The Reeded Edge Returns from a Successful Central States Show

The conclusion of The Central States Numismatic Convention proved interesting, to say the least. An unexpected spring snow storm moved in on Saturday, cancelling flights and altering travel plans. Rob and Robbie ended up driving 600 miles home with another east coast coin dealer, each one a casualty of cancelled flights. Travel hassles aside, Central States was both productive and profitable. Although we heard some gripes from fellow dealers, most of the market leaders concurred with our assessment; business was out there if one sought it out.

The market continues to be price sensitive and quality conscious. Virtually any coin can be resold at a quick profit if it is purchased at the right level. This trend was evident throughout the show. The real challenge continues to be finding coins at the right level. Fortunately for Rob, Robbie and The Reeded Edge, their market presence has helped garner both business and coins towards their booth.

The guys had a great buying show, a fact evidenced by the hundreds of new coins listed on our store this week. Selling also was solid, although the show crowd was sparse at times. From our understanding, the Heritage auction was very strong with several rarities realizing multiples of their pre-sale estimates.

With the reemergence of PCGS on-site grading, new life was breathed into the show. We believe with their current leadership team and market direction, PCGS can only help other major coin shows, as well. Much of our new inventory is fresh Central States grading returns, courtesy of PCGS on-site show grading.

Although an overall good show, in our opinion, Central States could be shortened to a 2-3 day bourse and a 1/2 day setup, probably with similar results. The length of this show is unnecessarily long, and at times, seems arduous. At the end of the day, Central States once again performed, mostly a bi-product of an overall healthy coin market and an enthusiastic collector audience.

The Reeded Edge heads to Schaumburg, IL for 80th Annual Central States Numismatic Convention

CSNC convention centerThe upcoming spring Central States 80th Annual Numismatic Convention should be robust. By all accounts, the coin market is healthy and has found an equilibrium trading range that most dealers seem comfortable with. The metals markets also seem to have stabilized. With the reemergence of on-site, third party grading, all the necessary components for a good coin show are in place; thankfully, after a one year hiatus, PCGS has made the decision to put this major event back on it’s calendar. Rob and Robbie will be manning The Reeded Edge’s booth at Central States at their usual, front-of-the-hall location, Booth #1401. From the opening bell on Wednesday, until things wind down on Saturday afternoon, the guys are projecting a healthy and active show. It is worth mentioning that they will have MANY new, certified coins in tow, the results of a major east coast collection that they had been working on for several months. Our advice is to take advantage of this venue to get an early shot at these fresh coins, as full page ads in Numismatic News and Coin World will be also featuring them. Given the diversity and farm-fresh nature of this numismatic cache, we are expecting an enthusiastic response. Hopefully, the Chicago area will be in your plans next week, and you will be able to join the guys at this important spring coin show.

Inaugural Gettysburg Spring Show is a Resounding Success

Gettysburg Half DollarThere is no luck anymore when it comes to coin shows. The good ones are a result of a hard work and a dedicated effort. The Battlefield Coin Show, and more specifically, organizer Mike Dixon, hits the mark on both counts. He and his group of volunteers understand what it takes to make a coin show successful. At the heart is a good venue. Gettysburg, with all of it’s Civil War history and built for tourism flavor is about as good as a small and somewhat remote location could be. This is a weekend destination, and nobody minds the 1-2 hour journey from Baltimore, DC, Philly or Pittsburgh. In other words, Gettysburg is well within reach of the major mid-Atlantic population centers (as well as their airports). A coin show also has to be properly marketed. Once again, Mike gets an A+. But at the end of the day, it is the dealers and collectors alike who must choose to support it. We were very pleased in both areas, as Mike continues to improve the dealer mix as well as attract an impressive number of collectors, both achievements for a show of this size. Rob and Robbie were both a little taken back at the amount of activity in Gettysburg. Quite of bit of two way business was transacted throughout all three days. Coming only a week after the Pittsburgh ANA National Money Show, this show really was a wildcard. There are not many small shows anymore that we deem viable. The Battlefield Coin Show has earned our vote of confidence, and if this last weekend was any indication whatsoever, this is a show that will remain on our calendar for years to come!

Pittsburgh ANA WAY Above Expectations-This Week, On to Gettysburg

Battlefield Coin ShowWe can only hope that this week’s Battlefield Coin Show in Gettysburg, PA is anywhere near as active as last week’s surprise in Pittsburgh. To say that the ANA’s National Money Show over-performed is probably an  understatement. We went into this venue with tempered expectations, expecting something similar to the regional PAN Show, also held in the same overall locale. What we got however, was a national coin show that was on a par with many of the other major coin shows. Dealers from all over the country converged on downtown Pittsburgh, along with a contingent of collectors that reached outside of the usual parameters of the PAN Show. Although the room lacked the buzz of a Baltimore or FUN Show, there were still a significant number of people in attendance. More importantly, the attendees were for the most part serious, and until Saturday (when the show lifted their cover charge), there were literally no tire kickers to be found. Needless to say, Rob and Robbie were very encouraged by business at the ANA show, and hope the success of that show carries over to this week’s Gettysburg venue. Mike Dixon runs a first-rate show, and he and his crew put a lot of work to insuring Gettysburg’s success, so we know that the effort definitely won’t be lacking. As usual, The Reeded Edge can be found at their prominent booth, located to the right of the show’s front entrance. After being the recipients of the show’s Dealer of Integrity award in 2017, and The Dealer’s Choice award in 2018, we feel responsible in doing our part to promote this show’s success. Consequently, we will be debuting a large, fresh collection that has been in the works for months. Included will be everything from copper to gold, so expect to see plenty of new certified coins, as you peruse our inventory. Additionally, we will have some of our older friends marked down, and priced to sell. When Rob and Robbie step onto a bourse floor, they are committed to doing business, and this week’s Battlefield Coin Show in Gettysburg will be no exception.

The Reeded Edge Heads to Pittsburgh for The National Money Show

National Money ShowOrdinarily, the early-spring ANA show is of little interest to us. This scaled down version of it’s big-brother summer gala is usually held in smaller secondary markets with dealer and public attendance that is mediocre, at best. But ordinarily, this show is not held in a major mid-Atlantic location, which just happens to be less than a 2 hour drive from our office. Pittsburgh was just too big a market for us to ignore. With a large contingent of Reeded Edge customers developed from years of regularly setting up at The PAN show in close-by Monroeville, there is an added expectation that we will be attending this show. Accordingly, Rob and Robbie will be heading to downtown Pittsburgh next week, breaking tradition, and setting up at The ANA National Money Show. Although we have tempered expectations for this show, we like both the location and the established business we have built through years of exposure to this collector-rich area. In the back of our minds, we are thinking that this could be the show that breaks the ANA’s tradition of mediocrity. Two weeks from now we would like nothing more than to say we underestimated the potential of this show. Our follow-up will tell one way or the other.

Baltimore Proves to be a Blockbuster Despite Challenging Circumstances

Aside from FUN and the summer ANA’s World’s Fair of Money, there is not a better coin show in the country than Baltimore. This played out once again for us last week, as we had a steady and profitable five days of trading. The robust pace of Baltimore is a pleasant exception to coin shows of late. We have noticed a trend where trading has moved online. For whatever reason, this trend does not seem to affect Baltimore. Although attendance in general may have been lighter than last year’s winter show, the people who did show up proved to be serious customers. In all, The Reeded Edge traded near half a million dollars worth of rare coins, not too shabby for less than a week’s work. It should also be noted that gold had a sharp fall, as March came in like a lamb. This could have adversely affected the show, but retails sales actually increased on Saturday. Some things defy logic and conventional thinking, and the consistency of The Whitman Baltimore Coin Show is one. Hats off to the folks at Whitman who work so hard to insure that this show is a perennial success. Once again, we applaud a job well done!

The Reeded Edge Heads to Baltimore for The Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo

Baltimore Conv CenterIt’s that time of year again, as the mid-Atlantic region prepares for their premier coin show, The Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo. What can we say about this stalwart show that hasn’t already been said? Aside from FUN and the ANA World’s Fair of Money, this ranks as many dealer’s top show of the year (present company included). Both Rob and Robbie will be headed to Baltimore this week to take in a serious 5 days of trading. Starting with pre-show, by-appointment, wholesale business on Tuesday and Wednesday and culminating with the actual show running Thursday through Saturday, the guys are prepared for just about anything. And honestly, that is the beauty of this show. With over 600 tabled dealers in attendance and thousands of attendees, Baltimore has become a must-do show for serious collectors throughout the country. Almost 40% of the country’s population lives within a 5 hour drive of downtown Baltimore, which in part, explains its success. The Reeded Edge will be set up at their usual front and center L-table booth #440. Just look for the large BUYING, BUYING, BUYING sign, and Rob or Robbie should not be far behind. The guys are particularly excited about this show, and with hundreds of brand new certified coins in tow, it’s for good reason. Equally as important, The Reeded Edge will be aggressively buying, as our open checkbook policy will be in full effect. We have an insatiable appetite for fresh coins, so whether you have a single great coin for sale or an entire collection to liquidate, please consider offering us your properties. With over 30 years full time in the coin business, and tens of millions of dollars of rare coins bought and sold, we don’t think you will find a more qualified firm to deal with. We certainly hope that Baltimore is in your plans this week, as we would love to see you at the show.

The Reeded Edge Heads to St. Louis-Annual Airport Show a Collector Favorite

st louis airport hiltonWe have said on many occasions that we prefer coin shows that are collector-oriented. The St. Louis Airport Hilton’s Greater American Coin Fair is just that. This is an old fashioned coin show in its truest sense. The venue is undersized for the number of tabled dealers, and the aisles between the rows of bourse tables are narrow. Attendees pack the room for the show’s duration to the extent that walking from one point to another becomes difficult. The room will buzz with activity for the show’s duration, as collectors show up in droves. There are only a few shows in the country that still have long waiting lists for a bourse table, and this is one. It is only by virtue of inheriting a table from a dealer who gave up exhibiting at shows over a decade ago, that The Reeded Edge is able to continually set up at this show. Consequently, this is one of our can’t-miss coin shows, and this year’s venue is no exception. As usual, The Reeded Edge’s table will be located smack in the middle of the main bourse hall. Both Rob and Robbie will be on-hand From Thursday set-up through Saturday afternoon with hundreds of new certified coins in tow. Of course, the guys will be aggressively buying coins, as well. Whether you have one great coin or an entire collection for sale, The Reeded Edge want to be your go-to guys. Yes, trades are also welcomed. You will never hear us say that we aren’t buying today or can’t do that type of deal. We realize that every collector’s needs are different and we are up for each of their challenges. We sincerely hope that the St. Louis area is in your plans for this coming weekend, as Rob and Robbie would love to see you at the show.

The Reeded Edge Heads to Northern Virginia for the Vienna Quarterly Coin Show

Vienna Community CenterNow that we have come up for air after a frenetic FUN Show, we are ready to get back on the road again. What better way to break the ice than one of our favorite local coin shows? This weekend, Rob and Robbie will be off to The Vienna Community Center for The Vienna Quarterly Coin and Stamp Show. As we have said previously, we love the demographics of this area. Fairfax County is one of the most affluent counties in the entire country. Equally as important, it harbors a lot of coin collectors. Although we have cultivated a sizable clientele of regulars in this area, it is always the unknown that makes this show exciting. Almost without fail, Vienna delivers in this department. What will happen this time around? That is the hundred thousand dollar question! What we can say with certainty is that we have an unprecedented number of new certified coins, and probably our largest and most diverse overall inventory ever. Whether your interest is in early copper, small cents, 20th century series, dollars or gold, The Reeded Edge has got you covered, and at some of the most competitive prices in the entire coin market.

Of course, The Reeded Edge will be buying coins as well, and our open checkbook policy will be in full affect. Whether you have a single great coin, a small group or an entire collection, The Reeded Edge has the resources to turn your coins into immediate cash. There is a reason that we buy so many coins, and our competitive fair offers are at the heart of it. If you haven’t already done so, please give us a shot. We will be located at our usual spot to the immediate left of the front entrance. Just look for the giant BUYING, BUYING, BUYING sign which should be easily visible from all vantage points in the community center.

Please try to make a point of coming by and saying hello, as smaller, more intimate shows like Vienna allow us the time to engage in healthy conversation, a luxury sometimes not afforded by faster-pace, national shows like FUN. The one thing we have never forgotten as our company has grown over the years is our roots. We built The Reeded Edge’s foundation on shows like Vienna (our first one being over 30 years ago), and close to a hundred Vienna shows later, we enjoy these type of venues equally as much as our first. We really hope that Northern Virginia is in your plans for this coming weekend, as Rob and Robbie would love to see you at the show.

FUN starts the year off with a BANG!

There was some trepidation going into 2019 Florida United Numismatists (or FUN) show. The dealer sector of the coin market had experienced its highs and lows in 2018, and struggled to maintain any sense of consistency. However, retail was the one constant, as collectors remained active throughout the year. The challenge with coin shows is that they are wholesale-driven. How then would the FUN show respond to this dichotomy?

The answer was provided last week, as FUN returned to its Orlando home base, and the public responded in force. It has been said over and over that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Case in point would be the Orange County Convention Center vs alternative locations such as Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa. Although the other two locations were logistically fine, the public just didn’t respond to either like they did last week in Orlando. At the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. “Best FUN show ever”, “I sold $100K in 10 minutes”, “We had them lined up 4 deep at our booth”, were just a few of the comments that we heard from tabled dealers.

Our personal experience of FUN was similar. It certainly was one of our most active shows in quite some time, with almost 1/2 a million dollars of business transacted. Everything numismatic was selling from coins under a couple hundred of dollars to five-figure rarities. Yes, the market has adjusted downward, and most dealers have resigned themselves to this fact. But, for those willing to play within these defined parameters, business could be transacted. Collectors are really responding to these new lower prices, and appears that the numismatic market has finally hit the sweet spot.

PCGS was conducting on-site grading throughout the show. We noted that the coins that seemed to get the best grades were those that were fresh and flashy. Coins with unoriginal or indifferent surfaces did not fare as well. It is plainly obvious to us that PCGS is taking the leadership role of improving the quality of certified coins in the marketplace. With the coin market getting off to the strong start that FUN was indicative of, we applaud PCGS’s efforts.

We believe that most people who attended FUN, whether a dealer, collector or passive observer, left the show with a very favorable impression. The room was buzzing all the way up to mid-afternoon on Saturday. We are not sure of the attendance figures, and how they rated against past FUN shows. But, if coin shows moving forward look and feel anything like FUN, we could be in for a very good year indeed!