Coppers collectors celebrate 50 years

The Early American Coppers (EAC) club will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a convention April 19-23 at the Doubletree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa.

It will be open to the public. Admission is free.

The EAC now has about 1,200 members. It traces its beginning to a classified ad in the Nov. 9, 1966, issue of Coin World.

Then Herb Silberman announced “a mail club to trade and discuss [large cents].” The club’s first meeting, held more than a year later on Dec. 28, 1967, was a dinner in New York City. Spouses were not invited.

Club meetings have progressed from one-night dinners to independent four-day conventions, with an active bourse of specialist dealers and extensive educational programs, as well as the opportunity for collectors with a passion for a particular series – such as the large cents of 1794 – to get together. Most members now bring spouses and families and enjoy a few days of fun, fellowship and education in an interesting location.

There will be a grading and counterfeit detection program on Thursday morning, a reception early Thursday evening, followed by “happenings” dedicated to Colonials, half cents, large cents and early U.S. silver coins.

Educational seminars will be presented on Friday and Saturday afternoons and a special keynote lecture on Friday night. Members also display non-competitive exhibits.

The 74-table bourse will be open Friday-Sunday. All dealers and assistants must be EAC members in good standing. Most specialize in early copper and silver United States coins, but they are welcome to bring other inventory as well.

A special 50th anniversary medal that the club had made for its members reads on its edge: HISTORY…EDUCATION…FRIENDSHIP. EAC president Bill Eckberg says: “these words succinctly describe what EAC is about. Our uniqueness is in our appreciation of American history. Do we have that appreciation because we collect old coppers, or is it the other way around?”

For more information about EAC, the convention and how to join, go to EAC’s website, http://www.eacs.org, or contact Eckberg by e-mail: president@eacs.org.

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