Charmy's Milwaukee Central States Show Report

[The Penny Lady]

I just returned from the Central States show and, even though I posted some of this on another forum, I wanted to post it here and try and solicit comments about the the public not being let in til Friday. I felt it was odd to have a full PNG day (Wed) PLUS a full dealer set up day (Thurs). The bourse people could easily could have let the public in starting at noon on Thursday and none of us dealers can understand what their thinking was in not letting the collectors in until Friday. The dealers I spoke to agreed that we didn't need a full day of set up and dealer to dealer sales. The only good part was that I got caught up on doing inventory since we had so much extra time.

 

I am hopeful the bourse officials will listen to the collectors and dealers and make appropriate changes for next year's show.

 

And here's how the show went for me (including my extra curricular activities report): The weather in Milwaukee was cold at first (at least for this SoCal gal) but very pretty and sunny. A friend brought this really cool large German medal from WWI for me because it had a fantastic dragon on the reverse - I like dragons!

 

 

 

I also bought some beauties, including a great 1877 PCGS 64 BN (already sold it!), some nice large cents, and some other pretty Indian cents. Went to the PNG party at our hotel bar after PNG day on Wednesday, had some great wine there, chatted with several dealers, then went to the Indian casino to play some poker. Won a little, then lost it at Black Jack, dang it! Played with Rick Snow, and 3 other dealers, plus my son Troy.

 

Then we went to Maders for dinner Thursday night, the food was amazing! Then ended up going back to the casino. Here are a couple photos of us walking around town last night (that's Troy in the sweatshirt), and us standing under the Maders sign just before we went in (Rick Snow, me and Ron Mirr). By the way, Milwaukee has some great architecture!

 

 

 

Friday was busy and I sold some nice high end coins, and bought a few more. We went to Mo's Steakhouse for dinner - had probably the best lobster bisque I've ever had, and the wine and steak were pretty fantastic too! But then Saturday was surprisingly slow and the show was a ghosttown by 1-2pm. The best part of Saturday was having some forum members stop by to chat or just say hi. I really enjoy seeing and meeting the people behind the avatar!

 

Our flight out wasn't until 8pm on Saturday but by 3pm there was no reason to stay at the show, so we packed up and ended up preferring to hang out at the airport for 4 hours (at least there we could get some tasty food and refreshing drinks). Also, we were not alone since we ran into PCGS, NGC, Heritage, and several other dealers all at the same restaurant in our terminal!

 

Troy and I didn't get home until after 11pm, but then we had to get my inventory ready to set up at another show early this morning. Even though this was only my small monthly show (about 20 dealers), which I try not to miss, I sold more today than I sold all day on Saturday at Central States. And shortly after I got home from the show today, I pretty much passed out for a couple hours! The show today (Sunday) marked the end of the most grueling schedule of numerous back to back shows I've ever done - and probably won't do again!

 

I look forward to becominhg reacquainted with my own pillow and spending some quality time with my very patient hubby and fiesty kitty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Coindude]

Great report Charmy!! Totally enjoyed it along with the extras you put in there!!

[Schatzy]

Thanks for the report Charmy!!

[James_OldeTowne]

It isn't too often that a coin show report teams up a Siamese cat, a dune buggy, and a dragon, so I'd have to peg this as one of the better reports I've read in awhile!

 

On a personal note, I pretty much have nothing but contempt for "the PNG", and I truly despise "PNG days" at any show. If the PNG members are so special that they need a whole day all to themselves, why don't they just have their own show? Or maybe have a get-together down at the local Chuck-e Cheese so they can discuss numismatic get-rich schemes in a more appropriate setting than a coin show?

 

I would have almost considered doing this Central States show, since every one I've ever done was extremely successful, but I don't recall such wacky scheduling even a few years ago. Jeez, I mean, who needs coin collectors anyway, when the dealers can just sell coins back and forth between themselves all day long?

[TomB]

It sounds as though you had a good show and I enjoyed your pictures. Perhaps the CSNS show was taking a cue from the recent ANA decision regarding Early Bird badges and the public and this indicates a trend away from more open, collector-oriented shows.

[123cents]

The report and photos were great. Thanks Charmy!

[dean1345]

Great report and would love to see a photo of the 1877.

[The Penny Lady]

Great report and would love to see a photo of the 1877.

 

Sorry, had that coin less than 24 hours, then it was gone!

[WoodenJefferson]

That Potawatomi Casino is a nicely decorated Indian casino...ironic how we took it all away from them when settling the land, but in the end, they get it all back.

 

Thanks for sharing the report...I got a kick out of "go pound sand" which used a lot around here.

[Bugmann1974]

I love that medal!

 

Thanks for the show report.

 

I like that rail buggy too... Of course I like anything VW powered.

[Hard Times]

It isn't too often that a coin show report teams up a Siamese cat, a dune buggy, and a dragon, so I'd have to peg this as one of the better reports I've read in awhile!

 

On a personal note, I pretty much have nothing but contempt for "the PNG", and I truly despise "PNG days" at any show. If the PNG members are so special that they need a whole day all to themselves, why don't they just have their own show? Or maybe have a get-together down at the local Chuck-e Cheese so they can discuss numismatic get-rich schemes in a more appropriate setting than a coin show?

 

I would have almost considered doing this Central States show, since every one I've ever done was extremely successful, but I don't recall such wacky scheduling even a few years ago. Jeez, I mean, who needs coin collectors anyway, when the dealers can just sell coins back and forth between themselves all day long?

 

James, funny you should find PNG that way - every single show I have walked by their table and they have some nice coins I wanted a better look at, not a single person behind their table representing PNG would ever even acknowledge my presence. Makes me wanna deal with their dealers eh? John Q Public is just something they appear not to be interested in interacting with. Maybe if I had wad of $1000 bills in my hand?

[Hard Times]

PS Charmy thanks for the report, it is always good to see how shows are going from the Dealer perspective.......

[James_OldeTowne]

James, funny you should find PNG that way - every single show I have walked by their table and they have some nice coins I wanted a better look at, not a single person behind their table representing PNG would ever even acknowledge my presence. Makes me wanna deal with their dealers eh? John Q Public is just something they appear not to be interested in interacting with. Maybe if I had wad of $1000 bills in my hand?

Just to be fair, there are some fantastic coin dealers who are members of PNG. Julian Leidman comes to mind immediately. The theory behind the PNG makes sense, but implementation is poor, in my opinion. As I scan through a list of PNG dealers, it's uncanny how many work with coin doctors, for example.

[Conder101]

James, funny you should find PNG that way - every single show I have walked by their table and they have some nice coins I wanted a better look at, not a single person behind their table representing PNG would ever even acknowledge my presence. Makes me wanna deal with their dealers eh? John Q Public is just something they appear not to be interested in interacting with. Maybe if I had wad of $1000 bills in my hand?

You have to remember the PNG is a dealer organization. It is run by dealers, for dealers, not the general public. I'm not even sure why they would have had coins in a case at their table since they would not be selling them there. Unless you were a dealer even having a wad of $1000 bills would not have made a difference.

[EMG]

your everywhere charmy!