Jun 21, 2010 | commentary, ethics, shows
There are a people in the numismatic industry I like, but there are some I watch with amusement for various reasons. One of those I watch with a certain amount of amusement is Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics from Lincroft, New Jersey. Sperber and Legend deals with a higher end segment of the market where their “lower-end” products cost more than $1,000.
There is nothing wrong with the high-end market, but most of the people I have associated with in numismatics that are not dealers look at $1,000 as being out of our budget. We are happy finding nice coins and putting together fun sets that may not be the type of coins that Legend and similar companies would sell.
While I respect Sperber for her views on the market, she acts and writes like it the view of everyone who participates in the market. Thus is the case with her Market Report regarding the recently ended Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Expo.
Sperber opens her tome noting that the show was “decent but quiet.” As with many June shows in Baltimore, it is not as active as the March or November shows and Sperber notes that the timing and the location works against this show. This is a fair comment and something the people at Whitman needs to consider in the future.
What is not fair is that her views are caveated at the beginning saying that the dealers she spoke with “on our level” was a few paragraphs before a section titled “When Dreck Rules.” On one hand she is saying that, “we know of a few smaller dealers who had nice coins and did VERY well.” Then a few paragraphs down she noted that, “[there] were few fresh and nice coins in anyones display case.” Which is it? Were there dealers with nice coins or where there few nice coins? It cannot be both.
Sperber also forgets that there are more aspects of the market than this “on [her] level.” Some of us are on a budget whose budget may not include paying thousands of dollars for coins. But we like to look and even learn so that maybe if that coin ever becomes affordable we can consider a purchase. She disparages some who she said were not serious buyers who “came to kick some tires and chat.” Using this logic, we are not to go to a high-end dealer to look, ask questions, and learn. Maybe, people did not like the quality of your coins; after all, you said that there were not enough “fresh and nice coins in anyones [sic] display case”
But according to Sperber, “we need cool and better CAC stickered coins” as if CAC stickered coins are the answer to her problems. It is hard to say whether CAC coins are the answer, but the concept of a coin having eye appeal and being entombed in a plastic slab stickered by someone else does not give the coin good eye appeal. In fact, a high grade coin, with our without the sticker, can be quite ugly. As someone who is not a fan of toned coins, I find many toned coins unattractive, yet I have seen a few with a CAC sticker that I would never buy even if offered as a raw coin.
What Sperber does not tell you is that she and/or Legend Numismatics have a stake in the CAC. That lack of disclosure in her promoting of the CAC is disingenuous, at best. In the future, Sperber should caveat discussion she is involved with about the CAC noting her association.
I understand that the good people at Legend Numismatics have to make a living, but it is time for Laura Sperber to show some respect for the entire numismatic community and not just those who can afford what her company sells. Sperber has demonstrated an interesting perspective on the market that could be respected if she does not come off as a Jersey-tuff person as she has done on other occasions. Even this Brooklyn-born blogger is turned off by that Jersey-tuff attitude. She must start to learn that there is room for everyone in the numismatics market including the tire kickers, looky loos, low-end buyers, and those of us having fun. Until then, if I should be looking for a coin of that caliber I will probably not purchase it from Laura Sperber or Legend Numismatics.
Jun 19, 2010 | education, security, shows
During the last week, there were two more stories of dealers being robbed. One occurred in Witchita Falls, Texas and the other in Parisippany, New Jersey. In both cases, the dealers stopped at a restaurant after the show ended, had the windows broken to take what was in the car. The incident in Wichita Falls also involved an assault on the dealer and his wife.
Earlier this year, a coin dealer was robbed in Acton, Massachusetts after leaving a coin show in Westford. Also, a coin dealer from Jacksonville, North Carolina was robbed in Wilmington when he went to visit someone’s home he thought was interested in purchasing coins.
These incidents show that it is time for dealers to step up their security awareness and learn to protect themselves from the risks of robberies. Dealers with store fronts have a lot of options to protect their assets, although some have fatal ramifications. For the dealer who travels to and from shows, the security of their vehicle is very important.
During the holiday season we are reminded not to leave anything in the car that would invite someone to break in. Sometimes, you cannot fit everything in your trunk because between your clothes and inventory everything does not fit. Since many shows are one or two days, consider using a small, flat suitcase that could fit on the floor of the back seat and place it under the floor mats. It is not the best hiding place but it attracts less attention.
Aside from the usual precautions of locking doors and hiding the valuables, be particular where you park. Since thieves do not want to attract attention to themselves, park in well-lighted, crowded areas. Park close to the building especially close to the entry door. Avoid areas with trees and bushes that could be used to hide from view. Look around and think like a thief. If you can think of how to hide yourself around your car, then the thief can, too. Either find someplace else to park or another establishment for dinner.
Better security requires an investment into additional protection for your car. Car alarms are popular options and also the most hated. If not installed correctly, car alarms are prone to false alarms that can annoy everyone around. Since early car alarms did sound for seemingly no reason, some have learned to ignore them. However, the noise will draw attention to the car and scare away the thief breaking in to rob the contents. If you find an alarm with a distinctive sound you can also be quickly alerted if something happens. Car alarms range from the inexpensive that are installed by the car’s owner to a theft deterrent that could cost thousands of dollars. The website eHow.com has a good section about Car Alarm Systems to get you started.
Since many of these robberies start with someone smashing the car’s window, consider technologies that strengthen the windows. Bulletproof glass is an option, but that may be too expensive for many of us. An option is installing a laminate made from a material called polycarbonate thermoplastic over the windows. Polycarbonate thermoplastic laminates are thin, clear sheets that are sturdier than glass that does not break like glass. When installed over glass, the underlying glass will shatter but the laminate will remain intact. Thinner sheets will prevent break-ins while thicker or multiple layers can be use to make the glass bullet resistant. An auto service specializing in aftermarket add ons for cars in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area said that it could cost from $600 to over $2,000 depending on the product used and the amount of window surface that has to be covered. There are local businesses in every major metropolitan area that can install these laminates.
Another security add-on that was recommended by the dealer was reinforced locks. A local locksmith described how easy it is to break into most cars just by using force in the right places—especially for the thief not interested in maintaining the car’s look. Although we rely on them to secure our cars, locks are a weak area in the metal and the ringed design around some locks can be pried off and the locks pulled out with a pair of pliers. Simple plates secured over the locks may act as a deterrent but may also advertise that the car may have something of value inside. Locksmiths and auto security companies can install tamper resistant locks and reinforce the area around the door, trunk, and tailgate latches to prevent someone from prying into your vehicle.
The downside to installing aftermarket tamper-resistant locks and reinforcing around the latches is that it will void the structural warranties of most vehicles. Also, poorly installed car alarms will not be covered by most vehicle warranties. Professional installation by a dealer or a qualified aftermarket seller can prevent these issues.
One call you should make is to your auto and business insurance companies. By increasing the security of your car, both insurance companies may offer discounts for lower their risk exposure. Laminates will prevent broken windows and potentially reduce the amount of money that would be necessary to fix your car to just the shattered glass and the laminate and not other items. Your business insurance may also find the lowered risk appealing since you have taken steps to prevent a potential loss. The savings may be an incentive to purchase better security for your car.
Finally, dealers must consider their situational awareness—what their surroundings look like and quickly assess what is around them. Some people may not think like this, but if you are going to carry expensive inventory and cash to and from a show you have to consider the environment. Thieves like the dark because it is easier to hide. Traveling in daylight is better than traveling during the night. But if you travel at night, stay in well lighted areas and crowded areas. What is the neighborhood like? Is it a travel stop that is used by a transient clientele? That type of movement is also inviting the thieves who knows that people traveling through those areas may have something worth stealing. Will you go into a restaurant where you cannot watch your car or should you consider a restaurant where your car is visible from within the restaurant?
Does the area “feel right?” Do you feel comfortable in the area? Are you worried about the strangers around you? What is your gut feeling? If you are not comfortable and just have that feeling that the area is not safe, go with that feeling and try another place. Consider bringing nonperishable snacks in the car so that if the first place you stop at makes you uncomfortable, you have something to tie you over until you find someplace with more comfortable surroundings.
Security is an ongoing process. Thieves will adapt and find other ways to rob you. But if you take the time to prepare yourself and pay attention to your surroundings, you should be able to reduce the risk of being robbed. Stay safe!
May 10, 2010 | ANA, shows
“We can now move immediately to ‘brand’ Chicago as an ANA city.”
With that statement by Larry Shepherd, the American Numismatic Association has begun to reverse the progress it has made to reach out to its members over the last few years. Rather than finding a way to bring the largest of the ANA shows closer to the membership, Shepherd convinced the ANA Board of Governors to anchor the summer show in Chicago.
“Successful conventions and auction contracts are critical to our future,” Shepherd was quoted as saying. But is he implying> that no other city can put on a successful convention. This would include Baltimore where a successful World’s Fair of Money was held two years ago.
Shepherd also said that the National Money Show in the spring and a new fall show, which was announced to begin in 2011 in Pittsburgh, would be available on a rotating basis with pre-selected cities.
Shepherd stressed the importance of branding Chicago as the home of the summer ANA World’s Fair of Money, noting the success FUN has had branding Orlando as its home, and Whitman establishing Baltimore as a destination for its shows. What makes this argument ridiculous is that Orlando is a central location in the area represented by the Florida United Numismatists and and easy place to travel in the state. Anyone who has travelled through O&rdsquo;Hare International Airport understands the effect of being the nation’s second busiest airport.
There is also a difference in using the location as the branding for the show. Orlando is a travel destination in a way Chicago will never be. Don’t get me wrong, I love Chicago. I think Chicago is a great city. I have friends in the Chicagoland area and look forward to visiting them. But unlike Orlando, Chicago is not the national or international destination Orlando is. Chicago is a great place to visit, but it is absurd to compare Chicago with Orlando. Face it, you are not going to hear the next Super Bowl MVP announce that he is going to Navy Pier!
To further add to the fallacy of Shepherd’s statement is that while Whitman has turned the Baltimore show into a bigger success than it was before they bought it, Whitman is also expanding their reach to Philadelphia and Nashville. While Whitman expands its reach, the ANA now has favored locations and if you are not able to travel to those locations then the ANA will not come to you.
Interestingly, not only is the ANA fixing the locations for their shows, no announcement has been made as to how to improve the outreach to those shows. This can be done using a little imagination and technology to allow members to virtually attend the show. I will have more on this in a future post.
In the past, Shepherd had been discussing the scheduling and handling of the ANA shows so as to not lose money. One consideration was to find what he described as “a good bourse city” primarily to make the dealers happy. What is not mentioned is what would make the collectors happy. Rather, Shepherd is saying that it is not enough to use what is probably the world’s largest numismatic show as the destination in different cities as outreach to its members and future members, the ANA, a non-profit organization, is using the show to make a profit and enforce profits for its dealers. While I am not against dealers making profits, I am against the profit motive as a driving factor for the placement of the ANA convention.
In the May 2010 edition of The Numismatist, ANA President Cliff Mishler quoted ANA Governor Jeff Garrett that Mishler told him, “He reminded me that there are not two classes of ANA membership—dealers and collectors—but rather a single community, one that cares about the well-being of the hobby.” It is interesting how Mishler could tell an ANA governor that the ANA is a community yet support a convention policy that is clearly geared to the dealer community.
I do not recommend quitting the ANA out of protest. This is where being a member helps. As an ANA member I am letting our elected Board of Governors know that this is not a good decision. It is not in the best interest of the ANA nor does it advance the ANA’s chartered mission for numismatic outreach and education. ANA members who are not happy with this decision should use this opportunity to contact the Board and tell them how you feel.
Aug 8, 2009 | ANA, awards, shows, US Mint
It is no surprise that there have been a few announcements at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money.® Of the announcements, I found three very interesting stories.
I think the biggest announcement is that the US Mint and the Smithsonian Institution’ National Museum of American History jointly announced that they have partnered to create traveling exhibits from the National Numismatic Collection. The Mint and Smithsonian Institution wants to create exhibits that will highlight U.S. history through its coinage.
The National Numismatic Collection is the largest collection in the world with over 1.6 million coins, notes, tokens, and medals. The collection spans from ancient times to modern days with the bulk of the materials being donated from the Mint’s transfer of its core holdings in 1923. The display of the National Numismatic Collection closed in August 2004 in preparation for the renovation of the American History Museum building. Although selected pieces were incorporated into other exhibits, the collection remains out of public view. Bringing the collection out to the public is a wonderful idea and I look forward to seeing how the curators at the Smithsonian and US Mint display the collection.
In another interesting announcement, the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation will begin to provide detailed grading to problem coins. In the past, NGC would “body bag” coins that were scratched, cleaned, or had other problems. If you wanted these coins encapsulated, the coins would have to be sent to their sister company, the Numismatic Conservation Service. NCS would be able to either conserve the coin and cross it to NGC or would encapsulate the coin with detailed grading. With this announcement, NGC will provide the grading services while NCS will continue to perform conservation.
This new service will simplify the grading and encapsulation of problem coins. Rather than have to wait for the submission to NCS to be processed and possibly NGC, NGC will do it all in one submission. It is also a good idea to include why the coin could not be graded in plain English on a different color label. I think this is a better idea to embedding cryptic code on a label that is not as easily identifiable, especially on the bourse floor of a busy show. More information that is easily understood is always better.
Finally, I want to congratulate Julian Leidman for being awarded the inaugural Harry J. Forman Dealer of the Year Award. Julian is a wonderful person, knowledgeable dealer, and an annual speaker at my local coin club where he talks to our membership about the state of the industry. Julian is one of the few dealers who always has people around his table talking coins or just kibitzing. Congratulations Julian on a well deserved honor.
Aug 7, 2009 | ANA, commentary, shows
I am not attending the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® this week. I would like to attend, but the show is in Los Angeles, which is about 2,690 miles from the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Although this is closer than the 2,800 miles I would have had to travel to Portland, Oregon for this year’s National Money Show,™ both were too far to travel—especially in this economic climate.
I know the ANA had to make it up to Portland for moving the 2007 National Money Show to Charlotte. However, by doing this, the ANA has prevented a few people from attending at least one show this year.
Although I would not mind both shows being East Coast affairs, I can understand the need for a national organization to hold its conventions to make it accessible to both coasts, but to hold both on the West Coast reduces accessibility for those of us in the east.
Next year, the National Money Show will be in Fort Worth, Texas and the World’s Fair of Money will be held in Boston. Fort Worth, home of a branch of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, will be more accessible from the West Coast than Boston. Although not perfect, it is better than if both shows would be on the East Coast.
I hope that in the future the ANA will make every attempt to diversify the location of their shows so that everyone can be included.
Jun 26, 2009 | commentary, shows
Earlier this week I read Top 10 “Coin Dealer Ethics” by Susan Headley of About.com. The article is a compilation of the ten most incredible stories she has collected about the less-than-ethical behavior of some coin dealers.
The same day, noted numismatic researcher and author Roger Burdette posted a note on the Collectors’ Society forums that read:
Coin-business people are often the newcomer’s earliest contact with the hobby. That is the best, and often only, chance to create a positive impression of coin collecting. When coin-businesses project an attitude of integrity, honesty, veracity and patience the “newby” is more likely to find the hobby appealing.
With millions of people casually collecting state quarters and other circulating novelties, the typical coin show bourse is still the same-old-same-old. So many dealers exhibit callous, impatient and careless attitudes that I can’t blame new potential collectors when they switch to beanie babies or ceramic insulators.
[I spent about ½ hour at the recent Baltimore show. As I was leaving I saw the perfect turn-off to coin collecting. A teen approached a dealer’s table with a folder of state quarters, and asked what they were worth. The dealer glanced at the cover and said “Junk, Nothin’“ and turned away. The teen walked out, his hopes clearly deflated. Is this how “first contact” is handled in our hobby? ]
As with every story, there are two sides.
Those of us who enjoy this hobby wants to encourage others to join us and have as wonderful experiences as we have. We talk about these wonderful shows with rows of tables with dealers selling almost every type of coin known in the collecting world. When these new collectors find their way to Baltimore for their first show, its size can be intimidating.
On the other hand, the dealer is a business person. Dealers on the bourse floor are trying to earn a living—which may not be easy in these economic times. They earn that living by selling what they think their buyers want. When walking the bourse floor, if all the dealers seem to be selling similar merchandise, it is because the dealers are showing what they think will sell. If you are not interested in what they are selling, someone is and they would rather talk with those who are willing to buy the merchandise. Even though we think of it as a hobby, it is the dealer’s livelihood.
This does not mean that the dealer should take advantage of a novice or non-collector. It also does not mean that a dealer should be rude to the teenager with a 50 State Quarters album. After all, that young person could be a future client or decide to avoid your offering in the future.
We may not be able to send every dealer to charm school, but we can help those new, novice, and non-collectors survive the bourse floor. A thought I had was that local clubs could sponsor “Numismatic Ambassadors.” The Numismatic Ambassador would be available at the shows to answer the questions of the new or novice collector. Ambassadors would be at a table just outside or near the entry as well as walking the floor wearing something to identify them to those looking for help. At American Numismatic Association shows, the host clubs can work with the ANA to supply Numismatic Ambassadors supplemented by other members.
If you are in a club and there is a show in your area, suggest that the club work with the show organizers to provide Numismatic Ambassadors for the show. Convince the show organizers to advertise that the Numismatic Ambassadors will be available to help the inexperienced collector and who is sponsoring the program. This will help the show organizer attract more people. It will also allow the club to meet new people and possibly sign up new members.
What do you think?
Jun 15, 2009 | Baltimore, coins, shows
Sunday traffic to Baltimore was not bad. Even though the Orioles were playing the Atlanta Braves at Camden Yards (the O’s crushed the Braves 11-2), there was not a lot of traffic in downtown Baltimore. I was able to park in my usual overpriced location at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel and hobbled my way through the lobby, up the escalator, to the walkway between the hotel and the Baltimore Convention Center.
I know that some dealers wanted Whitman to bring back Sunday hours, but when I was there the floor was empty. It appeared that more than half of the dealers left before the Sunday session but the number of people there appeared less than I saw before closing on Friday. Maybe this is not a good indicator of the potential for Sunday attendance because of the nearby Orioles’ game. Rather than regular parking rates, nearby lots charge “event rates” which may keep people away. The next Whitman Baltimore show will be November 12-15. The Baltimore Ravens, who play in nearby M&T Bank Stadium, will play on Monday night that week. We will see how Sunday hours do in November without competing events in downtown Baltimore.
The great thing about going to these shows are the people you meet. There are some dealers that it is great to talk with. They are wonderful, hard working people who make this a great hobby. These are also the dealers that I continue to buy from because not only do they deserve my business, but they also sell at a fair price, which all that we collectors can ask for.
Every show always has an underlying theme, a type of coin that seems to be more prevalent with the dealers and looked after by the buyers. This time it was interesting because nearly every dealer, regardless of what they were selling, had rolls or singles of the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial cents. One dealer whose inventory contained a lot of silver coins as well as gold and silver bullion also had rolls and singles of the cents for sale. There were others with the D.C. & U.S. Territories quarters and Presidential Dollars, the 2009 cents were a dominant theme.
While talking with that bullion dealer I found very nice examples of the 2009 silver Maple Leaf and Panda. While the Maple Leaf was very full of luster and is a solid and consistent design, I continue to be amazed at the artistry and craftsmanship of Chinese Panda. Since they hired a new artist in 2001, the design of the Panda coins have been phenomenal. The artistry and the quality of the strike makes the Panda something really special to own.
As I looked over the shoulder of the buyers searching the cases, I noticed that 20th century United States silver coins were a popular choice. From early Washington quarters to Walking Liberty half dollars, I noticed quite a few people interested in silver. And not just silver coins, quality early issues of these popular series. Even some later series were receiving attention, like the Roosevelt Dime and Franklin Half Dollar. I think this is the first time since I have been attending this show that I observed the dominant coin was not the Morgan Dollar.
Even though the Sunday session was sparsely attended, I still had the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of good people. I even found a Father’s Day present for my father that I know he will like. I also know he reads this blog so this purchase will remain a secret until he receives it next week!
In keeping with my tradition, I had to find that one “oh, neat” item. This time, it was given to me shortly after my arrival on Friday. Following the setup of my exhibit, I spoke with Patti Finner in the Kids Korner. While speaking with her, she gave me a card with a type 2 blank cent planchet and an uncirculated 2008-D Lincoln Cent. A type 2 planchet is one whose rims were upset, the last step before striking. The planchet and the cent are in US Mint-type blister packaging and attached to a card explaining the “Before and After” of the process. The card was produced by the US Mint in conjunction with the h.i.p. program (History In your Pocket) for teaching children about coins and collecting.
I will be talking more about my conversation with Patti Finner in another post, but I would like to publicly thank her for this neat card and our very educational conversation.
If you made it this far, I am sure you can guess that my exhibit did not win at the show or I would have mentioned it at the beginning. The exhibit that one was a person who collected half-cents that were clipped during the minting process in each of the positions of the clock. He presented 12 coins in the layout of a clock that showed each coin and their clip. It was a very interesting and fun exhibit. It was a very fun and educational experience. I learned a little about exhibiting and will be making adjustments in order to do better next time—and there will be a next time. At least I received an uncirculated 2009 Silver Eagle for participating.
I know that sometimes it seems that buying coins online either through auctions or dealers appears easy, but you should really try to visit a coin show. You should meet the people in the hobby. You should see the coins. There is nothing more fascinating than looking at a case full of shiny silver dollars or something you are not collecting. By being on the bourse floor, you can meet dealers and other collectors. You can ask questions. You can get a better appreciation for this hobby beyond just accumulating. It is a hobby of people bound by the this passion for numismatics and that makes for a fun day at a coin show.
Jun 12, 2009 | Baltimore, coins, shows
There are few shows like the thrice yearly Whitman Baltimore Expo. There are other large shows that are very well attended and Whitman is trying to expand their show portfolio to places like Philadelphia, but Baltimore supports this show three times per year. It is an amazing sight that has to be experienced to really appreciate.
I left home a bit late this morning after doing some work. With my backpack and cane, I drove to Baltimore. The drive to Baltimore was uneventful except, meaning the traffic on the Capital Beltway was bad. As I turned off the highway onto I-395 toward downtown Baltimore I had a sinking feeling. At the first traffic light I looked in my bag and realized I left the backing to exhibits at home. After taking the time to cut the backing to size, the feeling of instant panic was almost consuming.
Rather than go to the Baltimore Convention Center, I veered to downtown to find a place to stop and think. I looked at the iPhone and started to look up locations of craft stores. After finding a store not too far away and calling to confirm they had sheets of felt, I brought up a map with directions and drove to the store.
After purchasing four large pieces of felt, I rushed to the Sheraton Inner Harbor, where I usually overpay for parking, and hobbled to the Convention Center. After claiming my Exhibitor badge, I entered the large exhibit hall and found the exhibit area next to the Kids Corner. I was the last to set up, but I made it to my cases.
My exhibit is titled “The Bicentennial In Numismatics.” It is about one-third of my collection of numismatic-related bicentennial memorabilia put on display for all to see. Aside being a great milestone for this country, the bicentennial coinage marked the first time those of us at the tail end of the Baby Boom era experienced a change in design in our coinage. Numismatically, it is a fun topic. There were so many medals and tokens produced, it was difficult to reduce the number of items to fit in four cases.
As I setup my cases I realized that I left a few medals and a two dollar bill at home. I had one two dollar bill that was stamped in Philadelphia on the first day of issue, but I wanted a second one to show the reverse that was an engraving of John Trumbull’s painting “The Declaration of Independence.” Oh well… next time I will be more organized.
After I completed my setup, I looked at the other cases in the exhibit area. There were some differences between their cases and mine. Each had a different theme, but had a strict order to them. I felt that mine was not so much an exhibit but a celebration. In fact, I had a few people view the exhibit just after I set it up and commented as to how they remembered the coins, medals, and the celebration. Even if I do not win, I know that at least one person enjoyed the exhibit!
If there is one thing I do not like about my iPhone is the quality of the built in camera. Even with the glare of the overhead lights, I think I was able to capture images of the cases to give my readers an idea of my exhibit. The following is a slideshow of the cases as stored in a Photobucket album:
I will have more to say about the show in another post. But I wanted to mention that amongst the people I met, I had a nice conversation with American Numismatic Association Vice President Patti Finner. I met Patti at the Kids Corner where she was ready to talk about anything numismatics. I invited her to speak at my coin club the next time the Whitman show will be in Baltimore. She was very gracious, full of energy, and looking to help as best she could in making her talk a success for our club. I really appreciate her taking the time to talk with me.
Exhibits competition results will be announced at 11:00 AM on Sunday morning. Stay tuned!
Jun 12, 2009 | Baltimore, shows
Sorry for being silent for the past week. There has been a lot going on. But today, after completing some tasks for work, I will be leaving to go to the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Show. For me, this show is significant because I will be exhibiting for the first time.
Also today is the First Inaugural Maryland State Numismatic Association Distinguished Lecture Series lecture featuring Q. David Bowers. Bowers, who needs little introduction, just completed a book on colonial coinage. His lecture will be on colonial coinage—a topic I admittedly know little about. It should be interesting!
While in Baltimore, I will be tweeting updates on Twitter. Just follow Coinsblog on Twitter or keep refreshing this page and follow my last five tweets on the left side. If the situation presents itself, I will upload pictures to the same Photobucket accout I used for the ANA show last year. If I upload pictures, I will tweet that information.
I will write more over the weekend.
Jun 2, 2009 | coins, shows
I had taken some time off from the blog world to get some other work done. Maybe one day I will figure out how to make this a full time job, but until then we will have to endure a written silence. Since I am back after two weeks, here are some random thoughts:
My ballot for the American Numismatic Association 2009-11 Board of Governors elections. Compared to the last few elections, this one is very quiet. The significant race is the one for president that features Patti Finner, the current ANA Vice President, and Cliff Mishler, a current board member and former president of Krause Publications. Both are ANA Life Members with a distinguished career with the ANA. Both have their fans and critics. I have not yet decided who to endorse.
In the mean time, the ANA is still in court fighting former Executive Director Christopher Chipoletti. Now the ANA is alleging that Chipoletti stole money from the organization. If true, Chipoletti’s career is over.
From the perspective of the Federal Reserve, the economy must be wreaking havoc with their distribution operations. In the Washington, DC area, I have not seen any 2009 coins in circulation. Up until recently it was common to find 2008 dated coins in change. Now, I am finding 2008-D coins amongst the coins.
Considering our proximity to Philadelphia, receiving uncirculated, removed from the rolls Denver minted coins in quantity is unusual. In the last week, I almost filled a plastic tube of 2008-D cents! This phenomenon cannot be tied to a “Coinstar effect.” These are new coins that had to be distributed by the Federal Reserve.
The Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Show will be held June 11-14 at the Baltimore Convention Center. This show will include the first Maryland State Numismatic Association Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Q. David Bowers. Bowers, who recently publishedWhitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, will be talking about Colonial and Early American Coins. The talk is being held on Saturday, June 13 at the Convention Center. Times and locations will be posted on site.
MSNA is also sponsoring competitive exhibits at the Baltimore Show. A few people, including your intrepid blog host, will be exhibiting at the show. This will be my first ever exhibit. It will be interesting!
The US Mint announced their Last Opportunity Sale to sell off all 2008 dated items. You have until June 30 to buy these items.
Other than the ANA election, the most interesting story that will be coming this summer is the pending trial for the twenty 1933 Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagles found by the relatives of the late Israel Switt. This could be the biggest numismatic soap opera since trial and subsequent sale of the Farouk-Fenton specimen.
I have a few book reviews coming. Stay tuned!
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