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Here and ATS, I am consistently blown away by the caliber of the coins posted. The numismatic eyegasm is a wonderful, and often expensive pursuit that seems to get more expensive as we go. However, I love when I can find something affordable and interesting. When that coin is relatively attractive, problem-free and scarce - even better. When the coin is squarely in my wheelhouse - I cannot resist it.
Today, one checked all those boxes... This is an 1855 Half Cent with a Rim Clip in PCGS50. This is not a very high grade for the most common coin in the Braided Hair HC series, but the clip made it interesting and a fun novelty piece to add interest to my half cent collection. (Just goes to show that they don't have to be expensive "Top Pops" to be cool!)
I was after Caligula for my Twelve Caesars collection.
I did battle over some nice ones at auction, but lost badly (the ones I bid on went for crazy prices!) So I dialed back my expectations a little bit, and ended up buying one at fixed price, from Zuzim on VCoins.
Now I have ten of the Twelve Caesars (83% complete) as of this post, and lack only Julius Caesar and Vitellius!
This Caligula is no showboat, but rather just a middle-of-the-road example with decent-looking surfaces and lightly contrasting patina. Zuzim described it as "VF", but I'm more of the opinion that it will go Fine when I send it off to NGC (we'll see). I'd be OK with that- as long as it achieves that grade with no problem notations. (Fine is my self-imposed minimum grade for my collections.)
It appears to be to me. I don't think it adds any extra value and as I'm not a variety collector I don't think it's worth having the variety added to the label.
This was my best Central States show ever! And many dealers with whom I spoke agreed that this particular show was one of their best CSNS shows as well. Cindy Wibker and the CSNS folks really did outdo themselves in putting on this show - from Dealer Day through Saturday! Also, as you will see, the hotel bar is a very popular meeting spot for dealers and collectors alike. I took a lot of photos of the various folks who were there each night, so be sure to check out all the pics to see if I captured any of you in my photos!
I left beautiful OC early on Tuesday very much looking forward to setting up at this show, seeing my friends, and enjoying my stay at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel.
I had a problem free, easy flight, and arrived in sunny Chicago that afternoon
I arrived at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel in the afternoon and settled into my room
Then I headed down to the bar for a nice glass of wine and a bite to eat
In addition to buying a selling, one of the most fun parts about attending the CSNS show at the Renaissance Hotel is that most of the dealers and many collectors like to gather at the hotel bar each evening after the show. It's a great place to see old friends and make new ones in the coin industry. It didn't take long for some of my dealer friends to begin showing up, including one of my favorite dealer friends, Dino Koromvokis!
Mitch Ernst (CSNS President), Chris Seuntjens (Crystal Clear Showcases) and Chris' friend were also enjoying a beverage (with a photobomb by Mitch's son Sam in the background!). Chris was very kind in sending over a glass of wine to me, so I ended up joining them at their table. We ended up talking about Chris's Crystal Clear showcases and I mentioned that I might be in the market to replace my heavy solid oak cases that I take to local shows with some lighter weight cases. So Chris generously offered to let me use his showcases throughout this show to see if they would fit my needs.
Wednesday was Dealer Day for which I signed up so I could get in early, set up my booth, and go "shopping" in a more casual, less crowded atmosphere. Here's my booth all set up with the new Crystal Clear showcases.
These are the coins I bought throughout the show, including a beautiful Pop 2 1955/55 Doubled Die in PCGS AU58+ CAC!
Some of The Penny Lady swag and the two bottles of wine I brought for the show - a Washington Chateau St. Michelle 2016 cab and my favorite Rombauer Zinfandel
Some CSNS "swag" they were giving out at the show
I also took a few photos around the bourse during Dealer Day
CNG Table with Billie (Greysheet) and Lori (Whitman)
Joanne (PCGS), Sam Ernst (CSNS Board Member) and Barbara Gregory (CSNS Centinel editor)
Another one of my favorite dealer friends, Brian Alty (Northeast Numismatics)
Curtis Mease (PCGS)
At 5pm, the rest of the table holders came in for set up
After the show that evening, the PNG and the Grey Sheet hosted a dealer event at the hotel bar so we stopped by before heading out to dinner
Ran into the beautiful NGC gals
We went over to Chicago Prime Italian for dinner
We had a delicious Napa Duckhorn cab with our dinner
Then it was back to the hotel bar for some more drinks and fun!
Thursday there was quite a crowd who streamed in when the show opened and soon the bourse floor had a strong buzz with all the business being conducted!
Here are some pics of the bourse floor throughout the day
Here are some cool things I found in various dealer cases throughout the show
Super rare early 1600's massive silver "cincuentin" coins in Bob and Carol Campbell's case
Lovely Carol Campbell helping out at their table
Some huge gold nuggets also in Bob's case
Very rare Indian cent coin "album" made in the early 1900's out of lamb skin with tiny pouches for each coin, including a "counterstamped" 1856 Flying Eagle
Rare Comic Book buttons at Justin Waddell's table
A complete set of "Beauties of the Cinema" cards from 1939 at Rick Snow's table
This very cool and extremely rare 1870 Die Trial Indian cent (this is 1 of only 2 known) made out of aluminum from of my personal collection that I sold to Rick Snow
A similar but less rare 1868 aluminum Die Trial Indian cent
Another rare piece - a beautiful 1869-S Doubled Die Obverse in PCGS MS64+ Red - only 1 finer (also in Rick's case)
A very cool multiple error $1 (double struck, broad struck and off center) found in James Sego's case
Some beautiful coins from the upcoming ANA auction on display at the Heritage table
GreatCollections folks
I ran into Ben Franklin
Chris Seuntjens (Crystal Clear Showcases)
The busy folks at PCGS
The equally busy folks at NGC
Curt Mease (PCGS) and Greg Allen hanging out at my table
Forum member Kendrick/KLIAO stopped by to say hi
That night a large group of my foreign coin dealer friends (including folks from Sedwick Coins who specialize in Colonial and shipwreck coins) went to Chicago Prime steakhouse and had a great time! The wine was delicious, the food was fantastic, and the company was wonderful!
This is my type of happy place - the wine room at the restaurant!
Then of course it was back to the hotel bar for more socializing....
Friday was another very busy day at the show. A dealer friend brought by this really pretty heart-shaped Indian cent Love Token for my personal exonumia collection
My dear friend Linda Hagopian (Larry Sekulich's wife) stopped by with a wonderful bottle of wine which we shared
Another friend Alan Flint (who is actually the brother of a friend I worked with for 17 years when I was a paralegal in Newport Beach) stopped by to say hi
A long time coin friend Mike "Noodle" Nottlemann also brought a nice bottle of wine to share!
With all that wine (and my tunes playing on my little Bose boombox and a box of Cheez-Its), we had quite the party at my table late Friday afternoon!
After the show, a group of us just went over to the hotel restaurant for dinner - they have some very good dishes.
Then back to the hotel bar for one last hurrah!
Justin Waddell, me and James Sego
More coin folks!
Joe Paonessa was making coins using a handpress and Rick Snow took a video of Joe in action and sent it to me. I couldn't figure out how to upload a video so I took some screenshots.
Soon it was time to pack up and head to the airport. As much as I look forward to attending these shows, by the end of the week, I look just as forward to getting back home. As I said it was a great show, very busy, lots of fun and very successful. The only tiny glitch for me was that they made a typo in the show program for my table number, and a few folks who finally found my table told me they had a hard time finding me since the wrong number was printed by my company name. That is a frustrating mistake for us dealers, but the show folks did what they could to make it right and asked the people at the "wrong" table to redirect people back to my table, so it worked out just fine.
As we were waiting for our car to take us to the airport, right outside the convention room was this beautiful duck sitting on one of the cement flower planters. She was nesting on half a dozen eggs!
We made it to the airport, no problems and no delays with an easy straight flight home. Bye Chicago - just until August when I come back for the ANA in Rosemont!
Of course, penny was home waiting as usual!
Next up - the Long Beach show in June, followed by my local Buena Park show.
p.s.
Sunday was Cinco de Mayo - and the 33rd anniversary of my engagement to my hubby Lou, so of course we had to celebrate in style with some great Mexican food and margaritas!
I wanted to share this one a long time ago but couldnt get pictures to post. I finally found a computer to use where I can start posting again. I done some trading with a good friend for this one. It is a true beauty in hand and Im happy to give it a good home in the slab holder box with my other buffalo nickels.
