Local News from The Nor'wester

4th Quarter 2006

Convention Scrip – We are pleased to announce that PNNA member Steve Cox has once again designed “convention scrip” in $1 and $5 denominations for use at the PNNA fall convention (mini-con) in Portland. Steve began designing scrip for the Seattle Numismatic Society annual banquet a few years ago, using high-quality graphics and special paper, and first accepted the PNNA’s invitation to design scrip for the 2005 fall convention. The designs shown above for the face of each note are prototypes; we’ll see the actual final design at the convention! Production quantities will be very limited, about 70 serially-numbered $1 notes and 30 $5 notes, like last year. If you wish to reserve notes in advance, please contact Eric Holcomb by e-mail at Eric@Holcomb.com, or by phone at 253-850-2996. Notes are sold at face value, and are redeemable at the convention, although we’ve never had any notes redeemed — they are always collected instead! Eric will also update the PNNA online memorabilia catalog ( http://www.pnna.org/catalog/index.html ) this fall to include the 2005 and 2006 souvenir scrip, as well as the wooden nickels and tokens from the annual spring convention. If you run across any PNNA memorabilia that’s not in the catalog, please let us know!

Puyallup Fair Thank-You! – It’s Over! – The PNNA sponsored the annual coin exhibit and information table in the Hobby Hall from September 8-24, with assistance from several local coin clubs. We had handouts including magazine copies, event calendars, a coin club list and coins for junior collectors! We had good weather for most of the Fair, good attendance, and a successful presence in the Hobby Hall! Thank you to all who participated, including the following Puget Sound clubs: Boeing Employees’ Coin Club, Olympia Coin Club, Tacoma-Lakewood Coin Club, Seattle Numismatic Society and the new South King County Coin Club. No volunteer is knowledgeable about all aspects of numismatics – if your question wasn’t answered or if you were unable to attend the Fair, please e-mail your question to info@pnna.org, and it will be directed to a local expert for a response.

Willing to Answer Half-Cent Questions – David Consolo, a PNNA member living in Ohio, would like to suggest that “anyone in our club who has a question on Half Cents … be willing to contact me. I am passionate about these ‘little sisters,’ and would love to be used as a source of information.” Contact: David Consolo, 37860 Aurora Road, Solon, OH 44139, dbconsolo@sbcglobal.net.

2nd Quarter 2006

PNNA Scholarship Program – Many thanks to all those who submitted applications for the PNNA Scholarship Program. Two full scholarships (one adult and one YN), each valued at $1,000, have been awarded to the 2006 ANA Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, CO.

The YN winner is Matthew Crane. Matthew likes history and will be taking the class Ancient History Through Coins. This will be Matthew’s second trip to the summer seminar. He is looking forward to learning more about ancient coins, meeting the instructors and researching at the ANA library.

The adult winner is Gawain O'Connor. Gawain is relatively new to the Pacific Northwest and is a member of the ANA, Seattle Numismatic Society, World Internet Numismatic Society and Denver Area World Numismatists. Gawain has been very active in the hobby as an exhibitor, author, museum volunteer, and club officer for two different Iowa coin clubs. He would like to take the Numismatic Literature and Research class to learn more about numismatic research, with the intention of writing articles, exhibiting and giving presentations!

PNNA Convention Token – The PNNA is pleased to once again offer custom designed and struck “tokens” for its 2006 annual convention. The design will be adapted from the 1732-’72 dos mundos type (aka “pillar type”) Spanish colonial one real type.

The following token sets are only available on a pre-order basis:

Both versions are housed in Airtite holders and collector boxes. Pewter strikes will be given to collectors attending the show (while supplies last). Shipping and insurance will be $3.00 for the three token sets and $4.00 for the four token sets – no charge if the sets will be picked up at the convention. Sets will be available for delivery shortly before the convention.

PNNA/Willamette Coin Club 2nd Annual Fall Convention – The PNNA/WCC are pleased to announce their second annual fall convention/coin show. The show will take place the weekend of October 14-15, 2006 at the DoubleTree Hotel at Lloyd Center in Portland, OR. The fall show has many of the same features as our spring convention – an outstanding bourse of local, regional, and national dealers; a numismatic theater; a YN program; and an exhibit area. Dealer applications will be going in the mail shortly and additional information will be published in The Nor’wester as it develops. Dealers interested in a table should contact Scott Loos, Bourse Chairman at PO Box 2210, North Bend, WA 98045. Phone: 425-831-8789, e-mail: scottloos@msn.com.

1st Quarter 2006

Brian Fanton Replaces Walter Ostromecki on ANA Board of Governors – Brian Fanton has been named to the ANA Board of Governors replacing Walter Ostromecki, Jr. who was removed from the board October 14, 2005.

The Board of Governors voted during its annual meeting in Colorado Springs to remove Ostromecki because of a breach of confidentiality, said President William H. Horton, Jr. Ostromecki was elected to his first two-year term in July.

“We’re pleased that Brian Fanton has agreed to serve on the Board of Governors,” Horton said. “We expect Brian will be a great asset to the ANA. “I’m disappointed the Board had to take action to remove Walter, but as a governing body we must have confidence that members are not improperly disclosing confidential information they receive as Board members.”

Holcomb Resigns – Citing concerns about the secrecy of recent ANA board proceedings and the removal of Walter Ostromecki (who is well-respected within the numismatic community including here in the Northwest) from the ANA Board, Eric Holcomb announced his resignation from the volunteer positions of ANA Regional Coordinator for Region 7 (WA/OR), and editor of The MintMark, the publication of the ANA Club Representative Program.

Background – Cliff Mishler, who co-chaired an ANA fund-raising effort for the ANA museum in Colorado Springs, was involved in a dispute with the ANA regarding Mishler’s efforts to name the museum after former ANA president and executive director Edward C. Rochette.

As reported in Numismatic News, Mishler wrote an e-mail to the ANA and its Board of Governors in September expressing concern about the naming rights, and Ostromecki responded that “I have voiced my concerns during a board conference call …” The fact that this conference call was confidential apparently led to the “breach of confidentiality” charge.

In resigning his volunteer positions, Holcomb stated his opinion that “The ANA’s business should follow the governmental model of free speech and open debate and dissent to the maximum extent possible, not the corporate model of secrecy. … ANA board members should not be removed for merely stating publicly that they expressed concerns or a dissenting viewpoint in a ‘closed’ meeting or conference call.”