American Numismatic Association

01 Aug 2020

Just In Case You're Upset About the 2020 ANA Convention

Hi, fellow ANA'ers. I work for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and I am mourning the loss of the 2020 World's Fair of Money as much or more than anyone. I committed to be there for the entire show whenever and wherever it was going to be held.

As part of my job as a Research Analyst, I get daily Pennsylvania COVID-19 reports and maps broken down by county. Allegheny County, in which Pittsburgh is located, is now Pennsylvania's main hotspot for COVID-19 infections and has been for several weeks now. Our initial hotspot was the Philadelphia suburban county of Montgomery (Valley Forge, lots of malls, high-rise residences, and doctor's offices), and then the hotspot moved to the City of Philadelphia itself.

About six to eight weeks ago, that all changed. Pittsburgh became the hotspot. Don't fret too much for the residents of these three locales. Montgomery, Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties all have incredibly good hospital services and fantastic teaching and research hospitals. Numismatic fans of the new Innovation Dollar series will remember that Pennsylvania chose the Salk Polio Vaccine to honor. Most of that work was done in Pittsburgh, and those institutions are now hard at work on COVID-19. We will eventually have a way to live with this virus. Medically, Pennsylvania is blessed with an embarrassment of riches. Hospital capacity is not an issue to date.

But with very high new infection rates now in Pittsburgh, having held a World Series of Money starting very soon in Pittsburgh would have meant courting disaster. The Board of Governors and key staff at Colorado Springs have been proven prescient. I extend my congratulations to President Ellsworth, the entire Board of Governors, and Executive Director Kim Kiick and her key decision-making staff on doing what nobody WANTED to be done, but what needed to be done.

See you soon at Phoenix.

Comments

VKurtB

Level 4

I’m also looking forward to Pittsburgh 2023. I’ll be an Alabaman by then, but it’s still in my plans.

Longstrider

Level 6

Next year. November in Las Vegas..

At the risk of a pun, “What? No FUN?”

Golfer

Level 5

Thanks for the update. I was hoping to attend, but will try for another time. Our local coin show for September is in limbo. I think it should probably be cancelled, but we will find out.

World_Coin_Nut

That's all interesting information. I had planned on being there for the whole week.

Mike

Level 7

I just checked. Merick could begin testing as early as next week. There very close. Let's hope. Let's pray they are succesful!

I just can't figure this out. Now I live in a small town about 30 minutes from Manhattan. The population there is over ten million. Our numbers are very good. We're doing what was suggested were a mask and wash your hands. Doctors office are open restaurants are open hockey and baseball are being played no fans. Transportation the trains and busses. If you go to the store every one says no mask no service. Once inside its six feet. The numbers I can't believe are so low. Why are we doing well and the 13 states aren't. Some states opened to soon as we know. Let's hope and pray this unseen monster goes like it came fast and in the night.