1.       Lower-cost collector coins continue to be in demand.  In my specialty area of Bust and Seated silver coins, Liberty Seated dimes were on fire, and Liberty Seated quarters and halves were hot.  Liberty Seated dollars sales were insignificant. Note that the Liberty Seated dollars typically have a higher average price than for the other denominations, at least in my inventory.  Bust coinage, except for halves (which are lower cost items), had relatively low sales.  

2.       Collectors appear to be taking longer to decide on the higher-ticket coins.  Collectors examined but didn't purchase several high-ticket coins at two recent shows, and later ordered them by phone or website.  Hopefully, this trend will continue.   ;)

3.       Coins with significant eye appeal continue to be in demand.   Many collectors want to own coins for a long period of time, and they want to be pleased each time they examine their coins. 

4.       The supply of coins has increased as coins previously off the market, including some registry sets, have now come out of hiding.

5.       Some coins might have come onto the market because coins currently on the market haven't been selling and so the new coins are being sold to improve dealer and collector cash flow.

6.       Some of the new coins on the market are of very high quality.  I purchased both an 1853 with arrows half dime and an 1853 with arrows half dollar, the first time I have ever purchased two with arrows type coins at the same show.  I normally don't even try to stock 1853 with arrows type coins because there are so many available, but these two coins are very attractive toned coins and were purchased because of their eye appeal.

7.       The attendance at the show seemed to be slightly less than previous years, but the show was still well-attended.  Quite a few times there were several people at my table.  Most of the usual attendees were there this year.  With all of the familiar faces, plus quite a few new people whom I had not previously met in person, the show was, as usual, a pleasure to attend.

8.       Sunnywood's Toned Morgan Dollar Collection is the best collection of Morgan dollars I have ever seen.   Everyone liked it, including people who don't have an affinity for Morgans.

9.       Some of the best and brightest of the next generation of coin aficionados attended the FUN show.  Three interested in early silver coinage are Dennis Hengeveld from The Netherlands, Jeremy Katz from Baltimore, and Winston Zack from Chicago.

10.   Cherrypick of the show:  A collector had purchased a small bag of Bust half dimes and dimes from one of the budget dealers, for around $5 or so per coin.  One coin was an 1829 Curl Base 2 dime, holed, with VG or so details.  Congratulations on a great cherrypick!

11.   My hotel door wouldn't open!  I have often found that the key card I was given didn't open the door of my hotel room.    This time I was surprised to find that I couldn't OUT of my room.  The front desk suggested I jiggle the door handle, which didn't work.  I channeled Houdini, who told me that if the deadbolt was aligned in a certain way, then the door handle was turned a certain direction a certain amount, the door would open.  Success!

12.   Rant of the week:  If you want a specific name on your hotel bill, and a specific credit card used, the appropriate time to inform the hotel of your specific requirements is (1) when you make the reservation, (2) when you check in, or (3) sometime during your stay.  Any of these three alternatives will get the job done.  The time to hold a lengthy debate with the hotel clerk IS NOT at 4:30 AM when you are checking out and OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEHIND YOU AND THEIR TRANSPORTATION TO THE AIRPORT IS WAITING!  The only valid excuse is that somehow the hotel changed this information after you checked in.  The guilty party must travel a lot because he is supposedly a big-time coin dealer from the West Coast (but not California).   I will not identify him, but I will give him space here if he wants to explain, and if I am wrong, I will sincerely apologize.

Bust Half Dimes - - a 1800 LM-4 (an R7 variety!) in XF, an 1830 LM-4.2, an 1832 LM-8.5 and an 1835 LM-10, all in XF or AU and in PCGS holders.

Seated Half Dimes - - an 1839-O, an 1853 No Arrows and a nicely toned 1853 With Arrows.
 
Bust Dimes - - an 1802 JR-4 in VF in a rare die state with the obverse retained cud, two 1814 JR-2 dimes with bulged dies from the article in the recent JR Journal, a cleaned 1824/2 with a very sharp overdate, and an 1836 in EF.

Seated Dimes - - an 1842-O Small o and an 1842-O Medium O.

Bust Quarters - - an 1825/4 in the terminal die state with the "UNITED" cud in Fine (already on hold), an 1828 B-1 in PCGS VG-10, a stunning white 1831 in PCGS AU-58, an 1831 B-7 in Good/AG which is relatively inexpensive, and the gorgeously toned 1837 from the DAYERS Collection, which was the #1 set on the PCGS registry.
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Seated Quarters - - an 1851 in Fine, an 1856-S/s in Good, an 1862-S in Good, and an 1878-S in VF-30.

Bust Halves - - an 1823 in PCGS AU-53 from the Meyer Collection, an 1830 Large Letters in VF, and an 1836 Reeded Edge.

Seated Halves - - an 1853 With Arrows and Rays with stunning toning, an 1864, and an 1874 in AU-59 or better.

Seated Dollars - - an 1863 in EF.