Show
highlights include: silent auction, record number of tables, website launch
signature summer event, the 2014 Chicago World’s Fair of MoneySM,
held Aug. 5-9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The ANA announced the launch of its new website at the show during
a Money Talks presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 5. A silent auction held at the
annual ANA Banquet raised more than $18,918 for the Robert Lecce Advanced
Scholarship Program. A bourse of 575 table-holders is a new World’s Fair of
Money record.
The high attendance numbers were driven by the U.S. Mint’s new
product launch, the dual-dated Kennedy gold commemorative coin.
Launch of
the new website
The website project was approved by a board vote at the 2013
World’s Fair of Money in Chicago. The ANA Technology Advisory Committee, headed
by ANA Life Member James Reinders, worked with the ANA staff to launch the
project in less than a year. Reinders led the Money Talks presentation on the
launch.
members, forums, private messaging, and the new MyCollections feature, which
allows members to catalog their own collections and share it with other members
or keep it private to themselves.
“This website is not a substitute for any other ANA activity; it
is a vital connection for the ANA and its members to the world,” Reinders said.
“The website is our face to millions who have never visited an ANA show,
seminar or club meeting. Building new community is important for our future —
the website also opens new doors for sharing among members. I invite everyone
to log on and share something and discuss topics online.”
In addition to the emphasis on community and fellowship, the new
Money.org website offers several other new features:
- A new events calendar, where members can publicize their club
meetings, coin shows and other numismatic events for free. - An online catalog of artifacts held at the Edward C. Rochette
Money Museum. - Interactive tours, including a brand-new tour of the long-running
Money Museum exhibit “A House Divided: Money of the Civil War,” which was
retired earlier this year. - A newly designed directory for dealers and clubs that allow
members to search using multiple criteria. - A new design that emphasizes large visual images, which is ideal
for viewing coins online. - A design that is optimized for viewing on smart phones, tablets or
large screens.
Reinders said. “We’d like to encourage members to let us know what they want to
see next with their new ANA website.”
Members can leave feedback for the new website in the Money.org
forums or via email at feedback@money.org.
Kennedy
coin sales
“When the U.S. Mint announced the sale of its dual-dated gold
Kennedy commemorative coin at the World’s Fair of Money, the ANA was hopeful
that the release of such a popular coin would be a boost to the hobby and
increase public interest in numismatics,” said ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick.
“Unfortunately, the challenges created by the mass of people trying to buy the
coin became a concern for public safety, both at our show and at the U.S.
Mint’s retail sites in Philadelphia, Denver and Washington, D.C.”
announced that it would debut the coin at the World’s Fair of Money. Kiick commended
the efforts of PPI Security, the staff of the Donald E. Stephens Convention
Center, the Rosemont Police Department and ANA staff and volunteers for
maintaining order. She also expressed disappointment that many of the coins
were bought by people paid to stand in line.
“The intent of the U.S. Mint was to sell its allotment of 2,500
coins to 2,500 different people, putting these coins into as many different
hands as possible,” Kiick said. “The hiring of proxies to stand in line and
receive the coin for somebody else not only went against the spirit of the
sale, it hurt the ANA. The ANA is responsible for paying for extra security and
damages to the exterior of the convention center brought on by these crowds.”
While the U.S. Mint has announced that it plans to continue
offering new coin releases at the World’s Fair of Money, Kiick said any future
sales are contingent on whether the Mint and the ANA can put together a
security and sales plan that will address the concerns raised from the Kennedy
sales.
“We love having the U.S. Mint at all of our shows, and we
certainly enjoy seeing the Mint bring exciting new products to the marketplace
that will increase public interest in the hobby,” Kiick said. “However, the
problems we experienced this year far outweigh the benefits. There will be no
onsite sales in the future unless we can come up a new sales process to avoid
the problems encountered at the various U.S. Mint sales locations.”
Other show
highlights
The Tuesday night Kickoff Event, Oktoberfest in August, saw 154
members turn out for the event, which featured all-you-can-eat German food, a
live band and a fireworks display. It was sponsored by the Chicago Coin Company
and the City of Rosemont.
The Coin Show podcast produced a two-hour live show from the World
Mint Stage on Wednesday, Aug. 6. A replay at can be seen at Money.org or at
CoinShowRadio.com.
A pair of two-day seminars were held before the convention:
“Numismatics of Colonial America” and “Coin Grading, Problem Coins and
Conservation.”
There were 260 members and five coin clubs that celebrated 25-year
anniversaries with the ANA this year. Nineteen members were recognized for
reaching their 50-year milestones, and eight members were recognized as 60-year
members. The Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society was honored for 100 years
of membership.
The Sundman Lecture Series, focusing on “Countries and Currency,
Innovations in Numismatics,” had 44 members register for the luncheon and
strong attendance throughout the day’s four free lectures.
Full
attendance figures
Members: 6,765
Tuesday:
1,381
Wednesday:
1,593
Thursday:
1,659
Friday:
1,160
Saturday:
972
Public: 3,364
Table-holders: 1,550
Staff and board: 37
National Volunteers: 12
Pre-registered members: 606
Scout Clinic attendees: 120
Local volunteers and pages: 97
Total attendance: 12,642
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered
nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and
collect money and related items. The ANA helps its 25,500 members and the
public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of
education and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications,
conventions and seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or go to www.money.org.