Rare coins sell strong at CICF

A strong market and increased attendance were the driving factors behind the success of the 33rd Annual Chicago International Coin Fair.

The show was held April 24-27 in Rosemont, Ill.

According to Kevin Foley, convention chairman, attendance was ?up significantly this year.?

?We?ve had a lot of European attendance in part because of the dollar, which seems to continue to plunge against the euro,? Foley said.

He said it?s the rare, scarce material that buyers seem interested in.
?The material at the upper end of the market is definitely where the strength is right now.?

The Ancient Coin Collectors Guild, an organization whose actions reach outside the numismatic realm, met April 25 during CICF. Wayne Sayles, ACCG executive director, gave a recap of steps taken by the group to promote the rights of ancient coin collectors by challenging the U.S. State Department and its imposed restrictions on ancient coin importation.
Sayles presented Cliff Mishler with an Exceptionally Meritorious Service award for his support of the ACCG and
its efforts.

?Every time that we ask him for help, he?s there and does it and it?s of value to us,? Sayles said. ?His help is way above and beyond.?

Honors were also given to Joe Lang after he presented ?Collecting Islamic Civic Copper Coinage? to members of the Every Country Collectors group April 26. Harlan J. Berk, former president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, spoke to the Ancient Coin Club of Chicago April 26 about the making of his book, The 100 Greatest Coins of Antiquity. Kerry Wetterstrom, editor and publisher of The Celator magazine, was a featured speaker during the meeting of the International Primitive Money Society?s meeting the same day.