Community Voice Responses (May 8, 2018)

From the Apr. 13 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Will Confederate coins on display attract attendees to the ANA convention in Philadelphia?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

I thought of voting “Yes.” But then my very next email went into detail about the 23 California gold specimens going on display beginning April 14 at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Even though they’re not coins, that seems far more interesting to me as far as attractions go. I know you can’t include this photo, but I just don’t think Confederate coins will draw the kind of attendance a specimen like “The Mockingbird” will.

Fritz Goebel
Sheboygan, Wis.

No. Confederate coins will not bring a large number of people to the World’s Fair of Money. People with a casual interest in numismatics don’t know the WFM is coming.

The ANA needs to overhaul how it markets and promotes the WFM. I live in New Jersey. I have mentioned the WFM to several people. They seem interested. But the show is months away, and people will forget because the ANA isn’t is doing serious marketing. Also, I realize people can say they are interested and not come.

We moved to a different part of New Jersey last January. One of the movers found my collection of souvenir cards. I explained what they were and told him about the WFM. He said it would be good to take his kids to it. But that was three months ago. He might have forgot already.

I have been told that local clubs promote the ANA shows. How much time do people who work for a living have to promote ANA shows? How much do they know about it?

Numismatics is living in another era. It is still living in the era when kids collected from pocket change and bank rolls was to numismatics what a minor league system is to a major league baseball team. It’s where good young talent comes from. If a major league team is getting good young talent from the minor leagues, it should be successful. If not, it won’t.

For numismatics, the minor league system dried up long ago. Trust me, there are people with a casual interest in numismatics who would be interested in spending at least a day at the WFM. Some might become active collectors. But the ANA doesn’t do any marketing to connect with them. So, they don’t come.

Bob Graul
Lakewood, N.J.

Yes, the display of Confederate Coins will be an attraction. Even if a display of “copies” of the coins (in coin state) were done, an attraction such as this would be of interest at the ANA show. Even at other shows, various displays can be a draw, whether free or for a small charge. This is just an opiniom, but even photos of such, can be a draw.

Gary Kess
Sherman, Texas

Yes, unless certain individuals drag politics into our wonderful hobby/industry.

Sam Lukes
Visalia, Calif.

Yup...them Yankees always wanting to see what went on down south...then again...maybe not...

Max Stucky
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Yes.

Wesley Ellis
Portland Ore.

More Collecting Resources

• The Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700 is your guide to images, prices and information on coins from so long ago.

• The 1800s were a time of change for many, including in coin production. See how coin designs grew during the time period in the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900 .