My four cents?

Having won the 1888 nickel three cent piece and having entered a leading bid on an 1855 gold dollar Thursday evening, my options for Friday were limited. When I woke up, I checked the bids. I had been outbid on the dollar. So I decided to go to the convention center to pick up the 3CN and buy a Dino-Lite microscope, get a little more flavor of Pittsburgh, and go home.

At lot pick up, I was careful to ask first if sales tax would be charged. For the coin I got, sales tax would be much more than the cost of having Heritage ship it. Fortunately, sales tax is not charged on such things in Pennsylvania, and I now have the lovely little coin. (In Maryland, tax is charged on coins totaling under $1000 picked up there, so I have my Maryland auction winnings shipped if they're from about $400 to $1000.)

I didn't want to pay for my wife to enter the show again, especially since I didn't plan to be long and she has no real interest. So she waited while I went in to get the microscope. And she waited...

I had a couple questions about the microscope, which were answered. That and the paperwork took a surprising amount of time, though. And I wanted to check out those 1821 cents I missed the day before.

As usual, I chat with Chris McCawley when I check out his coins. We talk about work and family. Usually, the conversation goes in some other directions as well, and this time was no exception. As for the cents, I really liked one more than the other, and asked for his asking price. It seemed fair, but was more than I can handle, having gotten the three cent piece and microscope. But knowing me as he does, Chris was willing to let me make payments over a few months, and now I have that cent! With that, my Middle Dates set is now complete. (But I'm still open to some upgrading some, especially the VG 1823.)

As for the show itself, it seemed a bit smaller than the typical Baltimore show, and was not very busy on either day when I was there. And there was less of the stuff that most interests me than I expected. Chris McCawley commented that the ANA had done a pretty good job of lining up dealer participation, but didn't do as well at getting the public to show up. That said, I did see an ANA rep and John Kraljevich on KDKA's morning show Friday. They had some of the "cheaper" exhibits with them (leaving a 1913 Liberty nickel and an 1804 silver dollar for show-goers to see), and made what I thought was a good pitch to the public. (And for you football fans: They were followed by a young woman and her mother and grand-mother who came up with a cool idea - Terrible Towel Skirts.)

I'll be trying out the microscope in the days to come, and will post a shot of the 1821 cent from it. But for now, here's the reverse of the 1888 three cent piece.

Go Ravens!

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