Show report: Westchester county coin show

[Wihlborg]

Friday was the opening day of the Westchester county coin show, which runs until this Sunday and is in the small downstairs room this time. I was there a little before the 12 P.M. opening and found a good crowd waiting to be let in. While waiting to be let in I could see into the room and noticed a good amount of dealer to dealer transactions going on.

 

Once in the room, I found that four or five dealers that I had just seen at the Parsippany show last week were at this show as well. All the dealers I spoke with were very upbeat about the current market, although a couple commented that it was tough finding quality coins for inventory. There was a lot of U.S. gold and Morgan dollars available, including one dealer who had two cases full of some very nicely toned Morgan dollars.

 

When asking about a coin, I found that most of the dealers I spoke to were willing to come down from the sticker price if a coin was a common date or of average quality, but if the coin was PQ or a rare date, very few dealers were willing to entertain offers. Of course, this should come as no surprise to anyone.

 

I was able to find two nice coins to add to my collection, one a commem and the other a buffalo. The commem is a 1936 Bridgeport in a NGC holder graded MS-66. It is a white coin with a very light gold tint. There is a small area of electric blue at the bottom of the reverse.

 

The buffalo is a 1916, and is also in a NGC holder graded MS-66. It is sharply struck and has nice luster. Both the obverse and reverse are toned in shades of purple, rose, pink, yellow, and gold.

 

 

After last weeks Parsippany show where I met up with Jeremy, TomB, and DaveG, this show was a little lonely, but fun never the less.

 

John

[Hoot]

You guys back east seem to have one show available after another! As far as I can tell, Montana's one miserable little show in Helena isn't even happening this year. It's usually announced in CW, but I have not seen a thing so far. And to make matters worse, I'll have to miss the Utah State coin show this year due to work circumstance.

 

So I guess it's FUN or bust.

 

Sorry to ramble! Great to see you're picking up great coins, John! Superb buffalo! (Hey - I got that 36-D! ) And I've always liked seeing PT Banum on the bridgeport!

 

Hoot

[Wihlborg]

So.... how’s that '36D? You're kind of leaving me hanging here Hoot. Pictures, I need pictures!

 

John

[Wihlborg]

I've always liked seeing PT Banum on the bridgeport!

 

Yeah, you know, although the Bridgeport isn’t really one of my favorite commems, There is something about it that I’ve always found intriguing.

 

On the obverse you have PT Barnum, put there by the group who commissioned the coin because… well I guess because he was the most famous person to have come from Bridgeport at the time, and they couldn’t come up with anything better.

While on the reverse you have that large art deco eagle standing naked it seems against a background of nothing!

 

As strange as this all seems, the design comes together, and the coin is attractive in it’s own right. However, due to the vast open areas on the coin it is quite tough to find an example that is free from marks and hairlines.

 

John

[Hoot]

I know what you mean about that Bridgeport being such a mixture of interesting design elements. It's a funny one, but I like it.

 

Ya know, I tried buying a 1916 buff that looked a lot like that one from Pinnacle Rarities a few months back. I called them when the coin was at a show, however, and it had already sold - but to another dealer! Maybe you got it!

 

As for that 36-D, it's not too purddy. Quite different from your own. Wanna post?

 

Hoot

[TomB]

Many people look at the Bridgeport commem as a joke because of the Barnum portrait paired with the ultra-art deco eagle. However, Barnum was a pretty good choice to put on the coin! He started the American Museum in NYC, and the Barnum Museum of Natural History at Tufts College was established in his honor. He was also briefly the mayor of Bridgeport and, prior to that, purchased land in East Bridgeport where he laid out streets, planted the trees to line the streets and reserved a large tract of land for what became known as Washington Park. Of course, his impact in 19th century entertainment is obvious.

 

The reverse eagle is way cool! Many people not only do not like it, they hate it! This eagle was designed by Henry Kreis, who also designed the Connecticut eagle. The Connecticut, by the way, is my favorite classic commem of all time! Here is the Connecticut eagle, skillful cropping of the image kindly provided by shylock, years ago-

[thebeav]

Thanks for the report John....I always enjoy these....

Oh, and beautiful coins also. I've always appreciated the Bridgeport, but have never owned one. Great look !!

Paul

[Hoot]

Way cool Tom!

 

Hoot

[jom]

Nice coins John! You guys sure have a LOT of shows to go to back there. I mean, small shows. Here in So. Cal...small shows are pretty dull....

 

Nice 16-P! That coin takes a huge jump in 67. Why not sell that dog of yours to me and go get a 67?

 

jom

[EVillageProwler]

Why not sell that dog of yours to me and go get a 67?

 

Why do people use the word "dog" in the negative?

 

Try this on for size: "Why not sell that jom of yours to me and go get a 67?"

 

EVP