2017 CONVENTION AND EDUCATIONAL FORUM REPORT

The 2017 Convention and Education Forum maintained its reputation as a lively, informative gathering.  Ute Wartenberg Kagan, the Executive Director of the American Numismatic Society, said the USMexNA convention was her favorite show of the year, because of its lectures, while Peter Dunham singled out the sense of community. Throughout the two and a half days people could be seen clustering around tables in the restaurant or on the patio, renewing friendships, trading coins and currency or sharing information.  Cory Frampton, our Executive Director, was very pleased with the turnout, even though some members and dealers from California could not make it because of the wildfires, and even with these absences activity on the floor was better than previous years.

On Thursday after the set-up Augi Garcia-Barneche of Danial Frank Sedwick LLC, and early entry, Carlos Jara of World Numismatics, Paulina Jara, and the Welcome Chris Bierrenbach of Heritage Auctions Party was held on the pool area patio just outside the convention rooms.  Appetizers were sponsored by Cris Bierrenbach, whilst members viewed the Silent Auction and made their bids.  There were 26 different lots in the Silent Auction.  The highlights were an 1850 Durango Plate coin, donated by Mike Dunigan that fetched $1,000, an early engraved map of Mexico, donated by Dan Sedwick, that went for $250 and a framed chart of the Gulf of Mexico, from John Pullin, that raised $200.  NGC, PCGS and ANACs again offered grading certificates .

Books included the recently published A Variety Guide to the Fractional Pillar Coinage of Mexico City 1732-1771 from Brad Yonaka and The 1914 Revolutionary Coinage of Durango Mexico from David Hughes, as well as Mike Dunigan’s Resplandores and two books cataloging the Florida collection (Cory Frampton).  Coins included a 1739 8 reales and 1906 gold 5 pesos (Chris Bierrenbach), a 1899 20 centavos and a 1914 one peso (Stephen Album) and a 1986 peso pattern (Rick Ponterio).  Eight litres of Allan Schein’s mead went for $400 and in all the auction raised $4,160 for the organization.

As the sun went down Kent Ponterio and Cory Frampton hosted the awards ceremony, beginning with awards for the 2016 speakers.

Sanjay Gandhi, Kent Ponterio and Eric Hess of World Numismatics

This year the literary awards were:

Best Article – Spanish Colonial to Kyle Ponterio for “Philippines Overstrikes and Countermarks: Concerning Mexican Coins”

Best Article -War of Independence & Imperial to Ricardo de Leon Tallavas for “The Unknown Independence Coin Stamping of Monterrey in 1814”

Best Article – Revolution to David Hughes for “Estado de Durango 1 and 5 centavos”

Best Article – 20th Century Modern to Scott Doll for “A Study of the Mexico Colorized and Gilded One Ounce Silver Libertads”

Best Article – Paper Money General to Pablo Luna Herrera for “El Banco de Coahuila”

Best Article – Revolutionary Paper Money to Cedrian López-Bosch for “The vales of the Comisión Monetaria: a brief paper money issue after the chaos of the revolution” whilst the Best Overall Article went to Kyle Ponterio.