OCTOBER 22-23, 2011
WILLAMETTE COIN CLUB/
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION
7TH ANNUAL FALL CONVENTION
DoubleTree Lloyd Center Hotel
1000 NE Multnomah Street
Portland, OR 97232

Convention Dates/Times:

• It's Over! We'll see you again next year ... September 28-30, 2012 (Dealer setup on the 28th).

• Dealer/exhibitor set up and Early Bird entry:
  Friday, October 21, 3:00 - 6:00 PM.
  Saturday, October 22, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM.

• Public show hours:
  Saturday, October 22, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
  Sunday, October 23, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Other convention information:

• Approximately 90 local, regional and national coin dealer tables. See the dealer list.

• Located adjacent to Lloyd Center Mall and just a few blocks from the Oregon Convention Center.

• Admission was $2.00 per day. Children under 12 were free.

• "Early Bird" admission was available for a fee.

• Parking garage available at the DoubleTree. The show is in a room connected to the garage, immediately across the street from the main hotel entrance.

• There was an expanded collector exhibit area on one side of the room near the entrance. We're pleased to report that competitive exhibit awards were reinstated for the 2010 and 2011 shows. (See the exhibit report.)

• Walt Ostromecki will again conduct the popular Young Numismatist (YN) treasure hunt. (See details below.)

• Boy and Girl Scout programs – See scouting page | See scout program flyer.

• In addition to Boy and Girl Scout clinics, there was also a youth and family "KID'S ZONE" table inside the show which provided youth, families and non-collectors with all sorts of FREE hobby introduction information and educational materials. The Kid's Zone table also sponsored a FREE youth educational money treasure hunt activity.

• Hourly door prizes!

2011 Fall Convention Report

Report by ANA Governor Walt Ostromecki, Email: ostromecki@money.org.

The Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association (PNNA) and The Willamette Coin Club (WCC) jointly sponsored the annual MINI-CON coin show and convention at the DoubleTree Hotel, Portland, OR, October 21-23, 2011.

“An array of non-collector, youth and family focused outreach programs, exhibits and educational activities highlighted this year’s show,” remarked Lisa Loos, PNNA President. “We were indeed honored to have ANA Vice President Walt Ostromecki in attendance to once again lead various free public and youth activities which included the ever-popular Kid’s Zone Treasure Hunt and Coin Collecting 101 Basics. Walt also held a public forum on Saturday evening for ANAPNNA members, dealers and the public about ‘What’s Happening Inside Today’s ANA.’

In addition, Loos went on to say: “PNNA members James Reinders and YN Katie Reinders each conducted very successful coin-collecting badge workshops for Boy and Girl Scouts, with approximately 40 scouts in attendance on Saturday afternoon. They also spearheaded the youth’s outreach drive for numismatic exhibits which did net three entrants, including one first timer.”

The show was attended by well more than 600 despite the lingering economic downturn and lower prices in the stock and bullion markets. General Chairman and current WCC President Gene Wiley noted, “We expected a bullion show, but it broke out into a collector-based extravaganza with many dealers reporting lively sales all day Saturday.”

Dennis Reed, owner of Lacey Rare Coins, Lacey, WA, observed: “Friday was a slow start with lots of foot traffic, but little buying. Oh but, Saturday, all I can say is WOW! It was a collector-buying bonanza.”

Amiee from Bellevue Rare Coins, Bellevue, WA, remarked: “We didn’t know what to expect from the public when it came to purchasing certified coins (their massive show inventory included approximately 85% of slabbed and various graded collector coins), but we are sure glad we came to this show.”

The Penny Lady, Charmy Harker, Irvine, CA, said: “I did well and was very busy all three days with sales. But the most enjoyment and satisfaction I received came from my participation in Walt’s educational kids’ treasure-hunt program. I just love engaging and talking with youngsters and families in conversations about coins.”

PNNA Exhibit Coordinator and Chief Judge Eric Holcomb reported that there were nearly a dozen cases of outstanding exhibits, with two YN’s participating. Best of Show as well as a first place award was captured by YN Katie Reinders (PNNA ANA Summer Seminar Scholarship winner and 2011 Outstanding YN Summer Seminar attendee), with Happy Birthday Oregon. Second place honors were claimed by James Reinders, A Swedish 3 Daler Plate From the Nicobar Wreck. Third place went to a YN first time exhibitor, Marie Fernandez, Mint Marks of U.S. Coins. Judges were Eric Holcomb, Scott Loos and Danny Bisgaard. See the exhibit report.

During the PNNA business meeting, President Lisa Loos gave a big kudos to Rick Shultz and Kevin Charbonneau (Rick’s wing man), who both manned a PNNA and Numismatic Hobby exhibit and display booth in September during the run of the Puyallup Fair. Membership was reported as up a bit over last year. The January 2011 PNNA-ANA jointly hosted counterfeit detection education seminar was “a sold-out success with 30 participants.” PNNA will again sponsor a YN to the 2012 ANA Summer Seminar. A PNNA People’s Choice Exhibit Award will be established and instituted at the 2012 PNNA Spring Convention in Tukwila, WA. The Board also voted to establish a coin club newsletter award. A committee was setup to review and update the PNNA bylaws. Nominations for 2012-2014 election of officers are being solicited. The PNNA website (www.pnna.org) has a new look and members can opt for an online quarterly newsletter versus a printed one at a reduced cost, yet to be set.

A father and son collecting together at the PNNA/Willamette fall show.	Walt working with Girl Scouts at the Kid’s Zone table at the PNNA/Willamette fall show.
Busy action with kids at a dealer table!	PNNA board member Danny Bisgaard working with some kids.

Local Host Club: Willamette Coin Club website.