WAYNE'S AUGUST 2021 ANA DIARY, PART TWO

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V24 2021 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 24, Number 34, August 22, 2021, Article 21

In no particular order, here are some more notes and photos from last week's ANA World's Fair of Money show in Rosemont.

1933 President's Proclamation
I saw this great ephemera item at Fred Weinberg's table, but he was away and I didn't get a chance to ask him about it. Very neat item.

Fred's retiring and closing up his office. Good luck, and happy trails! He was an early and very steady E-Sylum supporter, and he'll be missed, here and on the show circuit.

"The 268-pound bell from the fabled Ship of Gold, the SS Central America that sank in 1857, will be publicly displayed along with some of the recovered California Gold Rush treasure at the American Numismatic Association's 2021 Chicago World's Fair of Money®, August 10-14 (www.WorldsFairofMoney.com). The bell that helped to confirm the identity of the historic vessel was brought up from the Atlantic Ocean in 1988 and has not been exhibited in public for three decades.

"The SS Central America represents the greatest American treasure ever found and its story is important to our history. This priceless treasure will be rung twice each day at booth #122 during the ANA convention in remembrance of the 425 passengers and crewmembers who perished when the legendary ship sank 164 years ago, said Dwight Manley, managing partner of California Gold Marketing Group which owns the bell and recovered sunken treasure.

"The ringing of the bell ceremony will be conducted daily 30 minutes after the show opens to the public and again at 3 pm."

Bob opens with a discussion of the ship, its treasure, and the significance of its loss.

I had to stop Bob when I saw him crossing the bourse floor at one point during the show. I wanted to tell him that the bell appeared to me in a dream a few nights earlier. I dreamed they'd lent me the bell, and I had it on display in my home office. And I was walking around showing it to family members and telling them about its significant. In my dream it was only about a foot in height, easily lifted in two hands. Not quite true in reality - the thing weighs more than me.

I asked to see the hammer and John prodly displayed it. There's a smile behind that mask.

Right up front at the entrance were tables and backdrops for Abe Lincoln and Ben Franklin impersonators Dennis Boggs and Pat McBride.

Even the shoeshine guy had fun clowning with these guys. I ended up having breakfast with Pat sans costume Thursday morning. He had a great analogy - Ben and Abe are to coin shows what the team mascots are to baseball - they rouse the crowd, cheer up the fans, pass out T-shirts and have a little fun. And these guys know their numismatics. Abe's got a great story about Samuel Chase and the greenbacks raising money for the Civil War, and Ben knows all about the colonial paper money he printed and the medals with his image. Kids and collectors of all ages love them.

Remember, these good people depend on donations to cover expenses. They don't get monetary support from the shows they visit. We've publicized their fundraising campaigns before.

At the show I spoke to former Civil War Numismatic Society president Susan Trask Gingrich. I also reached out to officers of some other clubs. With the help of their boards and members (and E-Sylum readers as well), I think we can arrange a steadier source of funding to keep this party going. It's great for numismatics in general and the hobby should show its support. Please contact me if you're willing to help. Even small one-time donations are greatly appreciated.

And More...
It was great to see so many old and new friends at the show. For several events I just put my phone away to be in the moment and converse, so I don't have photos of everything and everybody. I missed out on visiting with Doug Winter, Pierre Fricke and other E-Sylum supporters because they were so busy with customers at their tables.

A couple times I ran into Kellen Hoard and Abby Zechman. I also had brief conversations with Ron Guth, Craig Sholley, Jeff Rock, Victor England, sculptor Heidi Wastweet, Pittsburgh area collectors Larry Korchnak and Tom Uram, and many others. What a whirlwind show!