MidAmerica Expo hosts busy bourse

A strong $5.2 million auction and an active bourse characterized the 26th annual MidAmerica Coin Expo June 21-24 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

?This year?s MidAmerica Coin Expo was incredibly active,? said convention chairman Kevin Foley. ?Booth holders and Professional Preview attendees began arriving a full two hours prior to the opening of booth holder move-in.?

Christine Karstedt, left, and Larry Stack, right, announce renewal of the Stack?s auction contract with MidAmerica chairman Kevin Foley.

Stack?s not only conducted this year?s auction (see separate story on Page 24), it has signed up to do it again in 2008.

?By the conclusion of the show on Sunday afternoon just over 85 percent of the booth holders had renewed,? Foley said. ?That probably tells the story about how much business was transacted better than anything I could say.?

One of those satisfied dealers, interviewed on Saturday, June 23, was Grant Campbell of Dalton Gold and Silver Exchange, Dalton, Ga., who sells mainly high-grade certified U.S. gold and silver coins. ?There?s been a lot of dealer business, but there?s also been a lot of public that has come out,? Campbell said. ?It?s been a little bit light today, but the show?s not over.?

Joe Pankratz of Avenue Coins and Jewelry, Appleton, Wis., gave the show a ?solid B.? Due to family commitments, Pankratz was on the floor for only part of the show, but had some deals arranged ahead of time and said it was ?mission accomplished.?

?It?s been a wonderful show so far,? added dealer John Jankowski Sr. of John Jankowski & Son, Lake Geneva, Wis., who deals in U.S. coins. ?Overall, I wish there were more people present, but there was plenty of wholesale business.?

Rodney Seeds of RJ Coins, Big Rapids, Mich., however, reported not having a very good show, but did he did OK on paper money sales, had some pre-arranged deals, and was able to obtain most of the material he needed for client want lists.

?It was great,? said dealer Harry Laibstain of Harry Laibstain Rare Coins, Newport News, Va., of the show. ?We did fine here. Lots of buying and selling.? Laibstain deals only in high-grade certified U.S. coins.

?The show?s been very good,? added Brian Timmons of Harbor Coin, Winthrop Harbor, Ill. ?There?s been a lot of dealer-to-dealer business. There was not as much public as we like, but it was good.?

Timmons said he was able to obtain a number of better-date coins for inventory and that keys, type coins, and cameo proofs were in demand.

Stack?s of New York was the official auction company for the expo and has agreed to do so again in 2008.

?The management of the MidAmerica Coin Expo is delighted to continue our affiliation with one of the iconic names in the numismatic auction trade ? Stack?s,? Foley said of the agreement. ?They?re one of the fabled companies, whose name evokes tradition, respect, and scholarship. The whole numismatic community will benefit from their continued involvement as an integral part of the MidAmerica Coin Expo.?

The 27th Annual MidAmerica Coin Expo, July 10-13, 2008, will sport a new location ? the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, a new facility close to the Woodfield Mall. Unlike the current location, the new venue will feature free parking for show attendees.

For additional information, contact Kevin Foley, P.O. Box 573, Milwaukee, WI 53201; telephone, (414) 421-3484; fax (414) 423-0343; or e-mail kfoley2@wi.rr.com.