Baltimore drops Sunday hours

Sunday hours are being terminated by the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention effective with its June 5-7, 2008, show.

?Traditionally, Sunday has been the slowest show day,? says David Crenshaw, show general manager.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday hours also are being shortened by one hour effective with the June show.

Instead of closing the bourse floor at 7 p.m., the closing on those three days will occur at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Super Bourse Day, dealer hours run 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. For Friday and Saturday, dealer hours will start at 9 a.m. The Super Bourse commences at 10 a.m. The public will be admitted at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Feb. 29-March 2 show will be the last Baltimore show under the old hours, with Sunday running 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for dealers and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the public.

Crenshaw says incentives will be put into place to keep the show active until the Saturday night close. A booth-assignment policy has been adopted to reward dealers who stay until the close. They will be guaranteed the same booth location at the next show and get preferential treatment when on the list waiting for table upgrades.

The changes in hours were originally announced as being effective at the February show, but a number of objections caused the show to modify plans.

?Several dealers were concerned that they will lose Sunday as a business day. In order to honor their contracts, the February/March show will remain open on Sunday,? Crenshaw explains.