Exhibiters win gold at CSNS convention

Mack Martin won the Leon and Hamie Hendrickson Best-in-Show Award for the second year in a row with his exhibit at the Central States Numismatic Society’s 79th Anniversary Convention in Schaumburg, Ill., in late April.

His exhibit, “Georgia’s Civil War Treasury History 1861-1865,” detailed the Confederate state’s issuance of treasury bonds and notes, including change bills in denominations as small as five cents between 1861 and 1865.

The exhibit included a unique 1865 $100 Treasury note that surfaced in 2001 and examples of unissued 1863 25-cent notes that were signed by conquering Union soldiers and sent home as souvenirs.

Floyd Aprill won the Jerry Lebo People’s Choice Award for his display, “The United States Mint in Manila.” The People’s Choice Award is determined by ballots cast by the public during the convention.

Dave Holladay was awarded the Joseph and Morton Stack Award for the best exhibit by a first-time CSNS exhibitor for his display, “The New Orleans Mint 1839 and Now.”

The John Jay Pittman Award for most educational exhibit was awarded to Jeffrey Rosinia for “Sealing the Deal of The United States: E Pluribus Unum.”

David Hunsicker won the inaugural Rothfeld Award for Best Topical Exhibit for his exhibit, “Savings Banks of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”

Exhibit Chairman Jack Huggins presided over the awards while Vice President Brett Irick served as announcer in place of the late Ray Lockwood. Fran Lockwood, former exhibit chair, retained her position as chief hugger.

Irick said 50 individual exhibitors from nine states participated this year. The exhibit area had 180 cases of competitive exhibits and 10 cases of non-competitive exhibits.

Central States awarded more than eight ounces of gold coins to winners. First-place winners received half-ounce U.S. Gold Eagles in deluxe plastic holders. Second-place winners received quarter-ounce coins. Third-place winners received tenth-ounce pieces.