Liberty Dollars banned at CSNS Convention

So-called Liberty Dollars, the creation of Bernard Von NotHaus and the National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve Act and the Internal Revenue Code, more commonly known by the acronym NORFED, will not be part of the April 24-27, 2013 74th Anniversary Convention of the Central States Numismatic Society in Schaumburg, Ill., according to a statement issued by convention General Chairman Kevin Foley.

“Although this alternative monetary instrument has been available on coin convention bourse floors since its 1998 introduction, and has from time to time been the subject of educational exhibit area displays, the 2011 federal court conviction of Mr. von NotHaus in connection with his role as what one numismatic press outlet characterized as the ‘monetary architect’ of the Liberty Dollar on the basis that the Liberty Dollar is counterfeit, has led us to adopt a policy to exclude such items from our bourse floor and educational exhibit area for our Schaumburg and future conventions,” Foley said.

Although the underlying criminal conviction of Von NotHaus has been the subject of controversy and criticism, Foley said, the fact remains that the Secret Service has determined that the Liberty Dollars are counterfeit.

Each element of this multimedia package provides a distinct educational opportunity for any coin collector.

“As a numismatic convention sponsor we have no basis to treat this product any differently than we would other monetary instruments so classified by the Secret Service,” Foley said, noting that eBay will no longer accept listings on its website for the Liberty Dollar and has recently initiated a process of cancelling site listings that offer the Liberty Dollar.

CSNS Secretary Jerry Lebo will serve as Bourse Chairman for the CSNS convention. Dealers interested in bourse space should contact him via e-mail at jclebo@frontier.com. Additional information is available at www.centralstates.info.