All roads (and air routes) lead to Denver

It's worth it. It's worth it.

That's what I will be telling myself as I head to the airport for a 5 a.m. flight.

Why am I leaving at such an early hour?

I want to get to the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money.

I would also like to turn in an expense report that doesn't look like the national debt.

It is amazing what I will do to keep accounting happy.

The 5 a.m. departure will start my trip to what will be the center of the numismatic universe for the week.

If flights are on time, I should be arriving in the Mile High City just about 1 o'clock.

First item on my packed agenda will be to attend the Professional Numismatists Guild dinner this evening.

It will be a wonderful event if it is like the others I have attended.

Good food, good company and an awards program will fill out the schedule.

PNG has been around since 1955.

Its awards are among the most prestigious you can receive.

I look forward to finding out who makes the cut for 2017.

Between this dinner and the ANA awards dinner on Friday night, it is a little bit like a two-part Oscar ceremony.

The bonus is I know the award recipients. Chances are I have known them a long time.

That is one advantage of spending a lifetime in numismatics.

Together we have seen a great deal.

Together we will see a great deal more.

Lifetime in the numismatic sense means lifetime. Few can give it up.

I was reminded of that as I read my email just before it was time to write this.

A helpful son wrote me on behalf of his 102-year-old father.

The father thinks he has found an error coin.

Would I take a look photographs of it if I am sent a letter?

The father does not do email.

That is not a surprise.

One thing is certain.

The father must enjoy the hobby if he is still active at his age and trying to contact me.

I'm flattered.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper has twice won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."

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