Time for Baltimore show

Baltimore is the place to be today through this weekend as the Whitman show brings the nation’s numismatic heavy hitters together at the convention center to do business.

What am I doing in Iola besides digging out from yet more snow?

Good question.

Two of my colleagues traveled east yesterday to take in the event so my duty is to hold the fort here and answer the phone.

Those who can make it to Baltimore won’t be disappointed.

The Mint launches the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemoratives at the show a noon today and collectors will be able to buy them on the spot subject to the order limits announced yesterday.

Brooks Robinson will also be present this afternoon to provide a little Major League star power to the Mint’s activities.

I will await Coin Market editor Harry Miller’s observations on the state of business.

Will Morgan silver dollars continue to power ahead?

The bullion coin market is not getting any kind of a boost this morning.

Gold fell under $1,300 a troy ounce for the first time in six weeks or so and silver is down to $19.67. Neither figure will light a fire under buyers, though anybody considering selling to help pay taxes on April 15 might rush to get it done before prices go lower.

I suppose I could have written a very short blog this morning:

Baltimore! Go!

That about sums it up.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is winner of the 2013 Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."