Hobo nickels tops at Denver

A $170,000 deal conducted on the floor of the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show May 10-12 in Denver helped make the show a big winner for former ANA President Bob Campbell and his firm, All About Coins, Inc., of Salt Lake City.

Campbell sold a 218-piece collection of hobo nickels to Candace DeMarco Kagin of Tiburon, Calif.

This collection of Buffalo nickels turned into artwork by the deft talents of Depression-era artists often known simply by their first names, such as Bert and Bo, had been assembled by Larry Frost of Park City, Utah.

Kagin said she was adding the coins to her own collection.

“I am a collector,” she declared. “I’m going to play with it. ... I’m thrilled to be the custodian of this collection for as long as I can,” she said May 12.

Other dealer results were not quite as stellar.

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“I’ll give it a ‘C,’” said Charmy Harker, the Penny Lady of Irvine, Calif.

“Not having an auction and not having on-site grading and having a show here the week before hurt this show. Attendance was a little low and they weren’t spending as much,” she said.

Richard Gross of Hampstead, Md., said of the show, “It’s a midwinter and I felt the amount of public for a pretty big city was light. I came with low expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. My biggest sales were wholesale.”

Business with other dealers helped boost the results of Joe Sande, Nichols, Fla. He said, “For me, the show’s been an excellent buying show.” He added that he was there to fill want lists for customers and to find material for his mail-bid sales.

Indian Head cent specialist Rick Snow of Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Tucson, Ariz., complimented the hard work of the ANA staff and he said he liked the city, but “not enough collectors came out.”

Snow also said of the show: “They really need an auction tied with it.”

World coin dealer Mark Teller of M. Louis Teller Numismatic Co., Encino, Calif., said, “We made money here, but there was no public attendance. Denver is generally a good coin town.”

Jack Beymer of Santa Rosa, Calif., said, his business was pretty good. “We did alright.”

When asked if anything in particular was moving, he said, that it was “just kind of a smattering of this or that.”

Sondra Beymer said if she had to pick one area of business that stood out, “I think it would be Mercury dimes.”

Paper money dealer John Markis of Trusted Traditions, Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla., reflected, “I wish there was a simple solution to drive the locals to the convention center to support the hundreds of dealers who have spent thousands of dollars to be here. For us, we most likely bought our way out of the show at a level low enough to cover our expenses.”

Markis praised the venue.

“Denver is a beautiful town. The ANA always puts on a first-class presentation.”

Error coin dealer Fred Weinberg of Encino, Calif., was pleased with his results.

“Actually, it was very good,” he said. “Thursday was very active. It was a little bit slower yesterday. I think most of the dealers were pleasantly surprised. I was happy with what I sold.”

Of his paper money and coin results, Glen Jorde of Lake Region Coin and Currency, Devils Lake, N.D., said, “I did coin business, but I definitely did better in paper money.”

Overall, he said, “I’m doing OK at this show.”

Russian and Chinese coins are still active, said Scott Loos of North Bend, Wash.

“World coins have been strong,” he said of his results, but noted “attendance is a little lackluster.”

Standing Liberty quarter specialist J.H. Cline said, “I’ve had an excellent show. I have a pretty good following in Denver, anyway. It went real good for me.”

Atlanta’s Larry Jackson said, “Business was adequate” and explained, “the price of precious metals hurt the show.”

Gold and silver had been noticeably weak during the show.