Visiting Florida soon - Any Good Coin Shows in the Naples - Ft. Myers Area?

Maybe some of the native Floridians can help me here. I shall be visiting the Naples- Ft. Myers area in July, and would like to attend a coin show (or two) while we are there. After all, one cannot lie on the beach ALL the time.

Thanks!

 

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July 7th - 9th, 2011
5th Annual Summer F.U.N. Convention
Orange County Convention Center
9800 International Dr.
Show opens at 10 a.m. daily
Dealer setup: July 6, 2 p.m.
Show coordinator: Cindy Wibker,
Box 471147, Lake Monroe, Fla. 32747-1147
Ph: 407-321-8747. E-mail: Cwibker@aol.com


It's not as big as the Tampa F.U.N. Show, but it is still a "biggie" nonetheless. It's about a 2.5+ hour drive from where you will be. The Show is in Orlando.

 

Too bad you're not coming this month, the Pensacola show is next week.

 

Eduard,

I'm in Cape Coral which is right across the river from Ft. Myers. Unfortunately, there are no local shows in the immediate area this time of the year. If you're thinking about attending Summer FUN in Orlando, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time for the drive. From Naples, you're about 250 miles away.

Chris

 

Thank you very much for the tips, Zach, treehugger and Cpm9ball.
Treehugger, thanks for letting me know about the Orlando show. It is a fair distance to drive, and I hope I can convince the family....
Chris, pity there are no shows in July in the vicinity. I was hoping that maybe in Ft. Myers, being a large(r) size community, there would be a show held in July.

 

Eduard
There are not any coin shows, But there is a flea market on Bonita Beach Rd. It is called the Flamingo Flea market heading east right before you get to Interstate 75 that has four dealers. They have some good deals and good assortment of about any coin or grade you would want. I bought $150.00 dollar red book and they sold me the coins for $80.00. 45% off red book. This time of year all the snowbirds left so they are slow, so they will make better deals.
If you want more info. PM me. I live in Naples.
Thanks Big Ed

 

I know it's out of your way, but I would give this place a shot. I've ordered off of them before and their customer service is excellent. I haven't been to Florida, so I've never been there before.

It's in Orlando

http://www.nfccoins.com/

 

The Ft. Myers Coin Club has a monthly show only in the winter months because most of the member/dealers are snowbirds. The odd thing is that Cape Coral is about three times as large as Ft. Myers, and we don't have a single coin shop (B&M).

Chris

 

Drop them off at Disneyland while you goto the show, or do one a day

 

Once again, than you ALL for the interesting tips.

Big Ed, as coincidence would have it, we are staying at a place located on Bonita Beach Rd. So, I will be sure to visit the Flamingo Flea Market.

The minute I mentioned to my wife about possibly going to Orlando to visit the show, she countered that she wanted to visit Disneyland. So, now we have a deal - she goes to Disneyland, and I go to the coin show.

 

Eduard,

Rest assured you are getting the better part of that deal.

 

Big Ed, thank you again for the tip. I have just returned from visiting the Flamingo Flea Market, and was amazed to find an 1822 quarter in F12 (NGC slab), which I could just not pass on. I really did not expect to find this sort of coin there. TThe 1822 is a semi-key in the capped bust quarter series. I had a very pleasant discussion with the dealer while looking at his stock, and he also recommended going to the Orlando Show next week. Will probably combine the Orlando Show with a visit to Disney World, and watching the last shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral due for July 8th.
So, South West Florida is definitely more than (just) beaches and pleasant weather!

 

Hi Eduard! I hope you are enjoying our beautiful state. Not sure if you're aware, but the Clearwater show (in St. Pete) is about two hours north, and this weekend.

 

Iv put shows on hold for a while.. just focusing on my site

 

You've got that right! We have hurricanes that uncover Spanish shipwreck gold, drug dealers who leave DC-3's on deserted roads after on offload and elderly people who find millions of dollars in drug dealers' hidden stashes and think they will get a reward for turning it over to the DEA.

Chris

 

Congrats on going to the FUN show, it is suppose to be very nice. I have been trying to plan a Disney vacation in July with my family for 2 years to coincide with it!! I agree you are getting the better end of that deal!

 

Sorry for not responding sooner. Been on vacation in Gettysburg, PA. I am glade you found some good stuff. I have good luck with the dealers there. The flea market dies down in the summer because so many people go back up north.
Big Ed

 

Well, we made it to Orlando on the first day of the show (July 8th). It took us almost 4 hours to get there, including one stop at a MD for the boys to eat something (and stop complaining), driving up from Bonita Springs and going through the back roads.
It was long ride and we were relieved when we finally reached the Convention Center. My wife dropped my eldest and myself off, while she went on with our youngest to visit Universal Studios.

So what did I think of the show? It was huge (more than 150 dealers?), as large or larger than the largest shows I have
been to in Europe (for example the Frankfurt Numismata), with one big difference - there was a lot of space to move
around - very little pushing and shoving as is my experience in Frankfurt.

Coin-wise it seems to me that a majority of the coins available were modern US issues 1870 on. I estimate that 30-40%
of all coins available were Morgan Dollars. Relatively few earlier issues earlier than 1820, except Capped Bust dollars
1810-1839. There seemed to be tons of those as well. I was looking a a suitable 1807 Capped Bust Half, and I only saw
two: one graded PCGS VF35 and priced at over $2000 (the small stars type), and an F12 which I bought for $200.

I was also on the lookout for large cents and European coins: If you were looking for early cooper (and could afford it)
this was the show for you. Three of the major Copper dealers (Hannigan's, Chris M'cawley, and Tom Reynolds were there.
I was literally mesmerized by the coins Tom Reynolds hand on offer. Rows of 1793's (Chain and Wreath), dozens of 1794';s, 1795's and 1796s (Caps and Draped Busts). The prices? WAY beyond what I was expecting or ready to spend...... I am
just glad I got my coppers over 2 decades ago when prices were more civil. On the topic of prices, It was my impressionis that everything was priced at Redbook or Coinworld prices (or CQR for COPPERs) + 10-15 % added on top. No deals to be made here! even after the usual haggling.
At the end I found a humble 1810 Cent in F12, which I bought as it has relatively nice hard surfaces, and (almost) reasonably priced.

On the World coin side, there were about a 8 to 10 dealers selling this type of material, and 3-5 selling Ancients. We
looked for interesting european coins, but saw very few of interest to us.

So what is worth it? well, in general I would not drive again so long for this show. I can usually do better elsewhere, BUT it was an interesting experience. As an additional bonus, we timed ourselves so that we could still make in time to drive
to Titusville to witness, albeit from a distance, the launch of the very last space shuttle from Cape Canaveral. That
experience alone made the long trip up from Bonita Springs worth it!

By the way, Florida is a very nice state, and the experience we have had here so far just wonderful. We usually spend oursummer vacation in the US Northeast (Boston area). I think, however, that in future we shall be heading to Florida more
often. Congratulations Floridians on a beautiful state.

Eduard

PS- sorry for the typos. I am working of a travel computer.

 

I enjoyed reading your report, Eduard, and I'm glad you and your family have had a good vacation. I hope you will post images of your purchases after you return home-- I'm sure the coins are nice ones, as are the others you have posted from your amazing collection.

 

Nice report Eduard. Glad to see you found a couple of nice items.