Earlier this month I spent two weeks as an instructor at the ANA's Summer Seminar held on the grounds of Colorado College right next to ANA Museum and HQ in Colorado Springs.

This was my sixth appearance there. First three as an instructor with Emmett McDonald in a class on an overview of World Coins 1600-present. Twice as a participant in the Gilroy Roberts Art of Engraving class and for the past two years as an Instructor with the Badger Mint road show mini-minting demonstration.

Each time is different, and each time It is rewarding to see how folks react to new and dirrerent hobby questions and issues which are brought before them.

This year ANA president Clifford Mishler was in attendance and spoke before both weeks of Seminar participants on how spending just $100 or so on one's local, state, regional, national and specialized club dues would make the whole hobby stronger.

I agree with that philosphy. Having grown up in the hobby in the 1970s when most shows were club run and had a heavy bend toward educational programs and exhibits in addition to a bouse rather than the predominant commercial ventures of today where many shows do not even have educational exhibits. I am a joiner, and while in my 20's I became a life member of some groups such as the ANA, GSNA and AVA, memberships I enjoyed then and still enjoy today.

So, do remember to join, and be active in your local clubs!

George

Monday, July 26, 2010 1:48:11 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

I read in this mornings one-line version of the New York Times that the South Street Seaport Museum on Fulton Street and the East River in lower Manhattan has opened an exhibit on the pride of the French ocean liners - Normandie.

Featured at the opening was a sounding of the triple steam whistle, which was saved when the ship was scraped after a pierside fire. The whistle is now at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, which takes it and many other steam whistles in their collection and sounds them off in the campus quad to "ring" in the new year.

I've been there, it is loud.

However, this exhibit sounds wonderful, with fixtures, room pieces and a piano.

The hip had been commemorated with several medals, two for the maiden voyage, another for a trip to Buenos Aires, and even the room keytags had a simple but none-the-less numismatic striking room number fob. I hope some of these items made it into the exhibit.

I'll see next week when I'm in the city. The exhibit runs for a while, it should certainly be worth some time.

George

Tuesday, June 08, 2010 1:55:39 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [1]

The 50th Anniversary show of the Numismatists of Wisconsin will be held this weekend, May 21-22 at the Iola Old Car Show Activities building.

I'll be participating with a dealer's table selling some 20th century coins and bank notes, leading a coin collecting merit badge seminar for the scouts on Saturday morning, and placing an educational display.

Not quite a trifecta, but close.

George

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 3:33:06 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [1]

This week, while entering some 200 new Russian coins, we have passed the 160,000 type listing mark on the Numismaster data base for world coins dated since 1601.

Quite exciting.

George

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 3:28:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

Well, now that the weather is warmer and some yard work is done, I'd like to remind you to check out the deals on www.shopnumismaster.com

We have new editions of the 19th already out and soon to be released 20th and 21st Century Coin Books.

In the bank note field we have the already out 11th edition of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues volume which was released in December. That volume now has all Foreign Exchange Certificate listings and all Military notes. Soon to be back form the printer, and now wiht a special pre-order price on the site is the 16th edition of the annual Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues (Which will no longer include Foreign Exchange certificates and Military notes).

George

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 7:36:22 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]