Hey Numista. I plan on going to my first coin show in Elgin, IL on Sunday. I wanted to ask the community on tips when going to a coin show, or what advice you might have for somebody who is new? Maybe ways to get the best deal, etiquette, or anything else somebody who's never been to a show might need to know. I'm super excitedhanks again everyone.
What I collect: US, 3rd Reich Germany, Philippines, Ancients, Vatican City, North Korea.
Haven't been to one yet myself(yet I intend to go to one very soon), like these articles have mentioned, it's always good to be friendly, polite, and to think with common sense.
"He who laughs last, thinks slowest."
My coin collection on Numista is currently being updated, and is a work in progress as of now.
Go early and above all, have fun! Most dealers are friendly and willing to answer questions. It's perfectly acceptable to ask a dealer for his "best price" but by the same token, don't monopolize his time if you aren't spending. Remember, they are there to do business. You can sometimes learn a lot just by listening to conversations in the room.
I know it's a long way off but once you've warmed up in Elgin, the Central States Numismatic Society will have its annual show in Schaumburg in April. It's a big show with 300+ tables, educational programs and a major auction. http://www.centralstates.info/conv.html
In 2019, the American Numismatic Association's "World's Fair of Money" will be at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. https://www.money.org/
If you do attend the multi-day shows, be aware that Sundays can be disappointing. Although the show promoters try to discourage it, many dealers pack up on Saturday afternoon.
Quote: "dltcoins"Go early and above all, have fun! Most dealers are friendly and willing to answer questions. It's perfectly acceptable to ask a dealer for his "best price" but by the same token, don't monopolize his time if you aren't spending. Remember, they are there to do business. You can sometimes learn a lot just by listening to conversations in the room.
I know it's a long way off but once you've warmed up in Elgin, the Central States Numismatic Society will have its annual show in Schaumburg in April. It's a big show with 300+ tables, educational programs and a major auction. http://www.centralstates.info/conv.html
In 2019, the American Numismatic Association's "World's Fair of Money" will be at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. https://www.money.org/
If you do attend the multi-day shows, be aware that Sundays can be disappointing. Although the show promoters try to discourage it, many dealers pack up on Saturday afternoon.
I'm basically looking for cheaper bargain stuff. Will I still have a good time at a show?
What I collect: US, 3rd Reich Germany, Philippines, Ancients, Vatican City, North Korea.
In my experience most coin shows also have tables with trays of bargain bin coins that you can sort through if your budget isn't fit for the slabbed coins in the locked drawers.
Quote: "CassTaylor"In my experience most coin shows also have tables with trays of bargain bin coins that you can sort through if your budget isn't fit for the slabbed coins in the locked drawers.
That's me sounds like me. I honestly am into cheaper commons until I have a decent collection going
What I collect: US, 3rd Reich Germany, Philippines, Ancients, Vatican City, North Korea.
I lived in Park Ridge for 12 years (until two years ago). There are small shows nearly every Sunday: La Grange-Countryside and Itasca are good monthly shows (La Grange-Countryside is much larger than the other shows). Elgin, as I recall, is every six months. To find show listings, look at Coin World, World Coin News (online or physical papers), or Google "coin shows near me" or "coin shows in Illinois".
For the Sunday only shows, find out what time they open to the public, and go early. Many of the dealers will start packing up by about 2 pm.
Depending on which specific Elgin show it is, there is usually a good variety of U. S. coins and a variety of tokens. The VFW show was usually weaker on world coins--a specific dealer or two could really change that situation.
The referenced articles are pretty good. Dealers are generally friendly, but ask questions when they are not swamped with several customers.
All of the shows mentioned (except the large ANA shows) will have several bins/junk boxes, etc.; and some of those boxes may be of silver coins only. (You may want to take a calculator, if you are buying world coins based on melt value.)
If a book or box is marked "50% off all world coins", avoid trying to haggle with the dealer, unless you are offering to buy the entire book or box (or a significant quantity out of the box/book). If there is no discount sign, asking if there is a general discount for the contents of a book or box(es) is OK--and you may get the answer that it depends on what and how much you buy.
Relationships are important. If you like the dealer's stock, ask what shows they attend; if there are specific items that you want, ask about them--the dealer may have them at the shop. Either visit the shop or ask that they be brought to the next show (but only if you are a serious buyer and will be there).
If there is something specific that you are hunting, ask. The dealer may have it, but not on display. Also be willing to ask if they have a box of New Purchases (called "Nupes"). These could have been less "picked over" than older stock--but they are also less likely to be discounted significantly.
Above all, have fun. Ask questions, and listen. You will be amazed at what you can learn at a show.
I will disagree with one point in the articles. Always take your primary references. Leave them in the car when you know pricing well enough to only need them in emergencies. However, if you are hauling Krause catalogs, consider limiting yourself to one century, and be considerate about where/how you spread it open to use it.
In my experience, dealers do not mind you using your references, so long as it does not appear that you are trying to walk away with their merchandise. Make your movements match what you would tolerate from the other side of the table, and you should do fine.
With the Krause catalogs, some dealers may have them available. However, they may have an older edition, or may not have brought the century that you need.
Most of the largest coin shows will have a flyer with the floor set up, in which is the details / names of each vendor.
This is a great source of information, specially if they are from the same town/area... I normally keep them with notes, what they specialize, price range, friendly, etc.
If they are in an area I am planning to visit in the future I will try to pass by their shops as normally they take a smaller quantity of their coins to a show.
I will recommend you to buy after you walk the whole show that way you know who sells low price coins, bulk bags, etc. if that's what you are looking for.
Quote: "halfdisme"So, will you give us your thoughts/experiences about the Elgin show?
Thanks everyone for the advice. I had a good experience having fun looking at coins. Unfortunately, I did not find anything I was interested in buying. As a new collector, I was pretty much looking for bargain bin and cheaper coins, which were there, but they seemed to be priced more than the coin shops within an hour of me. As I sort of expected, most of the stuff being focused on were the higher end coins.
I was also looking for 2x2 cardboard coin flips, and nothing was cheaper than 600 coin flips for about $21 on Amazon.
Also, I noticed lots of dealers tended to be short when making small talk? They weren't busy with other customers but they seemed to be occupied doing other work. This seems pretty common, I'm not sure if that's because I'm a millennial/college student, they were busy, or if many coin dealers just seem to be introverted or just act that way. I do my best to be polite, but I can only do so much when they're being short with words.
What I collect: US, 3rd Reich Germany, Philippines, Ancients, Vatican City, North Korea.
As I said, relationships are important. First time/one time customers may not get much attention. If they see you often enough to recognize you, some of them will warm up (and some never will--for anyone!!!)
Put the Countryside show (November 12) on your calendar. It is a large one day show ( two days in December) that has a wide variety of items.
Quote: "halfdisme"Did you go to the coin show in Countryside last weekend?
I saw that. I had meant to but homework got the best of me. I know there are two more in the area that are coming up in late November and early December. I added them to Numista' s outings.
What I collect: US, 3rd Reich Germany, Philippines, Ancients, Vatican City, North Korea.
If you make it to Countryside next weekend, see Bob Szczerpansky (JDP Coins) or NKA Numismatics. Each has a wide variety of world coins. Bill Rumph has, at times, has had large bins of silver coins priced near melt.
You can tell them that Eugene said hello.
Quote: "ab001"On 1st. Sunday show at Palatine ,find Bill (shame on me,I don't remember his last name)--he has a lot of coins and they're not expensive
Thanks for the suggestion. I went to the show today and bought some coins. I even got some from Bill before realizing it was the person you recommended.
What I collect: US, 3rd Reich Germany, Philippines, Ancients, Vatican City, North Korea.
