Charmy's November 2014 BALTIMORE SHOW REPORT w/tons of Pics!!!

[The Penny Lady]

Since this show report includes several foreign coin dealers, I thought I'd post it on this forum as well.

 

I missed the last Baltimore show (due to my son’s wedding last March) so I was definitely looking forward to being back in Baltimore and seeing some of my east coast customers. I was also pleased that the weather forecasts showed mild weather and that they finished building the casino not far from the convention center!

 

My travel day began early Wednesday morning with a short connection time in Chicago. So when my flight leaving Orange County was delayed, I became very concerned whether I would make my connection. Then I discovered my plane was landing at terminal B in Chicago, while my flight to Baltimore was leaving from terminal C which was on the other side of the tarmac. When we finally landed, I had about 20 minutes to catch my flight, but my biggest concern was whether there would be overhead space for my roller bag full of coins. I was also worried that my checked bag wouldn’t make my flight! So I dashed as fast as I could dragging along my roller bag and under=the-seat bag of coins and made it to the gate just barely in time. Unfortunately as I suspected, being one of the very last people to board a full flight meant there was no room left for my bag. The gate attendant told me I would have to check my roller bag. I quietly explained to her what was in my bag but she was unconcerned and repeated that all the overhead bins were full. I asked her if she would contact the flight attendants on the plane to see if something could be juggled. She said that was not something she could or would do. I told her then I would ask them and proceeded to the ramp, but she insisted on tagging my bag before she would let me down the ramp. I told her if my bag didn’t go on the plane, then neither would I so the tag really didn’t make sense – she tagged it anyway. When I boarded the plane, I again quietly explained to the flight attendant what the contents of my bag were, that it couldn’t possibly be checked, and asked if there was any way she could find space. She looked around, and then compassionately allowed me to place my bag in the flight attendant’s closet so I could make the flight. Phew, was I relieved and extremely grateful to this very kind lady!

 

Less than two hours later, we were landing in beautiful Baltimore!

 

 

 

Since the show was a little earlier in the season than prior November shows, we could still see all the beautiful fall colors of the trees – something this west coaster doesn’t get to see very often!

 

 

I checked into my room and noticed the beautiful sunset out my window.

 

 

 

After settling in, I was well ready for some refreshments and headed down to the hotel bar. While watching an exciting last game of the World Series, I enjoyed some crab cake sliders along with a refreshing gin and tonic.

 

 

 

 

After hanging out with a couple other coin dealers for a little while, I called it an early night and welcomed the big soft comfy bed that awaited me in my room!

 

 

Thursday morning I was up bright and early and headed over to the convention center which was connected to my hotel, so it was a short walk. This is a view of the city from the walkway between the Sheridan and the convention center.

 

 

 

 

Throughout the day (as well as the rest of the show), I bought many nice coins for my inventory. One especially pretty piece I found is this 1908-S in PCGS MS65 RB that has violet magenta toning on the obverse and a full red reverse. Toned 1908-S Indian cents are rare and this one has great eye appeal.

 

 

 

 

Al Weinberg brought me a new pop-out piece for my collection. It’s a rare George Dewey button 1901 Indian cent. George Dewey the only person in U.S. history to have attained the rank of Admiral of the Navy, and was best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

 

 

 

 

A customer also stopped by and gave me a new sticker cent to add to my exonumia collection.

 

 

Forum member Larry/FadeToBlack stopped by to say hi.

 

 

After the show on Thursday, we went to one of our favorite Baltimore restaurants, Da Mimmo’s.

 

 

It’s a really nice intimate restaurant with just a handful of tables surrounded by photographs of famous people.

 

 

 

 

It has a great menu of delicious seafood and pasta dishes, as well as a wonderful wine selection.

 

 

 

 

 

I had their special blackened halibut with penne pasta.

 

 

After dinner, we headed over to the new Horseshoe Casino. On our way, I saw this huge plume of steam shooting out from one of the sewer lids. I’m sure for all the non-west coasters, this is not an unusual site, but for me I was fascinated with it!

 

 

When we got to the casino, I was pleased to discover that it was affiliated with Harrah’s so any play would be added to my points card which allows me to stay in any Harrah’s-owned hotel/casino for free!

 

 

Ron, Rick and I played 1-3 no limit poker. When I cashed out, I was quite happy to be $140 ahead!

 

 

The next day was Halloween Friday! So along with my spider nail polish, I put on my little witches hat, my flashing glowing ghost necklace, and my haunted house pin and headed to the show.

 

 

 

It was fun to see several other dealers dressed for Halloween, like Todd and his dad Roger!

 

 

Oh wait, I forgot, that’s their usual coin show costumes!

 

Leo Frese had a great pirate costume!

 

 

And Shaunda Fry looked fantastic!!

 

 

Some shots around the bourse and lobby on Friday

 

 

 

Then when things slowed down on Friday afternoon, out came the wine – which was nicely complimented by my little boom box of music!

 

 

 

On Friday night, I was invited by my foreign coin dealer friend Karl Stephens to join him and his other dark side coin dealer friends to their favorite Baltimore restaurant, the Black Olive in Fells Point.

 

 

It’s a Greek restaurant that serves the freshest fish around, and has an amazing wine cellar! Karl and his friends have been coming to this restaurant for several years and always reserve the one table in the cellar surrounded by shelves and shelves of some of the most rare and expensive wine! I was truly honored to be able to join this group for an amazing dining experience – even if they were all darks ide dealers! ;-)

 

One of their specialties is grilled octopus which at first made me cringe a little since I’m not a seafood lover, but it was absolutely delicious!

 

 

We started off with a delicious bottle of this Techni Malagousia white wine at the restaurant bar.

 

 

Al Boulanger, me, Karl, and Mike.

 

 

Then we headed down to the cellar where our table was set up for dinner and waited for the rest of our party to join us.

 

 

 

 

 

Our group included Dan Sedwick, me, Al Boulanger on the left, then Augi Garcia-Barneche, Mike, and Karl Stephens on the right.

 

 

Then we had a bottle of Techni red wine which was decanted in this fanciful decanter. That’s Augi Garcia-Barneche holding the decanter.

 

 

 

 

After numerous appetizers, including the grilled octopus, I had the Village Pie which was Village Pie a chef’s specialty of baked homemade phyllo with Greek cheeses and a variety of savory greens and herbs with a side of garlic marinated yellow beets – everything was delicious!

 

 

 

Mike (with his Cat in the Hat hat) had grilled lamb and this was all that was left when he finished!

 

 

 

Their house dessert specialty is baklava ice cream, which sounded odd, but was heavenly!

 

 

After dinner, the group “voted” on whether they would include me – a non-foreign dealer – as a regular for their Friday night Baltimore dining experience – believe me, I was very grateful that I was in!!!

 

After dinner, we headed over to the Cat’s Eye pub to meet up with several other dark side folks.

 

 

Kyle Ponterio (Stacks Bowers) and me

 

 

Karl was dressed as an “Old Fart”!

 

 

Augi and Stephanie Hudson

 

 

Augi and Where’s Waldo

 

 

Ben Bell

 

 

 

 

 

After we left the pub, we walked around Fells Point among a thousand other folks, most of whom were dressed up in great costumes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The guys trying to take a selfie!

 

 

I had no idea Baltimore had such a big Halloween following – what a fun night it was!!

 

 

However, Saturday morning came way too soon! I woke up and found that it had rained during the night – we haven’t had much rain in Southern California so it was great to see some wet pavement for a change. Here’s the view from my hotel that morning.

 

 

 

After I opened up my booth, I walked around the bourse floor to try and fill some want lists. I stopped by Rick’s table to see what he might have gotten in the auctions and he showed me this really rare pattern with a blank reverse!

 

 

 

I went over to NGC to submit some new Conder tokens and they were slammed!

 

 

PCGS was also very busy with everyone trying to get their submissions in before the 11:00am cut off time.

 

 

The show was fairly well attended on Saturday morning, but by noon, both dealers and the public began clearing out.

 

 

Soon it was time for me to pack up and head to the airport. Nina, Shawn and I were all on the same flight so we took a van together to the airport. We stopped at a restaurant near our gate to grab a bite to eat and discovered that all the other patrons at the restaurant were dealers waiting for the same flight to Chicago!

 

This little café had great burgers! Shawn and Nina – that little girl sure can chow down!

 

 

 

Me and Nina goofing off with selfies!

 

 

 

So long Baltimore till next time!

 

 

And of course, me so happy to be going home!

 

 

Overall, from my personal experience and from speaking with other dealers, the show was a little slow selling-wise. It seem that bigger coins were harder to sell, while smaller, less expensive coins sold better so many dealers are holding back or being more cautious with what they are buying. I also heard that wholesale overall was way down.

 

Next up – a small show in Sacramento, followed by a few relaxing days at a lodge with my bff Cindi in beautiful Yosemite. Then the Houston Money show and Las Vegas show in December.