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As we’ve mentioned in many of the recent blog posts, with the slowdown in “social interaction” nationwide, it’s been a challenge to get fresh inventory in. When coin shows were open, it was was a major source of fresh error coins. Dealers with one or two coins to sale would bring them to the table, and we would buy them. If a collectors had decided to get rid of a coin or perhaps even their entire collection, they could bring it to a coin show and we could make an offer, and perhaps acquire it. But right now, that’s just not possible since coin shows have been shutdown nationwide, and when the next one will be is anyone’s guess. Currently, the next major coin show is the huge ANA World’s Fair of Money, held this year in Pittsburgh, PA, but will it happen? Hopefully. The FUN show in Orlando was cancelled just last week, and so the next show in like is the aforementioned ANA unless it gets cancelled at the last minute.

So, what does this mean? Well, we continue to hound our sources for fresh coins, and look to other venues for fresh coins. What we have noticed is that online, sales in auctions and the like have often been much higher than normal. Sure, some coins go “cheap”, but in general, it’s been retail or retail+ for many coins. Why is this? Well, the lack of coin shows for one thing, and the collectors (in our opinion), still generally being financially ok, has made a situation where in general, there is good demand, and a lack of supply.

As the economies in states across the U.S. begin to open up more and more (here in Florida, things are quite open compared to a month ago), and as state governments start allowing coin shows, things will likely return to some version of “normal” once again. We look forward to that, and to being able to work in person with our fellow dealers, and also see our customers again! But until then, the internet is a busy place for coins and collecting.

We were very busy last month, and sold a lot of coins, and this month has been quite busy as well. Collectors have been working on their sets, buying pieces to “fill a hole” in a date run of errors, or buying major errors that fit into their collections. Is there a slowdown? Maybe a tiny bit, but we think most of that is attributable to the lack of fresh material. Fresh coins and regular inventory have been selling alike. Customers asking us for fresh coins is about like normal, which is good, and speaks well of the state of the coin market and collecting.

June will be the start of the summer season, and with it, likely the restart of the coin show season after the shutdown of coin shows in March. Spring, always the busiest coin show season of the year was entirely MIA this year! Will Summer be the "busy Spring" season this year for coin shows? We hope so and think it will be.

What are you working on in your collection? Do you have holes to fill or coins you need? Let us know and we will do our best to track them down for you. jon@sullivannumismatics.com

Wonder what the coin in the photo is? Here's a link: https://www.sullivannumismatics.com/coin/ngc-10c-1945-mercury-dime-netherlands-east-indies-10c-blank-ms64?v=4452