El Paso show packed with education

Two University of Texas, El Paso students and their mother team up for the World Currency-Country Match Challenge activity in the Kid’s Zone at the February International Coin Club of El Paso show.

More than 500 people attended the 54th annual coin show of the International Coin Club of El Paso, Texas, held Feb. 10-12 at the El Maida Shriner Hall.

Retiring bourse chairman and club past President John Grost commented, “Most of our 50 bourse dealers were happy with sales. Circulated U.S. type and Mexican coins and paper money fared extremely well. Bullion sales were flat.”

Arizona dealer Peter Spooner said, “high-end slabbed coin sales were slow, but I was able to purchase a number of XF-AU raw want list coins for clients back home.”

“Numismatic educational enrichment and connecting non-collectors with the coin hobby to ANA growth programs and website learning activities is the main goal of the club’s annual show,” commented James Montanez, treasurer.

Montanez added, “We were indeed fortunate and honored to again have with us one at our 2017 event one of the hobby’s finest educational resources, ANA Immediate Past President Walt Ostromecki. Watching him interact and share the many fun and intriguing numismatic stories with youngsters, families non-collectors – and even seasoned hobbyists is just magical and a joy to behold.

Medals celebrating the 54th annual show of the International Coin Club of El Paso are being offered for sale. Price is $32.50 postpaid for a two-piece set. The set includes one antique bronze and one polished bronze medal. Shipping is by priority mail shipping. Prcie is $10.50 for a single antique bronze specimen, which also includes shipping. Payments need to be made payable to the International Coin Club of El Paso and mailed to P.O. Box 963517, El Paso, TX 79996.

Ostromecki handled the American Numismatic Association hobby information booth as well as the youth and family Kid’s Zone activities and programs, which included; The America the Beautiful Quarter Trivia activity, which earned young participants free “P” or “S” quarters for each correct answer.

A World Currency Country-Match challenge program where participants could win foreign currency to begin a collection attracted attention.

The ANA’s newest hands-on “error coinage” Treasure’s In Your Pocket learning experience was another attraction.

Educational participants were connected via laptop computer to the ANA website’s newest online learning activity, the Grading Game.

On Saturday afternoon, 22 Young Numismatists took part in the annual El Paso Coin Club’s free youth auction. There were 68 lots donated by club members, show dealers, Ostromecki and the ANA. Youth were provided with approximately $50 in scrip to purchase lots of their choosing.

Calling this year’s annual kid’s auction were two of the clubs’ veteran auctioneers, Stephen Phillips and Willie Tarrazas, with the assistance of runner Robert Pick.

There were five competitive displays and three mini-club member exhibits. First place went to “Amilcar Cabral” by Grost; Second place, “22 Astronomers on Paper Money” was also his and third place went to “Nicaragua’s – Ruben Dario” went to anonymous.

The 55th Annual 2018 ICCEP show has been slated for the second week in February. For more information about the 2018 show, show bourse, club meetings and medal information, please write the ICCEP at Box 963517, El Paso, TX 79996, or contact John Grost via email at: johngrost@aol.com.