This page is a summary of recent PNNA president’s messages, as published in The Nor’wester. For older messages/complete messages, please see back issues of The Nor’wester. There is normally a president’s message in each quarterly issue. Thank you!
President’s Messages 2022-2024 by PNNA President Ed Fischer
2nd Q 2024
by PNNA President Ed Fischer.
There are many reasons a person goes into the field of numismatics. You can start at any age in your life, young, old or in between. The purpose you have will be a journey you take and may perpetually change as numismatics develop in your life.
I started with Lincoln Cents from my great grandmother, moved to the shiny coins and more recently history has intrigued me. That path had many twists as differing historic events have crossed my path.
My taste in what I have collected have evolved and changed. Most recently Malaysian Pirates started me on Straits Settlements (a former British crown colony situated on the Malay Peninsula of Asia), and an ANA Summer Seminar course fired me up about Spanish eight reales coins. What you collect is your combined purpose, history and path.
I started on a journey eight years ago that would end with being the president of this great organization. Many weird opportunities crossed my path, like converting to two coin shows in the Seattle area, a pandemic which shut down shows as we know them and restarting with a great team of knowledgeable partners.
We have enjoyed the company of many new faces that assisted the growth of PNNA. The old regulars have been a sturdy foundation, growing as the newbies entered the fold. Through it all numismatics came out on top, flourished and welcomed many new collectors.
I offer my sincere thanks for all the hard work these people provided during all the changes. Being president is part leading and part getting out of the way of the accomplishers.
This newsletter mailing will also have the ballots for the upcoming election. See the candidate statements on pages 20-21, and VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! The new PNNA Board of Governors will be sworn in at the membership meeting on Saturday evening during the spring PNNA coin show. Come down and meet your new Board.
Shows are very labor intensive and require lots of support from the members. Assistance can be very simple like sitting in the hospitality room giving the host a break, greeting at the front desk or cranking out a few squished cents on the Penny Press. Volunteers make the event a success in all the areas. If you see Kevin Charboneau or I, stop us to see where you fit in.
One more time, it has been my pleasure to serve you and the PNNA.
Ed Fischer, PNNA President, edoregon@comcast.net
Other upcoming shows and events include:
March 14-16 – ANA National Money Show®
April 21-27 – 101st ANA National Coin Week
May 24-25 – Southern Idaho Coin Show, Boise, Id.
May 26 (one day) – Albany, Ore.
June 16-19 and 23-26 – ANA Summer Seminar, Colorado Springs, Col., in two sessions
August 17-18 – Florence, Ore.
See www.PNNA.org for current up-to-date show information. And there are other private shows listed also.
Guests are always welcome to drop in on any board meeting – they are always open! The Board and Officers serve at your pleasure – please contact any one of us with your suggestions.
1st Q 2024
New call for Volunteers. Happy New Year to all. At this reading you will find yourself jumping into 2024 with both feet. A year filled with the hope of discovery and numismatic fellowship.
2023 brought back a bit of normalcy to the coin world. Goodbye pandemic restrictions and hello to the big shows in the Northwest that are dear to our heart. Winter finds us in the middle of the show season and recent enthusiasm is gangbusters.
The Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association is an active part of our community driven by its membership and leadership. It is time again to reset the PNNA Board of Directors for another election cycle. Don’t forget to get your ballots in. (Ballots will be included with the 2nd Quarter edition of The Nor’wester. Nominations are being accepted now.) This entails the board, event coordinators and volunteers for everything we plan and do. Some of the areas currently in need are a third person to assist at
the Washington State Fair, general board members and also a chairperson for the Tukwila fall and spring shows. They come with plenty of guidance. Volunteers and fresh ideas are what make the world go round.
The next major shows are on the horizon will be Boeing Employees (January 20-21) and Tukwila (April 12-14). Other local shows include the Olympia Coin Club show (January 27), McMinnville Coin Club (February 17-18) and Springfield Coin Club (March 3) shows. Please attend or volunteer to help for their success.
Happy 2024 from your President in Idaho.
4th Q 2023
Here it is the day after my left hip replacement, and I go off on a tangent of upgrades. We all do it in the numismatic community. Searching for a better grade, nicer eye appeal or finally biting the bullet of that key date we haven’t purchased. What do you do with the items you removed?
I was one of the folks I called a “hoarder.” A person who placed the coin in a safe place, but never came back to look at it. It wasn’t until we downsized our home that I found six Rubbermaid containers took up way too much square footage. They were mostly Wheat Cents. This is when I decided to become a pocket dealer. This freed up cash to upgrade and gave access to the dealers on the show floor for filling my wish list. I became much more involved as a volunteer and board member because I decided to get more deeply involved in the numismatic community. The friends, knowledge, resources and exposure to rarities or provenance stories all proved to be valuable.
Summer months are winding down and the show season is gearing up. Here are a few of the shows and events that will have great dealers and numismatic resources:
Washington State Fair is a great way to give back to the coin community and meet fellow collectors. We have a booth in the Hobby Hall from September 1st to the 24th. The fairgrounds are located at 1109 9th Ave., Puyallup Wash. Contact Rick Schulz at Richard53@yahoo.com or call him at 253-535-0690 to fill a slot. (Too late for this year? — put it on your calendar early for 2024!)
If you want to travel to southern Oregon, the Cave Man Coin Club has its show on September 16th and 17th at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. It’s a good-sized regional show.
On October 6th to the 8th is our very own PNNA Fall Coin Show located in the Tukwila Community Center at 12424 42nd Ave S., Tukwila, Wash. It features many dealers from out of town with QUALITY material. The PNNA board meeting is on the show weekend, and everyone is welcome to sit in. We are always looking for fresh ideas.
The Polk County Coin Club is having a great one-day show October 15th at the Polk County Fairgrounds, Bldg. B, 520 S. Pacific Hwy., Rickreall, Ore.
The Willamette Coin Club is hosting their show November 4th and 5th at the Monarch Hotel at 12566 SE 93rd Ave., Clackamas, Ore. Last year was their first time at this location. I attended and the bourse floor was rocking.
My home club, the Salem Numismatic Society, is having its annual show on December 2nd and 3rd at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Columbia Hall is located at 2330 17th St NE, Salem, Ore. This a huge building with lots of coin and stamp dealers.
The next planned PNNA Board meeting will be at the Boeing Employees Coin Club show, January 20th and 21st held at Kent Commons, 525 4th Ave. N, Kent, Wash.
See https://www.pnna.org/wp/events/event-calendar/ for a complete list of all the shows and contact information. The list includes private shows, non-member clubs and some shows outside our region. Lots of opportunities to hoard and collect.
You can also find clubs on the PNNA and/or ANA websites. Find a club and get involved.
Whether it is a coin, a car or a hip. We can take pride in upgrading the parts of our lives. The improvement can entail the search and discovery of new collectables that come with stories that enrich our lives. I’m not sure how many groupings I have collected, finished, sold and moved on to another interest that was piqued along the way. History is fascinating and usually travels side by side with numismatics. Collecting and fellowship in the numismatic community is full of enrichment.
3rd Q 2023
Summer Fun! As we hit July 1st, I reflect on my new environment. The mornings start out with a bit more warmth, the yard needs more water, and the people of Boise are very welcoming to an out-of-stater. Neighbors have been helpful in finding great restaurants, contractor hints for the new home and meeting new numismatists … they are very open-armed.
The Southern Idaho Coin Club has been very welcoming—whether it was participation at the club meetings or accepting my volunteer labors at their annual show. They returned to having a show after a two-year hiatus and it was quite the success. Of course, I did my part in spreading the world about PNNA. I met and had some great conversations with collectors. They are planning to use Mother’s Day weekend as their regular show date.
The spring and fall coin shows organized by the PNNA are returning to pre-Covid levels and are evolving into something that may be even better than before. Thank you to the committee. It takes the whole team of organizers, volunteers and dealers to make it the happening event. As always, if you are looking for a table contact Scott Loos to reserve. If you are on the other side of the table, you are needed too. Memories of those exchanges will create stories for years to come. The next show in Tukwila is Oct. 6-8: https://www.pnna.org/wp/events/fall/.
Our next big event that requires volunteer participation is the Washington State Fair. Join your club to fill all the shifts for a day, pair up with a friend or contact Kevin Charboneau or Rick Schulz. Find the link to the Fair signup page under the website event page. It goes for almost the entire month of September and creates a great opportunity to grab a scone or corn dog.
We recently dipped back into using video conferencing for our summer Board meeting. It really is the easiest way to get business done when the Board is located all over the Northwest. We were able to include a few more folks who wouldn’t have been logistically able to attend a sit-down in the back of a restaurant. We are blessed to have a wide variety of skills on the Board that make things run smoothly.
My presidency is running down to an end. I will pass the gavel next spring. The election process has begun, and the Board is always looking for outsiders who may have differing points of view. It keeps us fresh, current and educates us to things we overlook. Consider contacting a Board member to ask questions about our quarterly meetings, or to request to attend one of these meetings.
Please visit pnna.org (Info and Events) for show and club meeting times in the greater Pacific Northwest.
2nd Q 2023
Changes!!
This last year has been full of life-altering events and a few serious stressors. I love some numismatics, but I have to say that it has taken a back burner. And I publicly apologize to all the amigos, clubs and contacts for the lack of attention paid to each. I am hoping soon to be through to the other side and back in the saddle of new adventures. Life altering events included retiring, selling our house, moving to the Boise area, spending the last year in MANDATE work mode and filing for Social Security/Medicare. Needless to say, I missed a few club meetings.
Not one of these was a simple process of making a decision and being done. Leaving my home base of the Willamette Valley clubs will leave a hole for me. I am hoping to find a great group of scholarly coin collectors and help local numismatics grow. PNNA will have its name dropped at every opportunity. Boise Coin Club, here I come. If you are in the Boise vicinity and looking to share your knowledge, reach out.
The few shows I have been able to attend have gone over like gangbusters. Saturday crowds have been up and the dealers I talked with were pleased with the busy numbers. People are out paying for quality U.S. type material and bullion has been moving despite the high premiums. Still a lot of uneasiness about inflation and where bullion will go. Silver dollars have gone crazy because of the history and silver weight of this big blob of metal.
An invitation is always open to any numismatist to come to our spring Tukwila membership (after show) or board (before show) meetings on April 15th. The Spring Show will open on the 14th and close April 16th. PNNA is now presenting both fall and spring shows. That’s two big shows being held in the Tukwila Community Center. Dates of the fall show are Oct. 6-8, 2023.
Other upcoming 2023 shows and events include:
March 2-4 – ANA National Money Show®
March 5 (one day) – Springfield, Ore.
May 28 (one day) – Albany, Ore.
April 16-22 – 100th ANA National Coin Week
June 22-25 – Early American Copper Convention, Portland, Ore.
June 17-29 – ANA Summer Seminar, Colorado Springs, Col., in two on-week sessions.
August 19-20 – Florence, Ore.
See this website for current up-to-date show information. And there are other private shows listed also.
There so many people who make numismatics happen in the Northwest. At any show and/or club meeting someone steps into the gap to smooth operations. They will go unnoticed because they don’t do it to search out recognition, or the group just got busy. In the long run you are noticed. In the membership meeting at the spring Tukwila show, I plan to hand out awards. There is no way to recognize everyone, but the folks who are recipients have been noticed.
One year left in my presidency and it has not been normal. We joked about how I was the president who shut down the coin shows; it was COVID actually. The entire team has merged together to get our regular events back on par and tweaked a few to evolve. We now have two shows in Tukwila, we are back to the full run of the Washington State Fair and scouts seem to be gathering their merit badges in mass. Just to mention a few. Meetings were held via messenger and business was running in the background. Events are happening successfully and mostly because of the volunteers in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you, all!
1st Q 2023
Winter of the Pacific Northwest — I heard at the recently concluded Salem Numismatic Society coin & stamp show that concern was had by those traveling great distances to attend. One dealer had 18 inches of snow to overcome to get to Salem. He was smart enough to travel one day earlier. Others dealt with frosty roadways Saturday morning. Sunday morning it started to snow and put quite a stir in the conversations. It stopped soon and we carried on with a great show. In the back of their minds, dealers started to pack up early to avoid the road hazards of Sunday evening. Overall, the show was well attended, and dealers seemed to be happy. Such is the drama of winter coin shows in the Pacific Northwest.
The local Portland and Wilsonville shows have great numbers of collectors attending. The new Portland location worked out spectacularly, with people two deep at some dealers. The Portland (Willamette) club put
on a great show and as a person on the collector side of the table, I saw no glitches to take away from the experience. Keep up the good work.
Call to business. The Board would like to discuss the many awards and rewards that PNNA has to offer. First, we do have Summer Seminar scholarships ready to be given out. Also, we are really trying to recognize those who have impacted numismatics. Know someone who has gone the extra mile—send me a note. It could be a volunteer, a person who has put on educational seminars at a club, or someone behind the scenes organizing club or show business. I NEED YOUR HELP!
Our next Board meeting is at the Boeing Employees’ Coin Club show, Jan. 21-22, 2023, in Kent, Wash. The evening of the 21st, right after the show closes, we will have our quarterly PNNA board meeting. This is a great opportunity for local numismatists to air their concerns and suggestions. We don’t know unless people talk to the Board about improving the hobby. Always looking for fresh insight.
On a personal note, I in recent years have been collecting 8 Reales of the 1st through 2nd Republic. I’m putting together a Mint and Assayer combination collection. I was really intrigued with the history of all the regions of Mexico and their mints. Some very interesting regional dynamics and international influence. Dies were often produced in Mexico City with their thumb of approval to mint in the various silver regions.
What I have found is that over the last two years there has been a huge uptick in demand for these pieces and the prices have accelerated too. This makes it more difficult to obtain the 1,100 or so PCGS examples for the Registry Set. The top collector is “only” at about 350 specimens. I just love the “Cap and Rays” design!
Onward I go and we will meet on the floor during our exploring. May your discoveries be many!
4th Q 2022
More dynamic changes seem to be the norm. Whether it is a flushing out of COVID, economic downturns or the changing taste of collectors. Some items have gone flat and demand on others his blown prices right off the Greysheet. A few of my recent experiences have changed how and what I am buying. (See The Nor’wester for all of Ed’s message about the bullion and coin markets.)
Not all dealers are having the same experience when it comes to buying, selling, and pricing. Searching the bourse floor or local shop can produce great discoveries that can make any collector satisfied. Step out to dealers you have not dealt with before. You will find that the community is small and if a dealer has a table at an established show, they are probably trustworthy. They all buy, sell, swap with each other and are usually willing to give references for just about everyone in the room. Speaking of upcoming shows, please check the PNNA website under the “Events” heading.
I know that what and how I collect has always evolved. That evolution has made big changes over the last two years. It could have been COVID, it could have been economics or maybe I’m just maturing in my numismatic tastes. I have seen my “comrades in coin” making changes also.
Shows have done well since reopening from the pandemic. My local clubs are at or above prepandemic attendance. The hobby is active at every level. Let’s make it more enjoyable by sharing our passion, asking questions, and enjoying the trip.
Coin-related events are in the future. PNNA is hosting a table in the Hobby Hall of the Washington State Fair in September. Come by to see our exhibit or even check with Rick Schultz to volunteer a shift. Help is always appreciated. Other shows include: (see full message in The Nor’wester for a list; all shows are now complete.)
See you all on the floor and savor the expedition.
3rd Q 2022
I now have further proof that numismatics is returning to the days of old. On a recent adventure to Phoenix, Arizona, I couldn’t help but check out the coin hobby. And I was greeted with smiling faces and a great selection.
I had to stop at one shop just down the road because I kept driving past it. It gave me the bug to visit other locations. I did pick up a few 8 Reales for my own collection, a few 3-cent silvers for a customer and a couple of slabs that were just priced right. Inventory was bulging and all the shops I visited had multiple customers.
I also wanted to see if my time lined up with any of the local club meetings. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Phoenix Coin Club held at the Elks Lodge in Scottsdale. The members were very friendly and walked me through the evening activities. One of the members had binders of coins out for sale. I bought quite a few sliver dollars and was able to work out a price that was good for both of us. The icing on the cake was the winning of a Silver American Eagle in their raffle. I had great conversations with club members on breaks and after the meeting. Great batch of numismatists!
This also translates into our hobby in the northwest. PNNA and local shows have been well attended with dealers reporting great sales and buying activity. It is always great to see all my friends on the bourse floor. We travel from such varying locations, that we may only cross paths at the shows. The shows keep rolling along and to keep up on your local or regional shows, visit pnna.org and check out the event calendar page (https://www.pnna.org/wp/events/event-calendar/). Following is just a smattering of local shows. For all the local, regional and some national shows, check the website.
Here I go into my second term as your president. I am hoping to have many more accomplishment since COVID risks are diminishing. We are always brainstorming in the background and bouncing ideas off each other. We are always looking for new insights and input for the Board. Especially since we are evolving from the most recent pandemic. This is your invitation to join our brain trust. Our next Board meeting is on July 30th in the Portland home of James Reinders. Hope to see you.
One of the evolutions is the movement of the annual Portland show to the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas, Ore., November 12-13, 2022. Lots of dynamics required the movement and I would challenge each of you to help in the transition for the Willamette Coin Club.
Randy Van Wie has taken the helm of the Oregon Coin, Currency, Token and Medal Show. Show dates include June 26 (completed) and August 28 (upcoming).
The Scottish Rite Temple in Salem is the new location for the Northwest Token and Medal Society show. This celebrates their 35th anniversary. It will be in a nice large venue on July 10.
The Washington State Fair in Puyallup is September 2-25, and we can always use volunteers to fill short shifts throughout the month. Contact Rick Schultz to help him out. Great Fair and great exposure for numismatics. (First see https://www.pnna.org/wp/events/fair/ for current information and volunteer schedule.)
PNNA’s Fall Coin Show in Tukwila will occur October 7-9. These shows have come back with a roar and don’t disappoint. At the spring show the dealers were fighting for table space.
October 16 will be the date of the Polk County Coin Show. This is a beautiful one day show at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreal, Oregon.
I would do a disservice if I did not mention ANA Summer Seminar. It will have already happened by this printing, but everything I have heard is that it is back the full two weeks with all the usual activities and fellowship. If you have not gone, making the journey will change you as a numismatist. The knowledge, mentorship and environment will open your eyes. And PNNA offers one adult and one YN scholarship annually to attend.
It is happening all around and all you have to do is reach out to find the way you want your numismatics to occur. As always, check pnna.org for our newsletter and current activities.
2nd Q 2022
by PNNA VP Rick Schulz, filling in for President Ed Fischer.
Spring has arrived and that means it is convention time. This year our spring convention and show has special meaning. It looks like we may be finally emerging from a very bleak two-year winter during which we’ve had to cancel our convention and show for reasons beyond our control. But this year, 2022, envigored by the renewal of life that spring represents, we will hopefully bounce back stronger than ever.
There are a few convention activities and features cancelled this year. Unfortunately, we will not have educational numismatic theater programs or collector exhibits this year. Boy and Girl Scout programs are also cancelled for this spring’s convention. We look forward to the return of these events at our fall and future spring shows. We will have our annual membership meeting at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, April 9. Join us for the “State of the Association” report, awards ceremony, and to ask your officers questions.
The PNNA board meets four times a year and you are always welcome to sit in. Our next meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 9.
Life in the numismatic community has been improving steadily over the past six month starting with our first fall show in Tukwila and continuing with the return of several local shows held over the following months. Many dealers and collectors have returned to the shows eager to buy and sell. While our spring show continues this trend, it offers an additional benefit for future local shows. By bringing local, regional and national dealers together under one roof, a lot of inventory will change hands, allowing collectors a better selection of items, both during our spring show and future local shows. I look forward to getting out onto the bourse floor this year, with my want list in hand, looking to fill a few holes in my collection and maybe find something new. If you see me out there, don’t hesitate to say hi. It is great to finally be able to talk to friends face-to-face again.
Coin shows are an important part of our collecting universe, though some might argue that with the advent of internet sales they are not as relevant. Coin shows give you the opportunity to hold a coin of interest in your hand and examine closely and compare with other coins. And, you can ask questions and get answers. But, most importantly, in this time of spring-like reawakening, you can meet with people, shake their hand and feel a sense of normalcy.
Coming up after our convention and show you can find a local show somewhere around the Pacific Northwest just about every weekend into June. Notable club shows include the Cowlitz show in Longview, Wash. (April 30), NW Token and Medal Society meeting in Olympia (May 1), Southern Idaho show in Boise (May 27-28) and Mid Valley Coin Club’s show in Albany, Ore. (May 28-29). For other Northwest shows and other major shows across the country check out our show calendar at pnna.org.
All the shows mentioned above don’t just happen. The smallest club shows and many of the huge national shows depend on volunteers to make them happen. For many organizations their shows are how they raise money to support their activities throughout the year. If you are a coin club member please volunteer some of your free time to support your club’s activities.
I hope you enjoy this year’s convention and show. Keep on collecting and having fun in our hobby.
1st Q 2022
Excitement is contagious!! The proof to that is in the faces of numismatists I saw at coin shows over the last three months. Those who came out were excited to renew old friendships, dust off their wish list and look at all the new collectables in the dealers’ cases.
I attended four of the larger local shows—located in Tukwila, Polk County, Portland and Salem. Each had its own personality and collectables. Every club should be commended for the hard work that goes into putting on a show. It isn’t something that falls together. Organizers have to pay attention to the details each time. Volunteers fill the gap where needed and the show goes on. Thank you to all.
A call to arms is needed to expand the numismatic base. PNNA is here for every club, show or for guidance. We cannot do this alone. Go out and reinvite those with an interest, bring in the YN and build your own excitement at the club level. Change it up a little bit. That is where the base starts, with the leadership at the ground level. Start a raffle, auction, educational segment, question and answer period or my favorite, “Big Edz Treasure Chest.” If you have questions, we at PNNA can help you find the answers.
It has been several years since the Northwest hosted an ANA national convention. PNNA has presented our proposal each year and we are overlooked by locations back east or in the middle. I will continue to hammer home our desire to bring the big guns to the Pacific Northwest. Whether it’s another in Portland or we try in the Seattle area. PNNA is your lobbyist! This spring the ANA National Money Show® is being held at the historic Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. Should be a special show.
Our future holds many great opportunities to see what is in the cases. The two majors in the NW are the Boeing show (Jan. 15-16 at Kent Commons) and the PNNA convention and spring show (Apr. 8-10 at Tukwila Community Center). Please go to the www.PNNA.org website to see all the activity in the GREAT Pacific Northwest. There are great local club shows coming up in Olympia, Idaho, BC, Springfield and Albany.
Bring a friend, meet a friend or share your passion. It will all help our community.