The Dentuck ANA blog: Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Philadelphia, home of the Liberty Bell, is the host city of the 2018 American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money. (Photo courtesy U.S. National Park Service.) Hover to zoom.

Bowers, Burdette, Books, and Beards at America’s Biggest Coin Show

There’s something magical about the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money. For most collectors and dealers, this is the biggest “coin show” of the year. I put coin show in quotes because it’s about so much more than just coins. Paper money, medals, tokens, and other numismatic treasures, educational seminars and entertaining talks, creative exhibits, and eye-dazzling displays are all front-row center and a mile deep at the ANA’s summer show.

What more could you ask for?

Let’s see. How about:

  • exciting auctions of first-class rarities;
  • a smorgasbord of world mints;
  • the chance to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with other hobbyists;
  • rare-book sellers with more stories than the Empire State Building;
  • meetings and symposia for hobby groups large and small;
  • presentations of groundbreaking new research;
  • opportunities to rub elbows with famous authors, medallic artists, and Mint and Treasury officers;
  • and, best of all, visitors can immerse themselves in a widespread bourse with row after row after tantalizing row of every imaginable numismatic wonder to add to their collections.

For icing on the cake, this year the ANA’s host city is Philadelphia, home of the first United States Mint (the wellspring of American coinage for more than 225 years), and the cradle of American liberty. Step outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center for lunch and you’re surrounded by history.

Regular readers of my show commentary know that I always pack a bag of Buffalo nickels to “send into the wild” during my travels. Can a strange and wondrous coin found in pocket change inspire a new hobbyist? Will an imagination be sparked by one of these well-worn but still majestic old nickels? Many thanks to my friends at Twery’s Rare Coins of Greenacres, Florida, for supplying a herd of buffaloes for my bison-satchel.

My trip started numismatically enough: I used a handful of Presidential and Susan B. Anthony dollar coins to buy my MARTA train ticket to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. The trip from Atlanta to Philadelphia was pleasantly uneventful—but a flight delay threw off my afternoon’s planned activities. This was frustrating because every minute counts at the biggest show of the year!

I’d planned to attend the general meeting of the Token and Medal Society. I’ve collected “exonumia,” as tokens and medals are often called, for almost as long as I’ve collected coins. Unfortunately, my delayed flight kept me from the meeting. Next year maybe I’ll fly in on Tuesday.

At the Whitman Publishing booth, award-winning authors Q. David Bowers and Roger W. Burdette talked with collectors and signed copies of their books. Dave had spent the morning in Room 113-C at the lot viewing for the show’s auctions by Stack’s Bowers Galleries. Roger and I caught up on his latest research and talked about Treasury Department archives and records.

Whitman author Roger W. Burdette (A Guide Book of Peace Dollars) and numismatic director Q. David Bowers visited with Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) chief operating officer David Crenshaw.

The Whitman booth was a center of activity and hobby dialogue, as always. I spoke with gold specialist Ross Johnson about modern coin design; Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) member Mike Moran stopped by and joined the conversation; Red Book Editor Emeritus Ken Bressett and his son Phil mingled among collectors browsing the latest books. Numismatic researcher and curriculum developer Karl Newman chatted with some of Whitman’s authors about his University of Rare Coins program. Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez, editor of the Coin Dealer Newsletter, shared thoughts on the rare-coin market and bounced around some book ideas. Other hobbyists showed off their coins and paper currency, posed questions to Bressett, Bowers, and Burdette, and visited with other friends.

Hobby legends Dave Bowers and Ken Bressett at the Whitman Publishing booth.

Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker, author Roger W. Burdette, and numismatic director Q. David Bowers.

Later in the afternoon Coin World led an open-forum discussion on moving the hobby forward. If I could clone myself, I would have attended. If you went to this forum, tell me and our readers about it in the “Comments” section below.


I talked with Mint Director David Ryder, whose knowledge, enthusiasm, and management style bode well for the future of the bureau, and had a wide-ranging conversation with numismatist David Tripp and Mint senior legal counsel Greg Weinman about, among other things, the famous (and infamous) 1933 gold double eagles.

David Tripp and Greg Weinman at the United States Mint display.

Meetings of the Society of Bearded Numismatists always inject a note of hijinks and lighthearted camaraderie into the ANA show, mixed with some pretty serious scholarship. “Sam brings the coolest stuff to look at,” one member told me, talking about ANA Numismatic Educator Sam Gelberd. Famous bearded numismatists give brief lectures, like David Alexander’s talk on the Society of Medalists last year. Unfortunately, I had to miss this year’s meeting, so I hope others who did go can share their thoughts.

The Society of Bearded Numismatists always brings a spirit of jocularity to the World’s Fair of Money—as well as some very cool show-and-tell material. The Society is open to all, whether bearded or smooth-faced. ANA numismatic educator Sam Gelberd (right) is among the society’s well-known bearded numismatists. (Photo courtesy of Steve Roach, Coin World)

Dinner was an excellent banquet organized by the Token and Medal Society, held at Maggiano’s Little Italy on Filbert Street, right across from the Marriott Downtown. I had a great time catching up with many friends in the exonumia world. Jeff Shevlin, “The So-Called Guy,” was there with his wife Cil. Jeff is a published author and expert in the field of So-Called Dollars, which are historical commemorative medals—most of them about the size of a silver dollar—struck by the United States Mint and others. He’s a regular contributor to Whitman’s 1,504-page Mega Red (the expanded deluxe edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins). Bill Hyder, editor of the TAMS Journal, was there. It’s always good to see Kathy and Dan Freeland, Paul Cunningham, Bob Leonard, Mark Lighterman, John and Nancy Wilson, and other longtime collectors, dealers, and researchers, and to make new friends. After dinner, the Society’s officers presented the year’s literary and other awards. Then outgoing president Fred Holabird gave his final remarks before the swearing-in of the Society’s new officers and board, and remarks from incoming president Ernie Nagy. This was followed by an auction and door prizes. The highlight of the auction was a very rare final (2012) medal of the Old Time Assay Commissioners, a now-defunct group made up of members of the U.S. Assay Commission, which was decommissioned in 1980.

The curtain at the TAMS banquet rung down around 9:00 and I called it an early night, knowing another full and busy day was ahead.

To be continued. . . .

The Token and Medal Society banquet.

Whitman publisher (and former TAMS governor) Dennis Tucker with outgoing TAMS president Fred Holabird (center) and incoming president Ernie Nagy.

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Comments

  1. KEITHSTER says

    Must be nice sounds like a fun show. So have fun all who are going “>”>”> And Good Luck All”>”>”><:<:<:

  2. cagcrisp says

    “U.S. Mint to issue a 2019 Virtues of Liberty gold coin” per Coin World…

    Does that mean the American Liberty Gold coins will soon be coming to an end?

    That would be my Guess.

    Otherwise, you’re going to have a crowded field of Gold offerings with the AGE proofs, AGE uncirculated, Buffalo proof, commemorative proof and commemorative uncirculated.

    You can only have so big a Gold pie…Just smaller and smaller pieces…

    https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2018/08/us-mint-to-issue-2019-virtues-of-liberty-gold-coin.html

  3. Buzz Killington says

    How about discontinuing the AGE, and just selling ounces of .999 gold? If they want to make fractional golds, they should be pure gold, not the AGE alloy.

    I also think some kind of big end to a long popular series could spur interest in coin collecting.

  4. Rob says

    That is my office building in the background of the Liberty Bell pic! If you zoom in closely you will see me waiving from the 8th floor.

  5. Dustyroads says

    cagcrisp says: “Does that mean the American Liberty Gold coins will soon be coming to an end?

    That would be my Guess.”

    I would be my guess that the mint would rather distance themselves from sensitive topics.

  6. CaliSkier says

    Thanks MNB and Dennis Tucker!!! Great Peace(PI) & update/info on the happenings & elbow rubbing going on at the 2018 American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money!!!

    Wishing and almost feeling like I was right there with you!!!

    Definitely regret not whimsically pulling the plug and attending, spur of the moment! I would have been absolutely stoked to have purchased a Whitman offering! Then, gone around trying to find the above pictured Numismatic leader and others, as well as those associated with Exonumia to sign my purchase, if they’d be willing? A who’s, who, of those whom have dutifully kept this hobby alive and spent much of their life’s work and time keeping us in the KNOW!

    Again, we’ll done Mr. Tucker!

    Enjoy the rest of the show and I truly look forward to reading your next update from the “2018 American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money.”

    Sincerely,
    CaliSkier

  7. cagcrisp says

    @Dustyroads ,”I would be my guess that the mint would rather distance themselves from sensitive topics.”

    100% Agreement…

  8. cagcrisp says

    Rumors continue to persist that Central Banks are selling Gold.

    Looking at today’s price action and it would sure appear so…

  9. Anthony says

    Very interesting theme “Virtues of Liberty”. It would seem there is a move to create designs which do not rely on a representation of liberty only as a female form.

  10. johnaz says

    got 100.00 face silver coins today at pawn shop in az.I did not think the kid knew what he was doing. all were half dollar. Get this all for 450.00.

  11. Erik H says

    So Krates, it was actually a 1883-O PCGS MS65 and I paid $246. Looking at the PCGS price guide I must have bought it in 2011 at the top of the market. Good thing I didn’t buy in 1986 (price was $1,175).

    I do also own a 1881S & 1884O but both were gifts so I’m not concerned about price.

    I don’t know what another 1,000 coins (16,000 across all dates) added to the market will do but it can’t be good.

  12. CaliSkier says

    Neat idea & inspiring action taken by Mr. Tucker to put some Buffalo Nickels back into circulation on his travels! It’d be cool if there was a way to track the Buffalo coins travels and when it’s removed from circulation by the lucky discoverer!

  13. Mike says

    RE: 2018-S Silver Reverse Proof Sets. Just received my set today and was just about to return it due to there being some rust colored spotting and two scratches in the field on the dollar coin as well as a rust colored spot on the Lincoln Cent just beneath the “VDB” near the rim. Then I took a look at the Kennedy Half and noticed that Kennedy’s head does not have the same mirror surface as the dime, cent, nickel, and dollar do. There is virtually no contrast between the head and the fields. It almost looks like an uncirculated half vs a reverse proof. Even the lettering doesn’t have the mirror surfaces that the other coins lettering does. The lettering appears frosted like it would be on an uncirculated coin. Same thing on the reverse of the coin but not as pronounced. So I pulled out my 2014-W reverse proof Kennedy half and compared the two side by side. They look COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!!! The 2014 -W is a textbook version of a reverse proof coin whereas the 2018-S looks like an uncirculated half.

    Has anyone else noticed this on their sets??? I was going to return it but I believe I stumbled upon an error of some sort. Thinking about maybe contacting PCGS or NGC.

  14. So Krates says

    @ johnaz – $450 for$100 face is $2.25 per coin. It sounds like you bought 40% silver. Are the half dollars all JFK 1965-1970?

  15. Tom says

    Have precious metals bottomed out? I don’t think so. I believe we will see small spikes upward due to selloffs. Stackers beware. I personally believe it will level out and drop .

  16. cagcrisp says

    2018 “S” Proof American Silver Eagle Launch Day Sales = 52,494

    2017 “S” Proof American Silver Eagle in Congratulations Set Sold Out @ 74,497 in 2 minutes…

  17. cagcrisp says

    …SO…For those that scoff at my use of Dismal Sales…

    Was 52,494 Launch Day Sales for the “S” Dismal or Not?

    Dismal from my point of view…

  18. cagcrisp says

    Let’s See…

    ” MEDALS are the new COINS!”

    Launch Day Sales of the George Washington Silver Medal = 5,466 @ $39.95

    Launch Day Sales of the John Adams Silver Medal = 4,506 @ $39.95…

  19. KEITHSTER says

    @Mike sure checkout Markin Florida says August 7, 2018 his link has the photo .Yours looking like that? An maybe Mar kin give us an update? And Good Luck Ya’ll”><"

  20. The RCB says

    @ Mike, there was an article in coinworld i think about it. Probably good you didn’t return it.

    @cagcrisp, do you think 2018 S will end up selling less than 2017 S when all is done? It would be funny if 2018 S was more ‘key’ than 2017.

  21. cagcrisp says

    @The RCB,” do you think 2018 S will end up selling less than 2017 S when all is done? It would be funny if 2018 S was more ‘key’ than 2017.”

    I don’t Think so. Total for the 2017 “S” was 123,398 and the Mint will keep these on sale for Months or Years.

    I Do Think that the 2017 “S” will be Dethroned within 5 years as “collectors” and Demand will continue to decline…

  22. Jeffrey R says

    @cagcrisp
    “2018 “S” Proof American Silver Eagle Launch Day Sales = 52,494
    2017 “S” Proof American Silver Eagle in Congratulations Set Sold Out @ 74,497 in 2 minutes…”

    With 2018 not having a a mintage limit, no one is in a big hurry and this coin will be available till the end of the year. And beyond??? All this does is cannibalize sales of the “W” SAE. In my opinion just taking advantage of those who are completists in collecting SAE.

  23. CaliSkier says

    Cag says: “…SO…For those that scoff at my use of Dismal Sales…

    Was 52,494 Launch Day Sales for the “S” Dismal or Not?

    Dismal from my point of view…”

    I’ll give you dismal and raise your dismal, to possibly Brilliant(for those who purchased) using my below hypothesis?

    Not scoffing yet, however are we able to trust the US Mint??? They have been called into question, more than once here on MNB, regarding credibility, use of words, descriptions of products, sales windows, etc!

    If they “pull” a fast one on us collectors there will be even more fury and those whom purchased will look brilliant! Especially while looking at their, New, shiny, less than 100,000 2018 “S” Silver American Eagle Proof!

    Perhaps, although this coin has been listed and marketed as Unlimited mintage, will the mint actually “stick” to that? Or would they be willing to sell more than their own preconceived, predetermined, unannounced mintage, that their customers are unaware of due to artificial manipulation of the market????

    Or will they “stick” it to their customer base and pull the plug early, hoping to boost future sales of the “S” ASE PF down the road???

    IMHO, they will pull the plug prior to 100,000, “creating” a New “S” Low, hoping that future sales will be greater than the customers lost by doing so!

    However, artificial or manipulative this is, there will be an initial secondary market “MAD” scramble to pick up this coin by collectors of the series!

    Also, IMO, this would be evidence of and confirmation that, “someone” at the US Mint has been treating the Mint as there own personal money maker! By creating unannounced, false lows through manipulative marketing!

    Or, perhaps by their own estimates as well as customer feedback, since credibility may be fully on their radar, they’re hoping to generate sales to the untrusting customer, that may be afraid to miss out???

    I guess we’ll see…..

    PS BTW, Cag do you have handy an opening day sales for the 2018 “W” ASE PF? Thanks…..

  24. CaliSkier says

    I’m wondering, is my hypothesis that far off base? Considering, with the current(last 30-40 years) Governmental perception in regards to, lies, cover ups, and lack of transparency , morals, ethics, etc???? Just saying…..

  25. cagcrisp says

    @Jeffrey R,” All this does is cannibalize sales of the “W” SAE. In my opinion just taking advantage of those who are completists in collecting SAE.”

    1. I Do think it will cannibalize the “W”
    2.. I Do think the Combined sales of the “S” and “W” will exceed a Stand alone “W”, however, that would be impossible to prove.
    3. I Do think the 2018 Silver Proof set + the 2018 San Francisco Reverse Silver Proof set will exceed the Stand alone Silver Proof set, and thus, we will see a Reverse Silver Proof Set every year going forward…

  26. cagcrisp says

    @CaliSkier,” do you have handy an opening day sales for the 2018 “W” ASE PF? Thanks…..”

    Not Launch Day but Launch Week for the “W” was 243,411…

  27. CaliSkier says

    @ Cag: “@The RCB,” do you think 2018 S will end up selling less than 2017 S when all is done? It would be funny if 2018 S was more ‘key’ than 2017.”

    “I don’t Think so. Total for the 2017 “S” was 123,398 and the Mint will keep these on sale for Months or Years”

    Not a big difference, however when extracting numbers from the US Mint sales published numbers, I get 124,212 for the “S” ASE.

    Special Collectibles 17RF 2017 CONGRATULATIONS SET 74898 10/29/2017
    +
    ial Collectibles 17RC 2017 LIMITED EDITION SILVER PROOF SET 49314 10/29/2017

    I’m guessing you’re using the last numbers you’d stored and there at some point was an updated sales number? BECAUSE, when it comes to numbers YOU ARE the MAN, as we all know!

    Thanks again for All of your contributions here on MNB!!!

    Sincerely,
    CaliSkier

  28. A Different Jeff says

    @cagcrisp-
    Not dismal, as the 2017 and 2018 have entirely different ordering thresholds. With no product limit, there is no urgency to purchase, so first day sales will be lower. To be expected. This coin also shows ‘Eligible for subscription’ which implies either San Francisco will be offered next year with perhaps WP being discontinued and 2017 being the last, or both mints will be offered next year. I will be buying one of each, including the burnished, just in case.

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