More Coin Shows Cancelled as Holidays Near

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We were hoping the news would get better as we entered the holiday season of one of the strangest years ever. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, as FUN officially announced the cancellation of their quintessential show which would have ushered in 2021. We are still waiting for the first national coin show to break the COVID ice. FUN now joins the casualty list of Central States, two Long Beach shows, Summer ANA and two Whitman Baltimore shows. With the emergence of several larger regional shows like Dalton, GA, Tinley Park, IL, Saint Louis Silver Dollar Show and PAN, we held out cautious optimism that FUN might happen. Then came more bad news, as COVID case counts started to predictably rise. Despite the fact that this was neither surprising or unexpected, we witnessed a second round of shut downs extending into our numismatic arena. And so goes 2020. We are all ready for this year to go into the history books.

The good news is that the coin market continues to show evidence of strength. Gold and silver have rebounded nicely from their mid-Fall correction, and interest in virtually all areas of numismatics remains solid. We don’t see this trend reversing any time soon. Of course with the absence of shows (which we really feel is temporary), this puts newfound pressure on sourcing coins for our customers. Although we have been down this road several times since March, it is nonetheless a challenge that we can do without. Our creativity is once again getting tested.

Fortunately, The Reeded Edge is still working through several collections purchased over the last couple of weeks, and these coins alone should provide ample supply up to the holidays. We had begun to line up appointments for pre-FUN trading with some of our more consistent suppliers, all of whom will probably be shipping us parcels of coins in lieu of meeting in-person. We have preached that for every problem, there is a solution, but never in our lives has this gotten put to the test like it has this year. There is a certain comfort in knowing that we are all in this together, and I think it has made each of us work that much harder to overcome the obvious obstacles.

Finally, we hope that each and every one of you have had a happy and safe Thanksgiving, and we extend our best wishes for the same during the upcoming holidays. We know that better times are ahead, and believe that next year could signal when we collectively turn the corner. Let’s hope so!

Happy Thanksgiving from The Reeded Edge

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Obviously, this year has been like no other. With all of the craziness and disruptions looming large, It would be silly to think that our holidays would be unaffected. Statistically, people will travel less this year. Family gatherings will be smaller, and in some cases, nonexistent. There is no doubt that circumstances this year will pose physical limitations on how we approach and celebrate the holidays. But, we are greater than just physical creatures; we have strong emotional and spiritual bonds, and a sense of family that can not be stolen by a pandemic. So yes, although we will celebrate our holiday differently this year, we will nonetheless celebrate. The Reeded Edge wants to extend our warmest wishes to you and yours for a Happy Thanksgiving, as well as peace and joy for the upcoming Christmas and Chanukah holidays.

The coin market seems to be building on its strength as collectors hunker down for what could be a long winter. The demand for mainstream collector coins has definitely spiked in the last couple of weeks, as show closures are creating newfound demand on the numismatic supply chain. Although we had been holding out hope that coin shows would be resuming in force by the first of the year, that timeline now seems optimistic. Perhaps the middle or end of spring would be a more realistic target. Coin shows play a very important role in supplying dealers across the country with product to sell their collector base, and without them, we expect to see the demand for coins intensify. Despite the continued underlying strength in our marketplace, rare coin prices for the most part have remained flat, but that aspect may be about to change. Any surge in the precious metals markets could definitely provide the catalyst for rising coin prices, although that may not prove to be a necessary component. A flat-out shortage of coins in the marketplace could be the impetus for rising prices, without other contributing factors. We could be in for an interesting winter in the numismatic arena-we shall see.

The Reeded Edge continues to stock our shelves at every available opportunity. Our most recent acquisitions include a couple of high-grade, better date dollar groups, a local collection comprised of over 1000 PCGS-certified collector coins, and a smaller collection of dated gold. Other deals are on the horizon, each of which we will pursue aggressively. We are not ones to rest on our laurels, and the present time is no exception. We realize with circumstances getting more challenging again, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Fortunately, we have been down this road once before, so we not only have a feel of what to expect, but a roadmap of how to navigate through it. The Reeded Edge will continue to offer you a steady diet of great collector coins throughout the upcoming months, irrespective of circumstances.

Finally, what would Thanksgiving be without a mention of Black Friday? The Reeded Edge will be conducting our annual Black Friday Sale, and this year’s event promises to be bigger than ever. Robbie Jenkins has been working tirelessly through hundreds of new coins, preparing their inaugural launch for Friday morning. In tandem, we will be marking down many other coins and collectibles to their lowest prices ever. We are not going to give too much away just yet, but stay tuned. This promises to be a numismatic sale of epic proportion!

A Strange November for the Coin Market.

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Does anybody else think this November just feels strange? Election night had President Trump as a 74% Vegas favorite. Six hours later, it was Senator Biden who was the Vegas favorite, and by about the same margin. And so it began… With spiking numbers of new COVID cases, and some Governors suggesting possible lockdowns for the holidays, how does one keep their focus? This is the operative question for the coin market. We have been professing the resilience of the collector, and to illustrate this point let’s rewind to the spring. The first round of lockdowns had us concerned, but the collectors proved us wrong. With more time on their hands, and less options at their disposal, coins became both their outlet and their sanity check. Are we in for Round 2? We may have to be, as the resurgence of coin shows seems to be coming to a screeching halt, not at all the scenario any of us were hoping for. On the brighter side, we have been down this road once, and as they tagline goes, we got this!

Gold and silver have taken a little reprieve but still maintain their underlying strength. Collector coins still seem to be the backbone of the hobby, but as we have previously professed, without the aid of coin shows to source numismatic material, a constant supply chain to keep pace with demand can prove challenging. There are some things that we can control, and others that we can’t. Rest assured, we will pull out all the stops to keep the shelves stocked and new coins coming to the market. You expect no less, and we won’t let you down.

The Reeded Edge is in the final stages of purchasing several significant deals comprising a myriad of collector coins at all price points. Keep your eye on the store this week and next, as there will be close to 1000 new PCGS coins making their debuts. There are many coins under $250, which also make perfect holiday gifts for the collector. Despite the distractions, The Reeded Edge is maintaining a full speed ahead approach. There will be much more coming in terms of specifics, so stay tuned.

The Reeded Edge Returns from a Successful P.A.N. Show

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P.A.N. proved yet again that coin shows can be relevant in a challenging environment. Most obvious at this show was the tremendous appetite of the wholesale community. Dealers from around the country converged on Monroeville with the intention of buying coins. Historically, this has not been the footprint of this show. Although the Pittsburgh area is home to quite a few collectors, this show generally preceded by a slower dealer set-up, causing Rob and Robbie to skip Wednesday afternoon entirely. When the guys arrived in Monroeville Thursday morning, they were inundated with dealer business. Uncharacteristic of a P.A.N. show, the first 3 hours of the show resulted in over half of their business for the entire 3 days. This is a pattern that seems to be following shows around right now, irrespective of location. Dealers are hungry for coins to service their customers, and are flocking to coin shows to source them. We have said repeatedly, that we have been feeling the pent-up energy resulting form months of lockdowns, and P.A.N. proved once again that the resumption of shows was necessary and overdue.

Collector turnout at P.A.N. was on the lighter side, with many of The Reeded Edge “regulars” no-shows. Perhaps the proximity to the city of Pittsburgh in tandem with Pennsylvania’s patterns of restrictive lockdowns scared some people away. We do not feel that this absence was the fault of the P.A.N. organization, or in anyway a forecast for future shows. Blaine Shiff and his convention staff were facing a tall order to even make this show happen, and our hats go off to all of them for a job well done. This is likely our last coin show of 2020. In a year that has been anything but normal, we are glad that shows resumed at all. We applaud the promoters and clubs that made each and every one of these venues happen.

The Reeded Edge Heads to Monroeville for The P.A.N. Show

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This week’s P.A.N. show marks one of the larger coin venues to take place since the onset of the pandemic. Irrespective of conditions, this remains one of our favorite shows for several reasons. Most obviously, Pittsburgh and its metropolitan areas are a mere 2 hour drive for us, making this one of our closest and most convenient coin shows. We also have a very solid core of customers in this area. It is no mystery that we like attending well managed club sponsored coin shows. From this respect, P.A.N. probably ranks amongst the best in the country. P.A.N is a very active club with many members participating in the show’s management. With Pennsylvania being one of the slower and more cautious states to reopen, we can assure our fellow dealers and customers that all health precautions will be taken by P.A.N. management, with COVID protocol in effect throughout the duration of the show.

We are excited about this show for a couple other reasons. We have been very active buying a myriad of different coins in the office. From top-flight certified coins to a host of raw coins and even some modern mint issues, everything in the U.S. numismatic spectrum has seemingly crossed our counters over the last several weeks. Although we bring primarily certified coins to shows, this in no way diminishes what we currently have available for sale. Although we generally use this forum to discuss travel plans and numismatic news/happenings, we do want to take special note one of our new inventory selections, a RARE and elusive 1861-O $20.00 Liberty, PCGS certified AU-55. This is a world-class coin, that regardless of your intentions, is worth at least a look.

The coin market remains healthy despite a tumultuous Presidential election that might infer otherwise. Although some of our local shops have reported slowdowns in the last couple of weeks, we have not seen it. Two way business has been conducted here at an almost frenzied pace, with coins coming in the office faster than we can sometimes process them. In retrospect, this has been a nice problem to have. We have no reason to believe that market conditions should change anytime soon, and quite possibly, they may actually improve. This election has preoccupied a lot of people’s attention. We believe that once it’s behind us, we will all have one less distraction to deal with. Although politics have divided much of the country, fortunately numismatics have drawn many of our fellow hobbyists together. We believe that this week’s P.A.N. show will be further evidence of this trend.

Fall Picks Up Where Summer Left Off

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It is easy to miss a week (or two) when you’re busy. Our customers serve as our best reminder that we haven’t been keeping them up to date on numismatic happenings. It actually has been over two weeks since we last posted a market update; we apologize.

The coin market remains healthy bolstered by an unusually strong economy, especially considering the 5+ month COVID lockdown. It appears that we have now turned a corner with the virus, and the worst is seemingly behind us. We have noticed a renewed sense of optimism amongst our customers. The net result is more time spent on their collections, along with more resources dedicated to their growth. Shops are starting to feel this resurgence as well, with numismatic material now joining precious metals in the trading spectrum. TV marketers, who account for a large number of coins sold in the numismatic marketplace, also are reporting increased sales. Perhaps most importantly, we are seeing the return of coin shows across the country. Although a new COVID protocol is dictating the layout and capacity of shows, they are moving forward with a full head of steam. Absent still are the large national shows that face additional challenges because of the size of their venues. Hopefully, FUN 2021 will break this drought, which would be PERFECT in so many ways.

The North Carolina Numismatic Association held their annual convention in Concord, North Carolina ten days ago, and the guys deemed it a resounding success. The show lured hundreds of enthusiastic dealers and attendees. It was obvious that this region of the country was itching for a coin show, as those in attendance were serious about conducting two way business. Barring the required masks and morning temperature checks, this show felt much like years past, with an even more enthusiastic crowd than usual. Rob and Robbie were busy for the duration buying and selling both numismatic coins and bullion. Activity is always the barometer of a successful show, and from this standpoint NCNA scored a 10. Congratulations to Greg Cheek, Perry Siegel and the entire NCNA staff for a job well done!

The office has remained equally busy with several significant deals coming in over the counter. We have literally gone from famine to feast in matter of just a couple of months. Maintaining adequate inventory levels was a real problem during the months of lockdown, so this newfound wealth of coins is a welcomed change. With our customers more eager than ever to acquire pieces for their collections, these new coins get absorbed as fast as they come in. To all the would-be sellers reading this, please keep the coins coming!

Up next for The Reeded Edge will be the PAN Coin Show in Monoreville, PA. Similar in size to the NCNA convention, Rob and Robbie are anticipating a really good show. The guys have quite a few customers in this region of the country, as Pittsburgh is a mere 2 hour drive from their home office. More about this venue next week, so please stay tuned.

The Reeded Edge Returns from Gettysburg and a Robust Battlefield Coin Show

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We have suspected from the time that coin shows reemerged from the COVID lock-down, that there was a lot of bottled-up potential business just ready to explode. Coming on the heels of successful Dalton and Columbus venues, Gettysburg proved yet again that both dealers and collectors are ready to resume attending coin shows. More importantly, there is an obvious desire from both groups to do business. Gold and silver have provided a strong foundation for the continued health of the hobby. Attendance at Gettysburg was strong with the room full, but not overcrowded. With each further show that we attend (this is our third since the shut-down in March), it is obvious that people in general are less afraid and more anxious to resume some sense of normalcy. For the numismatist, the coin show serves just that purpose. We should mention that coin shows transcend just business; they are just as importantly social functions where like-minded collectors can interact with one and other as well as the attending dealer contingent. It was refreshing to witness such a positive atmosphere coming on the backside, of what can only be labeled, an otherwise dark summer.

Rob and Robbie both came away from Gettysburg with a similar opinion of what they also witnessed in Dalton and Columbus. Collector demand seems to be across-the-board with widespread demand. Predictably, dollars and gold are leading the way. In general, there were very few tire kickers at Gettysburg. Most who made the pilgrimage seemed determined to do business. A gun show held on the same property had the Eisenhower hotel’s parking area overflowing. Make no mistake, this was a good problem to have, and one that we hope follows us around the circuit throughout the fall.

We were disappointed to receive word from Whitman this week that the relocated Baltimore show has now officially been cancelled. Unfortunately, they just could not get a consensus for a new city agreeable to all of their dealers. Also, booking a large venue on short notice is a very tricky proposition. So, we will look forward to the spring when the show returns to its homebase with COVID hopefully in the rearview mirror. The PAN show in Pittsburgh and the North Carolina Numismatic Association’s show in Concord both will be moving forward, and we are looking forward to attending both.

With 3 coin shows under our belts, we are flush with new coins again. We implore you to look throughout the store where you will see new purchases from all series represented. It was a strange 5 months for us with an absence of coin shows. It’s hard to get a handle on how many coins get sourced through shows until they don’t exist. Like many of our associates, we kept the faith throughout this ordeal, realizing that at some point, coin shows would resume. We never did buy into the term the new normal, and we are hoping that the old normal is on the not-too-distant horizon. We now have good reason to believe that to be the case.

The Reeded Edge Heads to Gettysburg

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We were wondering if we would be saying this again, but we are back in full-swing show mode. Last week’s Ohio State Coin Show in Dublin, Ohio was a barn-burner. It was quite possibly our best Dublin Show ever. Who would have predicted coming after a five month hiatus? Not us! There is an old saying, “Make hay when the sun shines.” Bolstered by strong precious metals market, the coin market remains healthy and active. Even without the aid of a summer ANA show, we still registered one of our best summers in recent history. Talking to other dealers around the country, we are hearing many similar accounts. We are lucky people who happen to be in the right business at the right time. Again, who would have known that a world pandemic could have created the perfect storm for the coin business?

This week, Rob and Robbie will be heading to Gettysburg, PA for The Battlefield Coin Show. This is a rescheduled venue, and one that the guys have been looking forward to. Located at its regular location in the ballroom next to The Eisenhower Hotel, The Reeded Edge will be at their usual table, located inside the front door to the immediate right. Just look for the giant BUYING, BUYING, BUYING sign, and the guys should not be far behind. Please stop by and see the guys, as they have hundreds and hundreds of new coins in stock, courtesy of two very successful prior shows. This is a departure from most of the summer where The Reeded Edge was struggling to keep the shelves full. Hopefully, those days are behind us, as the world begins to reopen again, and get back to some sense of normalcy. Perhaps Gettysburg is in your plans this weekend? It’s a beautiful city, rich in history, that just happens to be hosting a great coin show. We would love nothing more than to see you there.

The Reeded Edge Heads to Columbus as Coin Shows Resume

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This summer has been anything but ordinary. In the midst of a world pandemic, the coin market has been on fire, and there seems to be no end in sight. With the resumption of coin shows, the coin supply shortage should begin to resolve itself. If metals continue their strength into the fall, this could end up being a very interesting year.

This week, The Reeded Edge heads to Dublin, Ohio for The Ohio State Coin Show. This year’s annual Labor Day weekend venue will be held in the neighboring Embassy Suites-Dublin, 5100 Upper Metro Place, while the Crowne Plaza goes under a renovation. Judging from the open floor plan, we anticipate a safe environment for all attendees. Of course, all COVID protocols will be strictly adhered to. Also worth noting is this year’s venue will not be competing against the home opener for Ohio State football. As Big 10 fans all know, Columbus (and its suburbs) become a ghost town on opening day. Without that distraction to contend with, numismatics could take center stage on Saturday, resulting in three active days of trading coins instead of the usual two. Both Rob and Robbie will be on hand for The Reeded Edge in Dublin. You will find them at booths 405-407 in the right front corner of the main hall. Just look for the giant BUYING, BUYING, BUYING sign, and the guys should not be far away. As their sign implies, The Reeded Edge will be aggressively buying, as their present appetite for fresh coins is unprecedented. With a shortage of coins all summer, combined with many unfilled want lists, the guys are looking to make up for a five month coin show hiatus. Please offer them any worthwhile single coins, deals, or entire collections. No deal is too small or too large, and their open checkbook policy will remain in effect throughout the show. This is The Reeded Edge’s second coin show since the shutdown of public venues back in March. If it goes anything like last week’s Dalton show, Rob and Robbie should leave Dublin very happy campers.

In closing, we would like to emphasize some positive news (for a change). New data on COVID suggests that the true mortality rate may not be anywhere near the numbers originally thought. With only a few outlier exceptions, riots and social chaos seems to be subsiding. Unemployment numbers are coming in at a fraction of what was originally anticipated, and perhaps the best news of all, our country is reopening again. We all have grown tired of hearing the term the new normal; With a COVID vaccine on the not-too-distant horizon, we hope and pray that the new normal ends up looking a lot like the old normal. We hope you and yours remain safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming coin show.

Dalton Goes Off Without a Hitch – Next up, The Ohio State Coin Show

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The Blue Ridge Numismatic Association’s Dalton Coin Show went off without a hitch, which was the best possible scenario for everybody concerned. Grant Campbell and the BRNA worked tirelessly to insure that this venue met or exceeded all local COVID protocols, while not compromising the integrity or quality of the show.  It was a balancing act, but at the end of the day, it was mission accomplished. “The Karens, worry-warts and tire-kickers took a pass on this one”, commented Rob. Those who did make the trip to Dalton were both aggressive and serious. From the guys standpoints, they would much rather have a partially filled room of checkbooks, than a crowded hall of bodies. Although in Rob’s estimation, the tables were probably 70% or less occupied, and the public crowd was very light, the numbers still exceeded expectations. Let’s face it-this show was a real wildcard. This was the largest venue to take place since the Atlanta ANA in March, and one that was being watched closely. It was rumored that both the Board of Health and a local television station would be visiting the convention center, though neither was ever sighted. If the purpose was to find an infraction, the BRNA gave them nothing to talk about. One look in the room and it became quite obvious that the risk narrative was a non-starter. Daily temperature checks were required before providing admittance to any person behind a booth. Large quart jars of hand sanitizer were donated by a local distillery and could be found on every table throughout the room. Upcoming coin shows like Whitman Baltimore, FUN and even ANA were all observing Dalton. Hopefully, it laid the foundation for these other large venues to move forward safely and productively. Despite chatter to the contrary, Dalton proved that one does not have to be sacrificed to achieve the other.

Rob and Robbie started their pilgrimage to Dalton on Wednesday, visiting coin shops throughout the south. They were both encouraged by how busy the shops appeared. Bullion has provided their business foundation with a variety of numismatic items also coming in. In all, the stops proved fruitful with some large checks written, and many new interesting items for inventory procured. Business continued on Thursday right where it left off the day before. The guys described Dalton’s dealer day as frenzied and fast paced, with few opportunities to break away from their booth. Friday was the first day that the show was open to the public, and it was expectedly quiet. Saturday however switched gears, as the crowd was larger and spent money more willingly. Although in Dalton terms, the attendance was less than usual (this is typically one of the busiest coin shows in the country), given the adverse circumstances, we still scored it a 10. Two plus double-row boxes of new certified coins were the net result with six figures of numismatic business conducted, not bad numbers for an inaugural show coming on the heels of a global pandemic. We have been saying for some time that the coin market has remained very healthy throughout this challenging period, and Dalton did nothing to dispel that notion.

Next up for The Reeded Edge is The Ohio State Coin Show in Dublin, Ohio. Sponsored by The Central Ohio Numismatic Association (CONA), this show commences on Thursday, September 3rd and concludes Saturday afternoon. This annual Labor Day weekend coin show has been a proven winner for us, and we see no reason that this year will be any different. CONA members wearing conspicuous green derbies are always on hand to provide support to both the dealers and attendees. We have been assured that CONA will closely adhere to all local COVID protocols. Knowing the dedication of this organization, we are quite confident that they will take all measures to insure everybody’s safety. In the past, this show has competed with the kickoff of college football and Ohio State’s home opener. Anybody familiar with the Columbus area, knows that the city and surrounding areas come to a virtual standstill for Buckeye football. But with the Big 10 cancelling all fall sports, that factor will not come into play this year. Equally important, the show has moved out of The Crowne Plaza to an improved facility at a neighboring Embassy Suites. Combining these factors with the numismatic community’s hunger for the resumption of coin shows, we are anticipating good things. Both Rob and Robbie will be on-hand for The Reeded Edge, located at booths 405, 406 & 407 to the immediate right of the main hall’s entrance. Just look for the giant BUYING, BUYING, BUYING sign, plainly visible from all vantage points in the room, and the guys should not be far behind. They will have hundreds of new certified coins in tow, as well as a host of other numismatic goodies. The Reeded Edge will also be aggressively buying all worthwhile numismatic coins, so please consider offering the guys any items of interest. If Columbus is in your plans for Labor Day weekend, please make a point of stopping by The Dublin Embassy Suites and supporting this wonderful venue. Both Rob and Robbie would both love to see you at the show!