As I take my midday lunch break on Tuesday, I made sure that I posted my Friday day off on my company’s internal calendar and started to think about the Whitman Baltimore show. So I started to gather my email of announcements and news to bring together the scope of Whitman’s effort going into this show.
I previously wrote about the American Numismatic Association offering classes on Understanding Die Varieties and Coin Collecting 101. This is a great step for the ANA expand its education mission beyond its conventions and the summer seminars.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing announced their 2008 Intaglio Print Subscription Program called the “Americana Series.” The first issue will be at the Baltimore Show. BEP will have a press on site in Baltimore. BEP announced that they will also display, for the first time ever, a sheet of the new $5 Federal Reserve Note as well as its “Billion Dollar Exhibit.”
David Lange announced on the Collectors’ Society Boards that he will presenting a slide show about coin boards of the 1930s-40s. This will be based on his book Coin Collecting Boards of the 1930s & 1940s. According to Dave, the program will be on Saturday at 2pm in Room 301. There will be a free drawing in which three attendees will each win a vintage coin board after the program.
With over 4,000 lots and a full currency session, Bowers and Merena Auctions will be holding their largest auction in company history. There are a number of interesting items for the rare coin and currency collector. See their online catalog for the lots that will be auctioned.
There will be coin grading by NGC, PCGS, ANACS, and ICG. The ANA and the folks from Florida United Numismatists will also be present.
It appears as if Whitman is looking to challenge FUN’s proclamation of being the “Largest Coin Show in America.” The only thing Baltimore is missing are the exhibits—maybe this is something they can include next year. But if it is Whitman’s goal to make their Baltimore show larger than FUN, I am sure those of us who live closer to Baltimore appreciates the opportunity to attend a premier show.