I have never been to a coin show and it doesn't seem like we have any locally (maybe once a year). I have found mention of two differnet coins shows that will be happening in the next month but they are both 2-3 hour drives. Can anyone help me figure out if they are going to be worth my time. I am trying to avoid driving to a show that ends up being one guy selling coins out of a briefcase. Here is the info I have found... Nor Cal IX Coin Show Elk's Lodge #559 Sat July 31- Aug 1 2850 Redwood Parkway, Vallejo and Sacramento Coin Show Sunday Aug 8 Red Lion Sacramento Inn 1401 Arden Way
Hi camlov2, I am also in California. If you are in the Bay, you should attend the Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo. It comes around twice a year. The next one is in November. There are around 400 dealers (or so they claim) at the show each time. The last time I went I forgot to count. http://santaclaraexpo.com/
The "Nor Cal IX Coin Show" is listed as having 35+ dealers. The "Sacramento" is listed as having 25 dealers. Whether they are worth going to depends upon what you collect. In my experience shows of this size are heavy in modern coins and raw older coins. Slabbed coins tend to be from the popular sets such as Morgans.
The "Nor Cal IX Coin Show" is listed as having 35+ dealers. The "Sacramento" is listed as having 25 dealers. Whether they are worth going to depends upon what you collect. In my experience shows of this size are heavy in modern coins and raw older coins. Slabbed coins tend to be from the popular sets such as Morgans. If you want variety so that you can look at a lot of better coins go to one like stealer mentioned.
There are 5 coin shows here in my city annually, including the local numismatic association's annual coin show(the bigger of the 5). They're well worth the time to go to. You can find some good deals, and unexpected bargains.
I am actually farther north in a town called Paradise which is located in the foothills near Chico (best know for Sierra Nevada Brewery and Chico state). I would be primarily looking for small size bills, dimes from around 1905, and anything else that catches my eye.
Vallejo is a good show -- it's sponsored by the Norcal regoinal club, and run this year by the Vallejo Coin Club, which is *very* active. (I was a member of that club for a long time and didn't drop my membership until I'd been here three or four years.) This particular show, I think, is known to rotate from place to place. I moved out of California before that Sacramento show started up, but I understand that it is pretty good. It's a commercial show rather than a club show, which is a little unusual in Northern California. In the past, the Chico Coin Club used to have a show in October or November; this was the once a year show you mentioned, and it was a nice show. I can't find any evidence that it's scheduled for this year, but your local dealer(s) would probably know for sure. I don't know of any other recurring shows in your area any closer than Sacramento. The nearest big show to you is Santa Clara, probably three times a year. And I fully recommend heading down to Sacramento in March for the spring ANA show next year; having an ANA show anywhere remotely close is a treat. The last one in Sacramento was in 1999 and was a total blast!
