Educational programs anchor FUN show

Sixteen free educational programs will highlight the 2012 Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando.

The talks will occur over three days, starting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 with dealer Tony Swicer offering advice entitled, “Rip-offs, Scams and Raw Deals to Avoid in 2012.”

The final talk is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 7. Chuck Heck will explain “EAC Grading, Part II. The Early American Coppers organization has its own system of grading. Heck is a prominent Florida member who gave the first part at a prior FUN show.

Numismatic News columnist and professional coin grader Skip Fazzari shares his expertise in an 11:30 a.m. program Jan. 6 called “12 Characteristics of Counterfeit and Altered Coins.”

Five other talks involve a dozen, from 12 favorite gold coins by Don Bonser at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 6 to 12 favorite VAM silver dollar varieties at 2:45 Jan. 6 by John Roberts, while Anthony Swiatek offers 12 favorite commemoratives at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 7 and Bill Fivaz talks about his 12 favorite minting varieties, cataloged naturally enough, with the Fivaz-Stanton system, at 1:30 p.m., Jan. 7. B.J. Neff will show his 12 favorite error/variety coins at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 5.

Numismatic News editor Dave Harper will ask, “Is it still possible to be a coin collector?” while bullion shoots ever higher. Of course, the answer is yes.

Randy Campbell, who heads the effort to line up educational speakers for FUN jumps into the fray himself with Al Johnbrier at the “34th Annual Silver Dollar Investor’s Forum,” at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 7. This program also dwells on the number 12 as each speaker presents his top dozen silver dollar buys.

Other speakers include Bart Bartanowicz, Bob Hurst, Ray Herz, Scott Travers, Steve Roach and the Society of Silver Dollar Collectors.

For more information about the convention, visit www.funtopics.com. Show dates are Jan. 5 to Jan. 8.

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