The Future of Coin Shows: Is the Era of Regional Fairs Over?
Several thousand passionate coin collectors flocked to the MOC Event and Order Center in Munich, Germany, for the 2024 Numismata, while some smaller regional fairs were canceled.
The era when coin collectors in Germany used to wait for hours in queues seems to be a thing of the past. Typically, only a handful of collectors would show up for the release of new collector coins at the branches of the Deutsche Bundesbank. But in March 2024, the numismatic community finally experienced a rush again – and it happened on a weekend that was supposed to invite cozy hours in the beer garden or the ice cream parlor in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Nevertheless, several thousand passionate coin collectors flocked to the MOC Event and Order Center.
As in the previous year, there was hardly any room to move at times, as collectors crowded through the aisles on the exhibition grounds in the Munich district of Freimann. The scene was lively and full of enthusiasm as collectors admired the latest pieces and shared their passion for numismatic art. It was an impressive sign that interest in coin collecting and its history remains strong and vibrant and that events like these play an important role in bringing and strengthening the community together.
The trauma of Numismata in 2020, when the fair was canceled at the last minute due to the pandemic, seems to have been forgotten by now. Around twelve hours before the planned opening of the fair hall, the news arrived – catching many dealers and visitors off guard despite discussions and rumors of a possible cancellation beforehand. The 50th anniversary of the first event of the venerable coin fair in 1970 thus fell flat, and numismatics in Germany found itself in a state of emergency. Other coin fairs were also canceled, and it took three years until the next Numismata.
But the comeback in 2023 was impressive: the anniversary fair was sold out to the last table, and on the first day of the fair, the doors to the hall had to be temporarily closed due to the enormous influx of visitors. This overwhelming interest and enormous response clearly showed how much the coin collector community had been waiting for such an event and how strong the need for personal exchange and the acquisition of new pieces was. The successful comeback of Numismata in 2023 was not only a sign of the resilience of the fair but also of the lively and enduring passion for numismatic treasures in Germany.
For Many, Numismata is the "One True" Coin Fair
Visitors from all over Germany as well as from European countries, especially Eastern Europe, are not deterred from making longer trips to participate in Numismata, as for many, it is considered the "one true" coin fair in the German-speaking world. Unlike the "World Money Fair," which gathers a variety of table dealers, mints, and industry representatives, Numismata focuses on the essentials. Elaborate fair constructions with special effects and special attractions are not to be found in Munich. Likewise, the undoubtedly impressive but often too abstract presentations of manufacturers of minting machines or blanks are missing for the average collector. Instead, the focus is on direct interaction between collectors and dealers and on the opportunity to discover rare pieces and have personal conversations.
Instead, the large fair hall at the MOC in Munich-Freimann is exclusively reserved for table dealers and the buying and selling of coins – without any frills. This simple concept has proven to be a recipe for success even after over 50 years: the fair attracts primarily enthusiasts of classical numismatics from antiquity to the empire and offers a dense network of dealer tables and booths filled with coins of all kinds. In terms of sheer numbers – over 2,000 visitors and more than 200 dealers – Numismata may be the number two coin fair in Germany, but for many coin collectors, it is unquestionably the number one. This view is also shared by the organizers: "NUMISMATA is the largest coin fair in the world in terms of its variety of offerings and unmistakable flair and tradition since 1970," as stated on the fair's website.
From a Regional Fair to Europe's Number One
Tradition indeed plays a crucial role for many collectors: Numismata was first held in 1970 as a regional fair in a small side hall of the Löwenbräukeller in Munich. This initiative originated from Munich coin collectors' desire to promote their passion in the southern German region. From the "Bavarian Coin Day" in Munich, the internationally renowned brand "Numismata" developed over the years, organized since 1982 by the company Münzen Modes. This connection is inseparably linked to a Bavarian original: the Munich coin dealer Erich Modes, who earned an excellent reputation as a passionate fair organizer. Nowadays, his daughter holds the reins of the fair organization and continues the tradition that began more than five decades ago.
What's Next for Numismata – and Coin Fairs in Europe?
Following the successful conclusion of Numismata 2024, which was followed with great interest by collectors throughout Germany, many wonder what comes next. The former Numismata event in Vienna is a thing of the past, while Frankfurt is taking a temporary break, and no concrete date is available on the official Numismata website. Likewise, the initially announced date for the Berlin Fair at the end of October 2024 was unexpectedly removed from the event website. These latest developments fuel speculation about imminent major changes at Numismata.
Rumors have been circulating since last year about possible restructuring or new concepts for the fair. The recent events seem to confirm these speculations and increase anticipation for upcoming announcements. One thing is certain, however: Numismata enjoys an excellent reputation and great popularity not only among collectors and dealers but also among institutional actors.
The question of the future of Numismata becomes particularly relevant against the backdrop of a broader trend in Germany: evidently, the era of regional coin fairs is over. In 2020, as a result of the pandemic, the coin fairs in Stuttgart and Dortmund were canceled and have not been revived to this day. Similarly, the coin fair in Hannover, which last took place for the 112th time in 2022, was canceled for "organizational reasons." For all three fairs, there was no continuation in 2023 or 2024 – the fate of these once-important regional fairs seems sealed, and the industry is already speculating about which event will be next.
So far, besides Numismata in Munich, the coin fair in Karlsruhe on April 7, 2024, is still on the schedule – otherwise, the calendar for coin collectors in Germany, apart from occasional fairs of regional coin clubs, is virtually empty. It will be even more exciting to see if a new chapter in Numismata's history will be opened over the course of the year – perhaps with a stronger focus on precious metals and closer ties to the booming markets of Eastern Europe.
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