Coin Show Report - Parsippany, NJ

[DaveG]

I went to the first-Sunday-of-the-month, 80 dealer, show in Parsippany, NJ today. As I've reported in the past, this is a very popular show - the aisles are always very crowded and it's hard to get to a dealer's table without four other people crowding you. Today it was as crowded as I've seen it in the past year or so (it was a bit less crowded last month) and there was a lot of "buzz" in the room. There were actually a couple of empty tables today, but there were still three coin dealers set up in the side room, which the show has been using for a couple of months now.

 

One of my first stops today was at Jon Lerner's table, to handle the new ANACS slabs. (He posts across the street, as Scarsdale Coin.) I pretty much agree with the concensus: I love the ability to see a description of the coin from the top, but I hate the new label - the black type on dark blue has got to go! Jon also had some of the "new" net-graded slabs (same slab, new label - black type on a white label with a blue ANACS logo underneath). The new net-graded label is great! They should use it for their regular label! He also had some of the new ANACS boxes, which, he said won't accomodate PCGS or NGC slabs. Also, they're secured by tabs on each end, which, I think, makes opening the box akward. They're clear, though, which makes it easy to see what coins are inside. Good Idea! Jon had some nice new coins, including a couple of old-tenor half eagles, including a Capped Head (1813-1829) design; I don't remember the date, but I think it was an MS-62 grade!

 

I didn't get around as much as I usually do, because I spent most of my time talking. Wihlborg was there and I introduced him to njcoincrank (who posts across the street, infrequently). njcoincrank actually had a display case full of material today! He had a binder full of BEP-printed silk handkercheifs. I believe that the BEP is still printing vingettes on these at the ANA and perhaps other large shows, but these particular handkercheifs were from the 19th and early 20th centuries (Columbian Exposition, St. Louis World's Fair, that sort of thing!) He also had FIVE 19th century coin scales, including one of the type that is illustrated in Kagin's ad on page 80 of the February 6th issue of Coin World. njcoincrank also showed off some of his "regular" inventory, including a to-die-for 1857-O half dime in PCGS MS-65 (or higher) with some really pretty blue toning on the obverse. If you wanted to see what an undipped mid-19th century MS coin looks like, then that's a coin you should see!

 

Wihlborg had his truly awesome toned Delaware commem with him and I brought up the time he acquired it (at the GSNA show a couple of years ago) and the fistfight it nearly caused! (Do a search if you'd like to see it - it's worth it!) Dealmakr (who posts across the street, infrequently) was also there today (and at the time) and said that the story has entered "numismatic lore" now! Dealmakr was gracious enough to show off some really nice commems and many mint medals and so-called dollars. A whole lot of jaw-droppers there!

 

On the whole, the show was very busy. Gold seemed to be very popular. In my brief tour of the floor, I recall, in addition to the usual things (MS Morgans, MS post-1933 Walkers, white commems, etc), there seemed to be a decent mix of nicer older coins. I recall seeing a couple of other old-tenor half eagles (in addition to Jon Lerner's) and saw some southern (C-, D- and O-mint) quarter eagles - the O-mint quarter eagles were a PCGS XF-40 1842-O and a PCGS AU-50 1851-O. Unfortunately, each had some significant hits, which rendered them undesirable to me.

 

I also flipped through a copy of the new book on Confederate Currency (published by Smythe). Wow - 8 1/2 x 11 and about three inches thick!

[Wihlborg]

As Dave has already said, we met at the Parsippany show today and had a great time talking coins and doing a little show and tell. Boy, I have to say that njcoincrank and Dealmaker have some truly incredible coins and medals!

 

The highlight for me was seeing njcoincrank’s MS-63 1818 bust half with its delicate iridescent purple rim tone and his MS-67 1860 half dime. It has brilliant silver centers and incredible bright blue toning around the rims. WOW!

 

Dealmaker has the most outstanding collection of so called dollars and medals that I have ever personally seen. Not only does he have some truly rare pieces, but he has them in high grades!

 

Dave was able to add a wonderful coin to his collection thanks to njcoincrank, but I’ll let him talk about his own coin. Come on Dave, talk about the coin!

 

After saying good bye to everyone I made my way down the aisles one more time before leaving. This turned out to be a good decision because tucked away in the back of the room I found a dealer who had a simply stunning Booker T. Washington Commem. It was a 1946 in a NGC holder graded MS-67, and both the obverse and reverse are toned in shades of iridescent magenta, violet, pink, and lime green.

 

It didn’t take me long to decide that it was going to be coming home with me!

 

The show was very busy, with a lot of buying and selling going on. Early commems seemed to be especially active, Every time I stopped at the dealers who carry a good inventory of early commems, they either already had someone buying or someone walked up while I was there.

 

I had a great show today, and I’m already looking forward to next months show.

 

John

[jom]

This turned out to be a good decision because tucked away in the back of the room I found a dealer who had a simply stunning Booker T. Washington Commem. It was a 1946 in a NGC holder graded MS-67, and both the obverse and reverse are toned in shades of iridescent magenta, violet, pink, and lime green..

 

I don't know all that much about Commems but I can say I don't think I've really ever seen a "stunning" BTW. Virtually everyone I've seen is awful. I hope you post a pic soon!

 

jom

[Wihlborg]

Well, let me rephrase my comment for you Jom.

 

As Booker T’s go, this one is stunning. I’ll admit that the coin may not match the best monster toned commems I’ve seen, but it is very nice!

 

Actually, I’m having a tough time trying to get a decent image that represents what it looks like in person. The coin has that type of iridescent tone that shimmers and needs to be rotated under a light to be able to see all of the colors. As the coin is rotated the colors appear and change. To make matters worse, the holder is covered in scratches!

 

I tried to take digital photos, but to be able to show any of the colors the lighting caused so much glare you can’t see the coin. I was able to scan the coin, but the images just don’t do the coin justice. The colors are off, and look dull, and you can’t see the luster, so you lose the whole shimmering effect that adds to the beauty of the coin.

 

Here are the scans. This is the best I was able to get so far, but believe me the coin look nicer in person.

 

 

As for you seeing only awful Booker T’s, all I can say is I wish we weren’t 3000 miles away from each other because you need to see the ones in my set in person. They may not all have awesome toning, but some have very nice color, and they all have outstanding luster.

 

John

[jom]

As for you seeing only awful Booker T’s, all I can say is I wish we weren’t 3000 miles away from each other because you need to see the ones in my set in person. They may not all have awesome toning, but some have very nice color, and they all have outstanding luster.

 

I'm sure YOURS are nice...but I have just noticed the BTWs I've seen are, for the most part, crappy. It's oddly similar to many $5 Indians which, IMO, is the worst make coin series in the history of the mint....

 

As to your photograph: Just send the coin out to me and I'll take care of all your photographing needs...

 

jom

[RGT]

Here's one I sold on eBay a while back that I thought was pretty nice. Look familiar, John. By the way, I have the larger version of the images if you would like them, but they were a bit bigger than I wanted to post here.

 

[Wihlborg]

Jom,

 

I understood what you meant by your comment that the BTW’s you have seen are all crappy, and I didn’t take it as being personally directed toward me. Hell, most of the ones I’ve seen have been crappy as well.

 

By the same token, I was sincere in my comment that it is too bad that we are so are apart, because I would truly like to get together with you some time and share some of our coins.

 

RGT,

 

Yes, that coin looks very familiar. I am quite happy with it, thank you. The 1946d was the last BTW that I needed for my set, and I had a tough time trying to find a decent example that I liked until I got that coin from you. Thanks for your offer of the larger images, but I don’t really need anything larger than what you have already posted.

 

John

[jom]

By the same token, I was sincere in my comment that it is too bad that we are so are apart, because I would truly like to get together with you some time and share some of our coins.

 

What does the mileage have to do with anything? You can send me your collection any time thru the mail....sharing is a good thing.

 

 

jom

[Wihlborg]

What does the mileage have to do with anything? You can send me your collection any time thru the mail....sharing is a good thing.

 

Jom,

 

Now that I have thought about your comment, I have to admit that you are of course right. Sharing is a good thing, and I ashamed of myself for not having thought to send my coins to you sooner. I hope you don’t think less of me because of it.

 

To make up for my oversight, I have shipped out ALL of my buffalo nickels and most of my best early commems to you today so you can see them in person.

 

As I’m sure you can imagine, I won’t be able to rest easy until I know that they have arrived safely, so please be sure to wait at your mailbox until they are delivered. Don’t go anywhere or do anything that may distract you from keeping your eyes glued to your mailbox (like posting to the NGC board) until they arrive.

 

Don’t let me down buddy, I’m counting on you to make sure the coins delivered directly into your own hands. You know I would do the same for you.

 

 

 

 

John

[jom]

Unfortunately, I can't make it this weekend since I'll be at the LB show. Therefore, I'll send my friend Guido, my no non-sense tough guy phycopath ( ) assistant who just HATES to wait for things, to the PO to wait for your package. I'll tell him YOU sent the coins as stated so I'm sure the coins will arrive tomorrow promptly....I hope.

 

jom

[gmarguli]

... I'll be at the LB show.

 

jom

 

Damn.

[jom]

 

Damn.

 

Ah...maybe you won't show then. Cool....that means I won't have to eat at one of your bad lunch desinations you always choose....

 

jom