Signal of good times?

Everybody likes to know what the future will bring. Naturally, we cannot know, but we look for signs anyway.

A sign that came my way was courtesy of the Central States Numismatic Society, which has been holding a major regional convention since 1939.

Convention Chairman Kevin Foley sent out a letter to table-holders that the Central States room block for next year’s show is just about sold out.

This is eight months ahead of the April 22-27, 2013, event.

Could this be a sign that business is currently better than we think it is and dealers are optimistic enough to make their plans this far ahead of time?

That’s how I choose to interpret it.

There are always dealers who plan ahead. That’s a given. However, I don’t remember ever having to make my reservations for CSNS so far ahead of time.

Is it the new location at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel in suburban Chicago that’s the attraction?

Could be. The 2013 show is just the second CSNS event of a multi-year run at the same place. It is a handy location for those of us who drive to it.

Is it the quality of the facility?

I was impressed by how convenient it is having everything under one roof. You can get up from the breakfast table and walk over to the bourse floor in just a few minutes.

This is beginning to seem like a commercial for the show. I guess it is. I can’t help myself.

I see so many old friends at the event that I can’t imagine anyone wanting to miss it on purpose.

Central States also is where the action often is. At the event in 2011 silver was near its all-time high of $50 an ounce.

But at root, no matter how nice a facility is, it is still the expectation of good business that brings dealers to a show.

It looks to me that word of this room block sellout signals good times ahead.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."