Baltimore Whitman Expo Takes Shape

November is upon us, and for numismatic show-goers, that means one thing:the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore. The annual show is set for Nov. 14-17 at the Baltimore, Md., Convention Center.

A busy bourse and robust auction are sure to be highlights, but there is fun to be had by younger collectors as well.

Ages 6 to 12 will have the opportunity to participate in a “Fill Your Album” event. Organizers supply the coin album and the cents, and collectors fill in as many dates as they can find in 15 minutes. In the “Coin Grab,” treasure-seekers are invited to reach into the Treasure Chest for a handful of valuable coins. Young artists can choose from a variety of coin coloring sheets to show off their talents. And finally, every child gets a “goodie bag” with collectibles generously shared by Expo coin dealers.

Scouts are invited to attend a BSA Coin Collecting Merit Badge Class on Nov. 16 to earn their Coin Collecting Merit Badge at the show. Registration is required.

Show attendees looking to connect with collecting organizations are in luck. Among the groups holding meetings during the show are the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4), Early American Coppers (EAC) club, Maryland State Numismatic Association, Fellowship of Christian Coin Dealers, Liberty Seated Collectors Club, Barber Coin Collectors and Maryland Token and Medal Society.

A number of educational presentations are slated for the show. Topics to be presented are “An Introduction to Collecting Colonial Paper Money” by Ray Williams, “Debut of Professional C4 Videos on Colonial Coinage” by Chris McDowell and “Collecting Colonials 101” by Leo Shane and Jim Glickman.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is the official auction house of the Whitman Expo, and it has sessions planned for Nov. 13-16. Copper pieces, Americana medals, Washington medals and a range of paper money will be on offer. For more details, see the related story on Page 80 of this issue and visit Stack’s Bowers online at www.stacksbowers.com.

Public hours for the Whitman Expo are noon-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. General admission is free for all days. Organizers note that there will be limited dealers in attendance on Sunday.

Attendees have the option of paying a $75 fee for “Early Bird” access to the bourse. Early Birds gain entry at 10 a.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For more details and a complete schedule of events, visit whitman.expo.com and follow links to the November event.

To save time at the show, attendees can also pre-register by sending an email to info@whitmanexpo.com or by calling (404) 214-4373.