Dealer activity strong at ANA National Money Show
The American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) National Money ShowSM in Charlotte, North Carolina, was a good show.
More than 5,000 people came through the doors of the Charlotte Convention Center from March 21 to 23 to trade with over 700 of the nation’s top dealers of rare coins and paper money on the nearly sold-out bourse. Many were drawn by the outstanding exhibits, including rare Charlotte Mint gold pieces valued at more than $750,000; others attended lively educational presentations, participated in the three-session auction, played the ANA’s Treasure Trivia Game and obtained autographs from United States Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone – the dealers, exhibitors, convention General Chairman Jerry Sajbel and his great committee, the Charlotte Coin Club and North Carolina Numismatic Society, the ANA staff, volunteers and Board of Governors – for all their hard work at this show,” says ANA President John Wilson. “A hearty congratulations goes to all those who did such a super job.”
Fourteen sponsors, including title sponsor Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, contributed nearly $33,000 to the show’s support.
To promote the event, the ANA placed two, 1914-D Lincoln cents into circulation in the area and offered rewards of $100 for the return of each. Jacqueline Fleming, 19, of Charlotte found one of the coins in the tip jar at Dean & DeLuca Market Cafe, where she works and where the coin was part of $2.53 needed to buy a latte. Fleming said she will use the “reward” money for a much needed tune-up on her car.
The “coin drop,” part of an extensive newspaper, television and radio advertising campaign and accompanying media coverage, was orchestrated by the ANA Public Relations Department and Minkus & Pearlman, Inc. of Northbrook, Illinois. Four television news crews reported from the convention floor, including an ABC network news producer, camera man and audio recorder whose story appeared on “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings” on Friday, March 21. Newspaper coverage was extensive in the daily Charlotte Observer, South Charlotte Weekly and the Charlotte edition of Creative Loafing, with radio news reports airing before and during the three-day show.
Heritage Numismatic Auctions, ANA’s official auctioneer, reported total gross sales of more than $4.5 million from three auction sessions, comprising 2,000 lots. Greg Rohan, president of Heritage, said the auction was “great.” Among the items sold were five ingots made from California gold by private assayers in the 1850s, with a Blake & Co. piece selling for $103,500; a 1910 “red” Lincoln cent graded Proof (PR)-67 by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) that realized $36,800; a previously unknown 1794 $1 coin graded Fine-15 by PCGS that also brought $36,800; and a peripherally toned 1880 Trade dollar graded PR-67 by PCGS that sold for $32,200.The ANA YN Treasure Trivia Game, in which school-age children scour the bourse floor seeking answers to questions provided by the ANA Education Department while collecting free coins and other numismatic items, drew a great number of participants. In a drawing held for those completing the trivia quiz, James Bader, 8, of Charlotte, won a Spanish 8-real coin.
ANA member John Carver of Charlotte received a 1/10th-ounce American Eagle gold bullion coin in a random drawing of notices sent by the Convention and Education Departments to nearly 3,000 ANA members within a 250-mile radius of Charlotte who returned them to the show.
The United States Mint held a Business Forum at the show, with Director Fore answering questions and seeking suggestions on ways the Mint can work more closely with the numismatic community. Candidates for the ANA Board of Governors offered members two opportunities to meet informally, and answer questions and discuss issues. On Saturday, March 22, a Scout coin-collecting badge workshop was led by local volunteer Greg Cheek, national volunteer Jeff Swindling and ANA Librarian Nancy Green. Afterward, the more than 50 youngsters, along with their parents and scout leaders, visited the bourse floor until the close of the show.
The ANA National Money ShowSM also featured more than 20 hours of free educational programming that covered a wide range of topics, from North Carolina money to Confederate and obsolete currency.
David W. Boitnott of Apex, North Carolina, received the Best-in-Show Exhibit Award for his display entitled “Wanted: A Few Oddball North Carolinians: North Carolina Statehood Quarter Errors.” In recognition of his efforts, Boitnott received a Saint-Gaudens $20 gold piece donated by Richard Nachbar Rare Coins of Williamsville, New York. The first runner-up award was presented to Tony Chibbaro of Prosperity, South Carolina, for his exhibit “Two Tokens from a South Carolina Gold Mine.” Steve D’Ippolito of Peyton, Colorado, received the second runner-up award for his exhibit “Coinage for Russia’s Frontier: The Siberian Coppers of 1764-1781.” They each received a plaque for their accomplishments.
The People’s Choice Award was presented to Neil W. Cocker of Huntsville, Alabama, for his exhibit “Selected Hammered and Milled English Coins, by Sovereign, from the Conquest to the Present.” For his efforts, Cocker also received a plaque.
The ANA National Coin Week Exhibit Award was presented to Hannah Bennett of Gaffney, South Carolina, for her exhibit “13 Original U.S. Colonies.” She was presented a plaque and will receive a scholarship to a future ANA Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Second place was awarded to Faith Wiles of Blacksburg, South Carolina, for her exhibit “South Carolina: The Statehood Quarter and the State.” Third place was awarded to Richard Jozefiak of Huntsville, Alabama, for his exhibit “A Unique 1921 British Penny.” Wiles and Jozefiak also received a plaque.
At the opening ceremonies on Friday, March 21, show general chairman Sajbel received the Goodfellow Award and medal. Two Louis S. Werner Host Club Awards were presentedto Gregory Field, vice president of the Charlotte Coin Club (which was made a life member of the ANA), and Bob Schreiner, president of the life-member North Carolina Numismatic Association.
Originally Release Date: March 23, 2003
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org