Crunch time on the bourse floor

The commercial aspect of the American Numismatic Association convention has been hit and miss so far. The divided bourse floor is confusing the public attendance. Often they are not making it into the second section and are simply moving around the portion of the room that is visible from the entrance.

That hasn’t kept dealers out of the other part of the bourse. They are doing wholesale business with each other.

With today and tomorrow likely being the two heaviest days we will see if that will change.

Eric Jordan and his book on the relative scarcities of modern commemoratives and other U.S. Mint recent issues such as the platinum Eagle have been popular at the Krause Publications booth. He has set up an exhibit case there and shown some of these coins to people as they come by.

Yesterday, the U.S. Mint sold out the 50 proof platinum American Eagles that went on sale yestaday. Of course, online sales still made the coin available to other people. Jordan says he believes that custodians of Individual Retirement Accounts will snap up the full issue of 10,000 fairly quickly.

It is fortunate for me that the in-room coffee machine is within arm’s reach of my computer for this morning’s blog because convention fatigue is setting in and it was difficult to get up this morning. An early start to the day is required because ANA President Clifford Mishler invited the press to an earlier start today to offer a briefing on yesterday’s executive session. I appreciate this opportunity, though as I take my gulps of coffee to help me wake up, sleep almost seems like a better use of my time.

One final thought: Paul Whitnah was given the Clemy Award last night at the Numismatic Literary Guild Bash. He is having a good week. The Professional Numismatist Guild Award Monday apparently was just for starters.