Metals sought at NOW show

Buyers were on a hunt for silver and gold at the Numismatists of Wisconsin 50th anniversary convention held May 21-22 in Iola, Wis.

“Gold bullion was our best seller,” said dealer Paul Reiser of Green Bay, Wis. “Gold took a dip,” he noted, and buyers used the occasion to stock up.

“I sold out of Krugerrands and American Eagles.”

But it wasn’t just gold that was hot.

“We did a lot in silver bullion,” Resier said. The metal was retailing at the time between $18 and $19 a troy ounce.

The 50-ounce and 100-ounce bars were most popular, he noted, although he had other sizes in his case as well.

“I got cleaned out,” said dealer Nathan Lord of Watertown, Wis., as he pointed to where the loose 90-percent silver coins had been in his case.

Other things were hot, too, at his Grant and Clemens table where he sold a gold 1907 High Relief $20. He also said generic MS-62 Morgan dollars in Professional Coin Grading Service holders did well.

Collectors were in attendance, but not in the numbers some expected.

“It was decent, not great. Volume-wise it was good,” said William Bright of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Bright said he had moderate sales overall and the value of the coins sold was high.

“I spent a lot more than I took in today,” said Bob Krueger of Crivitz, Wis.

For what was moving, he cited a 1914 Indian Head gold $2.50 coin, “nice high- end currency and GSA silver dollars.”

He defined the high-end material that he had sold as having a price of $600 and up.

Mint sets also did well for him. The 1970 set with the key 1970-D half dollar in it was being snapped up for between $11 and $12 each.

“The market’s good,” said Bob Worachek of Appleton, Wis., who sold “some type stuff, gold and paper money.”

Bernie May, who was sharing a table with Worachek, said he had a theory that his tokens sell well every third show.

“I never know which show it’s going to be,” May explained.

Iola was it.

Material priced at $200 and up sold well, May said.

“In the numismatic line, we sold as much paper as coins,” said Iola’s Kurt Krueger, who did well both buying and selling.

Postcards moved for him as did Indian cents and Buffalo nickels, Wisconsin trade tokens and political items.

Jim Vaughan of Lancaster, Wis., summed up the prevailing mood: “It was a good show. It was like a family reunion.”

Considering the 50th anniversary celebration, it certainly was.

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