What goes on at coin shows?

[mousey70]

Do most people, dealers, appraisers wears gloves when handling coins?
Do they specialize in certain types of coins and have a sigh that shows this? Do they buy coins at these shows? I went to a real tiny one at a firehouse and there were four coin appraiser/dealers there. Not one of them kneww anything about Lincoln Memorial cents as I found out. they also didn't wear gloves when handling silver and copper coins. I got an appraisal but the guy didn't even remove my cents from the 2x2's they were in. If he did I would have insisted he wear gloves that Ibrought with me. OPINIONS PLEASE.

[jcuve]

In an ideal world, what would you have like to have happened at that coin show?

[legend]

My Proof 70 2006 Buffalos were cracked out of the mint holder and allowed to drop to a thin sheet of felt. No gloves for those guys. Some dealers do wear them, some do not. Get a feel for careful handling before you go to any table. Watch and use the better handlers. Of course, I did not, so I was just lucky to fare so well with how my gems were abused.

[Brad]

I've never seen a dealer use gloves. Did you know that PCGS graders don't use gloves? Anyhow, they should not need to take coins out of the 2 by 2's to give an opinion. Those guys are usually good at seeing problems quick. Most dealers don't know a lot about varieties - except for the major varieties. You need to find dealers you can trust with a lot of experience. Some dealers are dishonest and greedy.

[JeanK]

Hi Mousey,
I was going to write a scathing report of the dealers and people I encountered at the once a year coin show in our county. But, I was taught that if I couldn't say anything nice then do not say it at all.
Since then I came back to your post and see others telling you about the same happenings as I had encountered. It was not a pleasant experience and I do not plan to be the object of their rudeness ever again.
Most coin dealers specialize in certain coins, errors, varieties and various other aspects of coin collecting. As an example, someone who has lots of Morgan Dollars passing across the table would likely not be interested in Lincolns.
And, unfortunately, those who might buy a nice variety coin will not offer nearly what we would expect to be a fair price.
However, there is the aspect of dealers filling the 'wish lists' of their loyal customers, and these dealers may appreciate you providing a list of coins you have that they could by for that customer's wish list.
Just a couple of observations and hopefully helpful suggestions.
Jean

[mousey70]

Jean, I'm very sorry if I offended you . None was at all intended. This was my first exposure to appraisers and dealers and I thought that they would be wearing gloves. Yes, I know they're not going to dress like doctors. Well I found out what the real world is like. Anyhow, if I would have insisted on the person wearing gloves, that I brought, I think they should accomodate. But it was my mistake to expect that they'd be expert in my lincoln varieties.

[Brad]

Are you planning on selling that 72 DDO 4? I think that the members here will have some good advice about selling it.

[JeanK]

No Mousey, you did not offend me.
I was just venting about how badly most of the dealers acted. I had better luck with their helpers who admitted knowing absolutely nothing about coins. Fortunately I found two very nice silver Roosevelts to fill two holes in my album. If the dealers had been nicer who knows what I could have found and how much more money I could have spent.
On that note... my complaint about the dealers in the only coin shop I can get to every few months.. they are not at all as careful about how they handle my coins as they expect me to be handling their coins. It is actually quite funny that they cannot remember back to when they were in the same situation we are as 'beginners'.
Jean

[WideAMQueen]

I definately have encountered some rude people at coin shows, I go with my dad and when I go up to a table and look at the coins I am immediately written off because I am a girl and when I ask questions they look at me like I'm an idiot. So now I just go with my Dad and keep my mouth shut- little do they know I know ALOT about coins and am quietly judging theirs! If I do find something good I just nudge my dad and he catches on really quick- they never use gloves at all the shows we go to- some definately should!

[JeanK]

The coin show purchase has a funny story.
Yes the guy ignored me and I asked the helper about Roosevelts. I was shown a group of several for the same year and mint. The dimes were so close in quality it was difficult to decide which to purchase... except, some of the coins were priced a little bit higher because they had die cracks on the head. I decided on a lower priced coin and then discovered it had the same anomaly, which I voiced to the helper. Next thing I know the dealer says 'give me that' and grabs the coin. When he looked at the dime and saw I was right he gave me a look that was between daggers and a stab in the back. He finally said, well okay, you can have it at the lower price. I know I should have laughed at him and walked away... oh well.
Maybe us gals need to be more aggressive about what we do know. After all we have great teachers, and we do have brains, so there isn't any reason we cannot be as knowledgeable about this hobby.
Jean

[AgCollector]

As Brad mentioned, few if any dealers at a show will know anything about Lincoln die varieties that aren't in the major price guides. Most don't care, and many don't even stock Lincoln memorial cents. As for errors, I've seen a fair number of fake clips as well as people trying to sell die cracks, grease-filled and die chips for prices far, far higher than they should be. On the other hand, if you're patient you can sometimes find good deals- I once bought a BU 1970-S business strike small date for 25 cents- they either didn't know about the different varieties or didn't care.

I've mostly gone to shows with 30-50 tables, though, and it might be different for really large shows.

[Wheat Cents]

...they either didn't know about the different varieties or didn't care. I've mostly gone to shows with 30-50 tables, though, and it might be different for really large shows.

In my experience , its not any different at really large shows either... :tinysmile_hmm_t: