Strong attendance at CPMX 2016

Strong public attendance and good weather graced the 22nd Annual Chicago Paper Money Expo, March 17-20 at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill. The show is sponsored by Numismatic News’ sister publication, Bank Note Reporter.

Friday’s crowd was especially vibrant with spirited collector and dealer activity.

“I’m very pleased with how CPMX 2016 went,” said bourse chairman Connor Falk. “We had strong attendance throughout the show. Friday, in particular, was a energetic day on the bourse.”

“The attendees I spoke with were impressed with the show. Dealers reported a large number of sales ranging from $1 to $400. Collectors, myself included, were busy purchasing quality notes.”

Dealers interviewed by Bank Note Reporter echoed these comments.

“I’ve actually had really good sales to the public,” said Jim Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Currency, Bedford, Texas. The typical dealer-to-dealer business, he said, was good, adding that “the public business has been surprisingly nice. They’ve done a great job of getting a really nice crowd in the door.”

Fitzgerald said sales of obsolete bank notes were especially strong.

“I’ve sold more obsoletes than I have anticipated, which is a nice surprise. I sold a little bit of everything, but I’ve definitely sold more obsoletes than anything.”

World paper money dealer David F. Cieniewicz, Huntsville, Ala., termed it a “typical CPMX show.”

“It was a very good show,” he said, with “good collector participation.”

Cieniewicz, who deals in world notes, says that overall the market for such notes has slowed down a bit from a year or two ago, but that it is still a good market.

Another dealer who was happy with CPMX attendance was Micky Shipley, Micky’s Currency, Devils Lake, N.D.

“I had a very decent show,” Shipley said. “I thought it was pretty well attended.”

Large-size type was selling for her. “Buying wasn’t a real big option, but selling was good,” she said.

“I’ve had a decent show,” said Marty Rowland of A-Coin & Stamp Gallery Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. “I think the market is still a little soft. But comparatively for the economy, election year and everything we are dealing with right now, the show was successful for me.”

He said he sold a lot of Confederate material, but sales in National Bank Notes were a little bit slow.

“I’ve had a lot of people shopping for them. I just didn’t have the right inventory. There were a lot of people looking for Illinois notes and I mainly deal in southeastern states.”

Table count this year was down from the prior year, but some dealers, including John Markis, Trusted Traditions, Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla., found this to be an advantage.

“Over all we did surprisingly well in light of the downsizing that occurred within the show,” he said. “With less participation from the dealers, it allowed the remaining group of us to absorb the market’s availability and thus I made overhead.”

More than sales to collectors, he said this year’s CPMX, proved to be a good buying opportunity.

“That’s the key,” Markis said. “When you are able to make purchases that you know you will eventually sell at a reasonable fair profit it makes up for the travel and expenses that you have.”

• Come on down to the Chicago International Coin Fair in Rosemont, Ill. on April 14 to 17, 2016 to see impressive world coins, meet new collectors and participate in Heritage Auction’s fantastic coin auction.
• The Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money is the only annual guide that provides complete coverage of U.S. currency with today’s market prices.