So far, 2012 has proven to be an eventful year for Southgate Coins. With the sale of the Battle Born collection reaching just shy of $10 million dollars only two weeks ago, spirits remained high as the Nevada State Museum’s annual coin show in Carson City approached. The ripple-effect of that historic auction was felt throughout the two-day event, and as always, Southgate Coins was there to partake in the festivities!
With Nicole and I (Maya) having honed our skills in event preparation, things that once took us weeks to prepare for have been streamlined into a matter of days. The Carson City coin show this year was no exception. All this week, Nicole and I double- and triple-checked our supply list for the show, and when every box was ticked on Thursday, she and I loaded up Rusty’s new Jeep so we could go set up our booth in Carson City.
In record time, Rusty and I traveled to Carson City, unpacked and set up our display tables at the show, and participated in the traditional dealer meet-and-greet. There was a tangible buzz in the air—all the dealers were dying to speak to Rusty about the success of the Battle Born sale. The coin show had not even begun, and our booth was already busy!
On Friday, August 25, the NSM coin show opened at 8:30, following a doughnuts-and-coffee morning set-up. As the customers, friends, clients, and dealers stopped by our table, we shook hands with people who we don’t often see. As the show progressed, more and more Carson City Coin Collectors of America members showed up, ready for their afternoon meeting across the street at the Carson Nugget Casino.
The morning’s attendance was steady. Right around 12:40 PM, Nicole arrived at the coin show to relieve Rusty and me of booth-watching duties so we too could attend the C4OA meeting at 1:00 PM. Nicole staffed the table for the next three hours, before Rusty and I returned from the meeting and sent her back to close up the store in Reno with Marie. And it’s no surprise to us that Marie acted like such a trooper—she manned the store all day, even though she was still suffering from a terrible cold. (You rock, Marie!)
After they closed the store for the evening, Marie and Nicole called it a night. Back in Carson City, Rusty and I had one final event to attend: the C4OA dinner at the Carson Nugget. The dinner went well, with lots of lively conversation and reunions of old friends. As everything came to a close shortly after 8:00 PM, Rusty and I said our goodbyes and headed back to our homes in Reno. What an eventful day!
On Saturday (Day 2 of the coin show), Nicole and I switched starting positions: she met up with Rusty to carpool to Carson City and work the booth at the coin show, and I helped Marie at the Store here in Reno.
When the coin show ended at 4:30 PM, Nicole, Rusty, and Southgate friend Michael Parrott packed up all of Southgate’s supplies, and loaded them into Rusty’s Jeep to haul back to Reno. Michael's wife, Jo Ann, was also among the caravanning crew. When everyone arrived at the store, Marie, Southgate friends Bruce Thayer, Tony and Mary Ann Arnold, and I all helped to unload and put away everything, in preparation for our traditional after-coin-show dinner.
This year, our after-coin-show dinner was held at Mimi’s Café in the beautifully-lit Lodge room. The whole Southgate staff, along with Bruce Thayer, Michael Parrott, and Tony and Mary Ann Arnold attended the dinner. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere, and the food was delicious. Once the dishes had been cleared from the table, it was hard for everyone to say goodbye, knowing that for some of them it'd be another year before they'd see each other.
After two and a half days of work to prepare for and attend the coin show, C4OA meeting and dinner, and the after-coin-show dinner, Rusty, Marie, Nicole and I are thoroughly bushed. But, we can’t wait to do it all again next year
Thanks so much to our helpful friends and clients who contributed their efforts to make this coin show and C4OA Regional Meeting a great success!
Maya