ANA Convention Report

More than 9000 collectors attended the ANA World’s Fair of Money held last August at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont. During the 120th Anniversary Convention, the Association enrolled 543 new members.

David Bower’s “History Diary” article in the “Numismatist” provided a nice study in contrast to the ANA Convention held in Chicago a century earlier in 1911. A room at the headquarters hotel, with a sink and hot and cold running water cost $2 a day, with a bathroom down the hall. No rooms were available with private baths and for another $2 you could have three nice meals. For 2011, you can move the decimal point over two notches, more or less.

A hundred years ago, only 50 registrants were on hand when the event began. Most either lived locally or came to the city by train. Likely, only a few had automobiles.

William Taft was in the White House. The national economy was recovering nicely from the Panic of 1907. ANA President, J.M. Henderson lamented that in recent times the Association had suffered a loss of members, dropping from 654 to 552. The good news was that ANA was solvent, with $175.76 in the bank.

The hot topic of the day was whether dealers should be allowed to serve on the ANA Board. Although dealers were allowed to serve, the matter did not rest. Generations later, a Board member stated that dealers were a “necessary evil,” not specifically on the Board, but buying and selling at shows. A spokesman for the Professional Numismatists Guild rejoined that if dealers were absent, the convention would be empty of visitors.

The coin collecting hobby has come a long way since 1911. Not only do our “fussy” members now demand private baths, but they also want TV and other media, such as an internet connection. There were no in-room telephones in 1911, but now most people prefer using their cell phones.

This year’s attendance was over 200 times the 1911 attendance and a few probably arrived by jumbo jet nonstop from Tokyo, London or some other location.

ANA Bylaw Changes

Effective August 19th ANA bylaws were revised with one change limiting ANA Life Membership to those who have been members for at least 3 consecutive years. This does not affect those who were life members prior to the revision.

After feedback and deliberation, the Board set the minimum voting age at 13.