty screen). Hence, the question about whether people bring a laptop. Seems that most just bring paper with them.

Thanks for all your input, everyone!

 

@Eric Babula - I have a USB microscope that I plug into my phone. I use that at larger shows when I'm hunting RPDs.

 

Me personally, I don't use a 5x loupe. I use a 30x.

 

What I take to shows is very different for small local shows versus big national shows. I can’t remember the last time I bought a coin at a local show. I go mostly to support local coin clubs … in addition to the admission price, I buy a fistful of raffle tickets … even won once. My philosophy is to buy fewer, high-grade, rarer coins, which means my buying frequency is low. The chance of any dealer, local or national, having a coin on my want list at a reasonable price is also low. Most of my U.S. coins are bought via auctions.

My smart phone is always with me day and night and has apps from major auction houses, PCGS and NGC. For a local show, a magnifying glass, pen and paper, and maybe a Redbook will do it. These fit in a small bag with a neck strap.

National shows are a different ballgame. I’ll be flying and usually have a roller bag for the overhead bin. But I also have a smaller roller bag that fits the airlines’ definition of “small personal item” and will fit under a seat. It can carry a book or two, a laptop and charger, extension cord, magnifying glass, pen and paper, cap, coins to sell or consign, snack, bottle of water and more.

This bag is what I take into large shows. It has a sturdy pull-up handle and 4 spinner wheels. The last two features are really important. I move around the show with the case in front of me, all four rollers on the floor, the handle pulled up and part of my weight on the handle. It’s sort of like a wheeled walker. I don’t need a walker or other device for mobility, but when using the case this way, I’m less tired after spending 4-6 hours on my feet than I would be moving around with only a shoulder bag.

One thing I didn’t expect when taking this bag into a show is that I would be mistaken for a dealer. I’m often asked by dealers as I’m passing by if I have anything to sell or trade. Couple of times I was near the head of the line waiting for a show to open and the guards waved me in.

My bag is Amazon brand, but there are many brands with the same features. You can spend hundreds of dollars on one; mine was less than $100. Picture of typical bag is below.

Cal