The bourse floor at the American Numismatic Association (ANA) World’s Fair of Money^SM in Baltimore, Maryland, July 30-August 3, is nearly booked.

“Only about 25 tables are available on our 440-table bourse at the Baltimore Convention Center, and we have no room to add more,” says ANA Convention Manager Brenda Bishop. “Interest in the show is high, and we are taking reservations every day. We will try to accommodate everyone we can, but at some point soon we will be out of space.”

For the first time, dealers picked their table locations for the convention via the Internet and fax. Bishop says, “I think it was a great success. We had the bourse map on our website, making it easy for dealers to select the spots they wanted.”

This convention will mark the fourth time the ANA has held a show in Baltimore; the first was in 1916 and the last was in 1993. This year’s event is hosted by the Maryland State Numismatic Association, Baltimore Coin Club and Maryland Token and Medal Society.

“ANA’s convention in Baltimore is shaping up to be one of the best, and that is saying something in light of the great shows we have had in the past few years,” Bishop adds. “We will offer some wonderful educational programs and exhibits, including the ‘Coin Collecting Basics’ class for emerging collectors and a spectacular post-convention seminar on 18th-century numismatics in historic Colonial Williamsburg.”

Special events planned for the show include tours of the Baltimore Branch of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank, and the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing; a Friendship Luncheon cruise of the Inner Harbor aboard the Bay Lady; sailing on the Clipper City around the Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry and other marine terminals; and an evening watching the Baltimore Orioles play ball. (See the April issue of the ANA’s Numismatist magazine for more information.)

Bowers and Merena Galleries, official auctioneer of the ANA’s 2003 World’s Fair of Money, already has consigned collections from former U.S. Mint Director Jay W. Johnson and award winning author and former ANA Governor Bill Fivaz.

The ANA has arranged discount room rates at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, Sheraton Inner Harbor, Marriott Inner Harbor, Holiday inn Inner Harbor and Days Inn Inner Harbor. Call the Baltimore Housing Bureau toll free at 800-960-2219 or reserve rooms online at www.pkghlrss.com/events/7541/7541.html. (Reservations must be made by July 2 to receive the ANA discount.)

The ANA also has arranged airfare discounts on Delta Air Lines (Delta Meeting Network Reservations, 800-241-6760, reference File No. DMN191440) and United Airlines (United Meeting Specialists, 800-521-4041, reference Meeting Code 510CW), or call M&M World Travel Service at 800-426-8326.

The World’s Fair of Money at the Baltimore Convention Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, July 30-August 2, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, August 3.

For additional information on the World’s Fair of Money, contact the ANA Convention Department, 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3279; telephone 719/632 2646; fax 719/634-4085; E-mail convention@money.org; or visit the ANA web site at www.money.org.

Originally Release Date: May 1, 2003

ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872

                            Email: pr@money.org