Show Report: ANA National Money Show, February 2025
Another coin show, another opportunity to recount the numismatic adventures that unfold when you pack several hundred coin dealers into a convention center with millions of dollars worth of history in small metal discs.
The National Money Show is one of the ANA's premier events, typically smaller than the summer World's Fair of Money but still a draw for serious collectors and dealers from across the country. With Long Beach Expo ending its run earlier this year (a moment of silence, please), shows like this have become even more important to the coin community's calendar.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - Travel Day
Our adventure began as they always do - with a pre-dawn journey to SFO and the familiar ritual of hoping the TSA agent manning the scanner recognizes that weird image in front of him as multiple double-row boxes of otherwise boring (and harmless) coins. I figure my bag is pulled about 20% of the time, and the private screening is usually simple (and, dare I say, amusing, because the agents doing the screening are usually human and love asking about my inventory.)
This one was actually a delight -- my bag sailed through the scanner and when I pulled it from the belt I nodded and said “Thanks” to the agent, a knowing acknowledgment that I understood that he understood what I was carrying. He looked back at me, smiled, and asked - “Old ones?”
“Yup,” I said. “Lots from the 1800s.”
“That’s dope,” he replied. “Have a safe flight.”
Dope indeed.
The flight to Atlanta was mercifully uneventful, though landing during rush hour meant enduring the Atlanta traffic tango for a solid hour before reaching our hotel.
One of the best aspects of these national shows is when everyone stays in the same hotel. There's something wonderfully chaotic about walking through a hotel lobby and spotting legendary numismatists casually discussing the latest auction results over coffee, or bumping into a world-class currency dealer in the elevator. Central States has a similar setup, and it creates this wonderful bubble of coin enthusiasm.
I barely had time to drop my bags before meeting up our arriving crew - Owen, Sara, and Ashley, and then our pal Max Brand at the hotel bar. We likely raised a few eyebrows (though not from the dealers, duh) as we plugged in a grading lamp and started going through Max’s inventory right there among the cocktail sippers. But this is coin show life – opportunistic and unapologetically nerdy.
Wednesday February 26, 2025 - Dealer Setup
Mornings at coin shows follow their own rhythm. First, the obligatory visit to a favorite wholesaler's hotel room, hunched over suitcases of inventory before the bourse floor even opens. I managed to snag a few nice pieces before heading down to the convention center for dealer setup.
Dealer setup at major shows is always a carefully choreographed chaos. We're simultaneously trying to:
- Unpack and setup our booths and inventory
- Look at other dealers' inventory
- Make first-day deals before the public arrives
- Catch up with friends we haven't seen since the last show
- Remember to actually eat something at some point
I usually get at least 3 of these done. Rarely 4. Almost never all 5 (and you can guess which one falls off the list...)
And amidst the chaos, we get gems like this that manifest themselves out of nowhere:
These are the coins that make numismatists' hearts skip a beat – tangible pieces of American history that most collectors will only ever see in reference books...(and to be 100% honest, I actually did not even know that this coin existed before I saw it. Love when that stuff happens.) The privilege of handling rarities like this never gets old.
Thursday February 27, 2025 - First Public Day
Thursday dawned with the energy that only the first public day of a show can bring. Dealers finished arranging their cases, early-bird collectors lined up, and the collective anticipation was palpable.
The day was, honestly, a complete blur. I kind of blinked and it was 6pm. Did I eat? Maybe? Did I buy a bunch of coins? Surely. Did I sell a bunch of coins? I hope so! This was my view all day from my perch at the buying table in our booth:
Here’s some things that at least my camera assures me happened:
I finally bought a coin from Tony aka Cabbage Coins – a dealer whose eye for quality aligns perfectly with mine. We've built a friendship through Instagram over the years, and it was great to finally make a deal in person.
A true highlight of the day - and one that even I remember clearly - was a visit from the absolute legend Bill Fivaz.
If you're into coins, you know that name. Co-author of the legendary Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties, former president of the White Plains Coin Club (my childhood club!), and the instructor of my ANA Summer Seminar class back in 1994 when I was just a wide-eyed high school kid living my coins 1.0 life.
At 90 years young, Bill looked fantastic and remembered our connection from decades ago. These full-circle moments remind me why I love this community so much – it's a hobby that spans generations and literally forms lifelong bonds.
Ok - back to the blur...
The numismatic gods were smiling on me when a dealer buddy from the Bay Area texted me to keep an eye out for a 1799 Large Cent for his client. Remarkably, not 30 minutes later, a collector approached our table asking if I'd be interested in...a 1799 Large Cent.
(And if you know the series, that just doesn’t happen. You’d be lucky to find a single 1799 Large Cent any given major show. They are RARE.)
The timing couldn't have been more perfect, and I snatched it up immediately, making everyone - my dealer friend, his client, and the collector who offered it to me - very happy indeed.
Later that day, a collector I know from Instagram offered me a shot to bid on his complete set of Walking Liberty half dollar proofs from 1936-1942. These were gorgeous coins with deep mirrors and striking contrast, all CAC-approved. Sets like this don't come around often.
Our friend Jacob from Monster Toned Morgans stopped by with his inventory of eye-popping rainbow toners. Jacob's stuff is always a visual feast.
After a long day of wheeling and dealing, dinner becomes the most important (non?) numismatic event of the day. Our crew found a local restaurant where we could decompress, eat, drink, be merry, and recharge for Friday. Coin show dinners are their own special tradition – part strategy session, part therapy group, and entirely necessary for maintaining sanity.
Friday, February 28, 2025 - An Unexpected Early Departure
Friday began with all the promise of another busy day. The bourse floor was humming, deals were happening left and right, and our booth was seeing steady traffic. However, the best-laid plans of coin dealers often go awry.
Back at home, my beloved 1 year daughter had the flu and my wife needed reinforcements. (Sick babies are tough...sick babies while solo are REALLY tough.). As much as I love coins (and I REALLY love coins), family comes first, always. So I made the difficult decision to pack up a day early and catch an evening flight back to California.
Related: This highlights one of the perpetual challenges of the coin show circuit – the dreaded dealer “early departure." It's a frustrating reality that by Friday afternoon or early Saturday, many dealers have already packed up and headed home (many for non-urgent reasons - they’ve simply finished their work and would rather not face the weekend retail collector crew).
But for those collectors who can only attend on weekends, arriving to find half-empty tables is disappointing at best.
Why does this happen? The math is simple but unfortunate. Many dealers are wholesalers who do the bulk of their business with other dealers during setup and the first day. By Friday, they've accomplished their primary goals. Add in the pull of family time after a week on the road, and the exodus begins.
(I’m sorry that I contributed to this problem in Atlanta, but also not sorry at all.)
The industry hasn't found a perfect solution yet, but it's worth acknowledging the issue. (Pro tip for collectors: always try to attend national shows on Thursday or Friday if possible. Saturday really is last call.)
Before leaving, I gathered our team for a quick photo – Sara, Owen, Ashley, David (an honorary team member who might as well be official), and me.
With mixed emotions, we packed up our mobile office – dismantling in two hours what had taken twice as long to set up.
Final Thoughts
Despite the abbreviated schedule, this show proved once again why all shows remain vital to the hobby: Beyond the transactions and the treasures, it's the people and stories that make this whole deal so darn fun. From reconnecting with Bill Fivaz after 30 years to the cosmic coincidence of the 1799 Large Cent appearing minutes after being asked about one, these moments keep us coming back, show after show.
If you missed us in Atlanta, fear not – we'll be setting up our mobile Rarity7 office at the next show, ready to do it all again.
