Charmy's 2017 Orlando ANA National Money Show Report w/tons of Pics!

[The Penny Lady]

The spring ANA show is usually about half to one-third the size of the summer ANA show, and accordingly less attended as well. However, this show was even slower than expected and I didn't find nearly the amount of quality material I usually do. Still, I was pretty busy most of Thursday and part of Friday, with very decent sales. Friday we had some excitement with a thief being caught red handed, and Saturday was the usual active family day but I didn't see a lot of business being conducted. (By the way, this particular show report ought to appease some of those nay sayers who feel my reports aren't coin-related enough!)

Since flying from coast to coast especially with the 3-hour time change is an all-day ordeal, I left beautiful sunny OC early on Tuesday morning. Whenever I have a 7am flight (no flights can leave out of the John Wayne Airport until after 7am due to noise abatement rules), the airport is usually packed. But this time, my flight wasn't until 8:30am and surprisingly, the airport was quite empty!

I boarded my flight, settled into my seat, and got my audio book cued up. Here I am very happy to be headed to another coin show!

The Southern California coast is stunningly beautiful!

Many hours later, hello Orlando!

After settling into our rental condo, we headed over to the convention center to drop our bags off with security. It was eerie to see the convention center so deserted!

After breakfast the next morning we headed over to the convention center to view the auction lots. Wow, what a gorgeous day it was, sunny and warm, just like Southern California!

The Rosen Plaza hotel, which was right across from the convention center, had discounted parking for coin show attendees so we parked there each morning.

This is the banner ad for the show that was on the bridge walkway between the Rosen Plaze and the convention center

This is an interesting sculpture in the lobby of the convention center, it looks like a piece of coral.

When we arrived at the auction room, there were already several people viewing the lots. Nina, who is the auction coordinator for Kagin's, and Don's wife Candace, were very busy at work registering the dealers for live bidding.

There were some amazing coins in this auction, including several very cool Steve Brewer Flying Eagle patterns and all the Bechtler gold pieces! My favorite pieces were the double headed Flying Eagle pattern and the Bechtler gold piece that still had the cloth ribbon attached on a string.

After lot viewing, we waited out in the lobby with many other dealers for the show to open.

From left to right: John Agre/CRO, Roger (Todd/BluCC's dad), Todd, Larry Shapiro, and Rick Snow

This gentleman, Gene Hynds, loves all types of coins and has given me several interesting penny exonumia over the years, including some of the sticker cents that were in my past exhibit. While I was waiting in line, Gene handed me this adorable tiny barrel of pennies he had saved for me! I believe it is from the 1960's.

Soon it was time to be let in!

Set up went quickly and I also bought several new Pretty Pennies, some of which I sold at the show.

I was also very excited to find this very cool Indian cent error for my own collection!

After set up on Wednesday, we went to Maggianos for dinner. They have wonderful steak, seafood, and great pasta, as well as a fantastic wine selection.

They happened to have this wonderful Silver Oak on their wine list, and it actually was less expensive than what you could buy it for in the store! This is unheard of, especially for a wine of this caliber. So of course we had a bottle at dinner, and I decided to buy two more to take home with me.

After dinner, we walked over to the Blue Marlin for some drinks and great music.

Down the street from the restaurant is this famous upside down house

The next day I had an early meeting of the ANA Dealer Relations Committee. The committee consists of several dealers from various types of businesses, including U.S., foreign, paper money, large business, small business, Heritage and Stacks, as well as ANA representatives. We discussed various ways to try and improve the ANA shows, especially the National Money Shows which seem to be declining in attendance.

After the meeting, I headed into the show.

One of my favorite people (as evidenced by my lipstick on their cheeks) stopped by my table to say hi.

Charles "Wes" Parker

One of the hardest working ANA folks around, Larry Gage!

In the afternoon, I opened this bottle of Cooper Zinfandel which I had brought from home. I shared it with some of my customers and dealer friends, so it didn't last long!

After the show, I headed over to the auction. They had a really nice spread of food.

It was great to see a full room, which I haven't seen in a live auction in quite a while.

Don Kagin thanked everyone for working so hard to put on the auction, including his family and staff.

Massachusetts artist Chirs T. Costello's beautiful "Liberty Alive" design was the winner of Kagin's auction cover contest which won him a $5,000 prize.

Then Shonda Fry began the auction!

Even though some of the sale prices were lower than expected, the auction was a big success and I heard nothing but great things about Kagin's auction!

Friday, Steve Brewer, the man who consigned all those wonderful Flying Eagle patterns stopped by my table. We chatted for a few minutes and I had heard he had also collects amazing cars. He showed me a photo of some of these cars!

Also on Friday, I am very pleased to say that a coin thief was actually caught red-handed stealing coins! My understanding is that a dealer suspected something was off with a guy who was looking at his coins so he watched him on his security camera and saw him tucking a coin inside a book that he had on the table. After security apprehended hand searched the thief, they found more coins that were taken from a couple other dealers. I asked the one of the affected dealers whether they were going to press charges and they said they definitely were!

Things slowed down a little early that afternoon, so I opened the other bottle of wine I had picked up at a local store. It was a very nice Rodney Strong Cab.

A beautiful Friday evening Orlando sunset.

We went to Vito's Steakhouse for dinner Friday night. What a fantastic restaurant, yes pricey, but some of the best steaks I've ever had!

After dinner we went to Howl and the Moon, a very fun dueling piano bar. It was very crowded but a lot of fun!

Saturday started out pretty dead and never picked up. There were lots of families and scouts but I didn't see a lot of business being conducted.

John Schuch, Jr. and his adorable kiddos stopped by my table

It was a good time to see all the exhibits, including the ANA exhibit.

The ANA exhibit judges hard at work!

This very creative exhibit on railroad notes won Best of Show

This fun and interesting exhibit on Uses and Abuses of Large Cents got my vote and won the People's Choice award!

The ANA folks and exhibits

The FUN table, and helping WIN out too!

Wayne Herndon of Wizard Coin Supplies

The PCGS table (that's Tim Brown/The Buffalo Brothers submitting coins)

The NGC table

My table!

Soon it was time to pack up and head to the airport. I think packing up at the end of a show is my least favorite part about being a coin dealer.

Once through security, I had some extra time and was able to use my special pass to the United Club (I get 2 passes each year since I have a United Airlines credit card).

Soon I was nestled in my seat and so happy to be heading home to my hubby, Penny, and little baby Ryder!

Bye-bye Orlando for now

Penny was glad I was home, and I don't think she wants me to leave again as she's guarding my suitcase!

Next up: PNNA Tukwila/Seattle this weekend, then Baltimore in a couple weeks.

 

 

 

[LINCOLNMAN]

Enjoyable report, many thanks for sharing.

[WoodenJefferson]

20 minutes to go through this enjoyable adventure. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

[bstrauss3]

Charmy, I have to say they saw you coming, that 1905 is like only 2/3 of a coin. Seriously: wow!