On behalf of American Numismatic Association staff members Emily Silver and David Truesdell, President Walter Ostromecki and ourselves, we want to thank the Central States Numismatic Society for providing a table for the American Numismatic Association at their recently completed 75^th Anniversary Convention in Schaumburg, Illinois, on April 21-26, 2014. We were able to sign up or renew 15 members for the ANA. A special thanks to John Zwolinski from Cudahy, Wisconson, for donating the money for the shipment of the coin show kit.

 

Now in its third year at this location, the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center is proving to be an outstanding location for CSNS to host its annual conventions. With everything under one roof, free parking, many nearby hotels and O'Hare about 20 minutes away it would be hard to beat this site. The show had a sold out bourse, numerous coin club tables and some of the best exhibits we have ever seen. President Abraham Lincoln (Dennis Boggs) once again participated, along with other luminaries. Krause Publications, Coin World, Coin Television, Coin Week, ICTA and others also had tables. Attendance was good and dealers appeared to be busy for most of the show. Heritage Auctions had coin and currency sessions going at the same time and once again sold many millions of dollars' worth of numismatic items. Show security was outstanding.   

 

Numerous educational programs were held by CSNS and several coin clubs (along with their meetings). The official program was also well done as were the elongated CSNS give aways produced by Ray Dillard. The 75^th CSNS Medal was designed by Mr. Dillard. A special overprinted Red Book (75th Anniversary 1939-2014 with CSNS Logo) was given to all table holders, judges, exhibitors and contributors to the show. A booklet (hardcover and paperback) on the, "History of the Central States Numismatic Society," prepared by W. Ray Lockwood (as published in The Centinel - Edited by Rollie Finner) was also a highlight of the show. As with the Red Book many went to contributors. The hardcover copy sold out well before the show opened.  For the first time CSNS invited Michael Bean, a retired BEP Plate Printer, to bring his Spider Press to the convention. Mike held drawings for a special 75^th Anniversary Convention special Spider "Intaglio" Press print of which 75 were produced. Best of all they were free, and the daily winners were thrilled to get them. They depicted a train on them. Mike also produced 250 special intaglio prints which he sold for $3. These special cards went through the press five times.  Mike was assisted at the table by William Story a printing specialist. Other reasonably priced intaglio prints were also sold at his table.     

 

CSNS once again had a well-attended Club Representatives breakfast on Friday, and on that evening everyone who contributed to the show was treated to a fantastic dinner at nearby Maggiano's Little Italy. A scout coin collecting merit badge clinic was also held. YN's enjoyed the Saturday Treasure Hunt and the ANA table was one of the stops. An excellent awards breakfast was held on Saturday morning. The exhibitors were presented their "gold" class awards; exhibitors and judges were honored; other awards and presentations were made; and a new Board was installed. An MS70 event to say the least.

 

Under the able leadership of General Chairman Kevin Foley with assistance by Patricia Finner, Bourse Patricia Foley, Exhibits Fran Lockwood, Chief Judge Jack D. Huggins, Jr., Education Ray Lockwood, YNs David Heinrich, Security Tom Casper, Secretary Jerry Lebo, Editor/Photographer Gerald Tebben, Message Center Mitch Ernst and other chairs; along with President James Moores, his Board and the many volunteers all did a masterful job in setting up, running and breaking down the show. Thanks again for the ANA table. We look forward to next year's 76th CSNS convention, which will be in this same location on April 22-25, 2015.  Yours in Numismatics, Walter Ostromecki, David Truesdell, Emily Silver, Nancy and John Wilson