Thousands Attend the 85th Central States Convention
The Central States Numismatic Society’s (CSNS) milestone 85th Anniversary Convention was a success on all counts.
The Central States Numismatic Society’s (CSNS) milestone 85th Anniversary Convention, held May 1-4 at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Ill., was a success on all counts. Dealers reported good sales, while collectors enjoyed the educational programming and the wide variety of collectible material offered by the 283 numismatic firms on the bourse floor. Of the approximately 2,650 people who attended the 2024 show, 845 were CSNS staff, officers, and volunteers; dealers and their assistants; and Professional Numismatists Guild “PNG Day” participants.
In addition to the hundreds of tables that offered tokens, medals, and U.S. coins, the four-day convention featured sections dedicated to paper currency and world and ancient coins. Collectors viewed hundreds of numismatic rarities to be sold by Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas. The lots on display were scheduled to cross the block in the company’s Internet sales following the close of the show.
The non-profit Newman Numismatic Portal, a collector resource supported by Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., partnered once again with the Central States Numismatic Society to offer exceptional educational programs at the CSNS show. Falling under the umbrella of the NNP Symposium (nnpsymposium.org), all programs were also televised via Zoom and available on demand.
This year, CSNS launched a program whereby it highlights one of its 13 member states annually, starting with Iowa at this month’s event. In keeping with this theme, the NNP Symposium featured a host of Iowa authors and Iowa-focused numismatic presentations. Other symposium headliners included “The Origins of the Continental Dollar, 1775-1776: Congressional Deliberations the Decisions that Shaped Monetary Structure” by Farley Grubb; “Multiscale Scientific Analysis of Benjamin Franklin’s Innovations in American Paper Money” by Khachatur Manukyan; “Anti-Semitic Notgeld & Weimar Anti-Semitism: Numismatics and the Rise of Nazi Ideology” by Jesse Goplen; “The Current Numismatic Market” by Greg Rohan; and “Lady Liberty: Real or Ideal?” by Women of Numismatics and Elizabeth Coggan.
On Saturday, May 4, kids and their parents participated in a free scavenger hunt. They explored the bourse floor for answers to questions regarding fictional characters “born” in Iowa (the highlighted CSNS member state). Those youngsters who completed the challenge received a bag of numismatic goodies.
During the show, several hobbyists received official CSNS recognition. The annual Q. David Bowers Award was presented to Dennis Tucker, who for nearly 20 years served as publisher at Whitman Publications, producer of the ever-popular “Red Book” (A Guide Book of United States Coins).
“When I proposed the creation of the Q. David Bowers Award in 2019, I thought it was important that Central States also recognize the contributions made by the numismatic professionals in our hobby,” explained CSNS President Mitch Ernst. “We like to think of this as a lifetime achievement award, and Dennis Tucker certainly is deserving of this honor.”
President Ernst bestowed the CSNS Medal of Merit on Chris Seuntjens, owner of Christopher’s Rare Coins in Des Moines, Iowa, and president of Christal Clear Showcases. “Chris is a dedicated Iowa numismatist and CSNS supporter,” said Ernst. “He donated his time, funds and boundless energy to help make our 85th Anniversary Convention memorable.”
Ernst also presented his signature “Sower Awards” to three individuals in recognition of their commitment and service to the hobby of numismatics: Paul DeFelice, Dreama Hurst, and David Stark. Named one of Coin World’s “100 Most Influential People in Numismatics,” DeFelice is vice president of marketing and client relations for ANACS, a coin-grading service in Englewood, Colo. The firm worked with CSNS to produce encapsulated 2004 Iowa state quarters for free distribution to show attendees. Hurst is a member of Florida United Numismatists (FUN) and a regular volunteer at shows hosted by FUN and other organizations, including CSNS. Stark, second vice president of the Iowa Numismatic Association, is a frequent speaker on a variety of hobby-related topics, including large cents, Indian Head cents, Lincoln cents, the history of U.S. coin collecting, and the early days of the United States Mint. He also is well-versed in the history of his state organization. By sharing their interest and love for the hobby, these hobbyists exemplify the spirit of the sower: “Sow good seeds and let time do the rest.”
The Central States Numismatic Society’s 86th Anniversary Convention will be held April 23-26, 2025, in Schaumburg, Ill. For more information, watch the organization’s quarterly journal (The Centinel) and the CSNS website.
You may also like:
