FUN Show Report January, 2020
Posted by JonSullivan on Jan 15th 2020
We just got back from a very busy FUN show sunny and warm Orlando, Florida: and it was our best show in probably over a year! The show was busy with both buyers and sellers, and we were surprised how much of both there was at the show. Some local collectors came in, as well as buyers from other parts of the country who flew or drove in to attend this one of the biggest coin shows of the year. It was good to see long time customers and also fellow dealers at the show.
Although there has been softness in the coin market as a whole for the last several years or so, it was a good show for everyone we talked to. No one said they were having a “bad show”, although a few dealers said it was “only ok”, most said it was a very good show with lots of sales. We’d estimate that we sold more at the show than the last several shows combined!
The buying was good as well, and we acquired several double row boxes of slabbed or raw coins, and small groups of other coins. These will be coming out in the coming weeks and months, as they are processed, attributed, priced, and then there are always coins that get sent off for certification (which certification can sometimes can take months to get the coins back.)
Some of the more interesting coins we acquired included an extremely rare 1986 G$25 Eagle with strong clashed dies on its reverse (one of just a few known for gold eagle coinage), double edge lettering 2019 native American dollar (unique—which we learned later after we bought it), as well as various off-metals, a large number of double-struck/brockage cents, a large number of double edge lettering coins (of the more common sort), as well as many stand alone coins from numerous sellers. One customer brought up an old book of relatively minor mint errors that had probably been housed in the album since the 1960’s or so, and were unfortunately covered in PVC—this type of damage is where “conservation” is invaluable, and also is why collectors should throw out any PVC flips they have. Long term it damages the coins as the PVC leaches onto the coins (but I digress.) These and other coins will be offered first to our customer with want lists (if you haven’t sent yours to us, please do), and then through our website (if you haven’t signed up for out email inventory alert, it might be a good idea since many coins sell quickly.)
It is more and more the case that coins are “online”, and both collectors and dealers primarily do business this way—it’s convenient, easy, and the “inventory” which can be viewed is endless. Most dealers do sell nowadays mostly on their websites, frequently on other online sites, and do mostly wholesale at coin shows. However, because of the vast amounts of business done at shows (particularly wholesale) coin shows will not be going anywhere anytime soon. They’re too important to the hobby, and while some shows will and have disappeared, the shows in good locations, at the right time of year, and properly promoted will always be around since they serve an invaluable wholesale (and to a small degree retail) function. Very well run and attended shows like the FUN show reaffirm our belief in that.
Our next show isn't until the February Long Beach show, and we look forward to seeing any of our customers at the show. In the meantime, we look forward to offering a stream of fresh inventory over the coming month or so!