ANA Comes to L.A. In 2009

n its first return to Los Angeles since 1975, the American Numismatic Association is holding its annual summer World's Fair of Money Aug. 5-9.
    The summer convention is the largest annual coin assemblage, and this year it is also expected to be a record breaker. The five-day event is being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center at 1201 S. Figueroa Street, West Hall.
    Some 1,100 dealers are expected to fill the giant bourse area. Dozens of foreign mints will also be featured along with specimens of their current coins and other products. Admission is free to the public. Doors are open from 9 a.m. To 6 p.m.
    The first Los Angeles convention of the ANA was held in 1958 at the downtown Clark Hotel. It wasn't until 1975 that the ANA returned for its second Los Angeles convention at the newly opened Airport Marriott Hotel.
    Ed Borgolte was the general chairman. I was the president of the Numismatic Association of Southern California and the host chairman.
    This year will be the third ANA show in Los Angeles. Its theme is "Discover Your Golden Dreams at the World's Fair of Money."
    In addition to the large array of coin dealers with coins and currency for sale will be special exhibits and demonstrations. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing will display its Spider Press, which will be used to produce special souvenir cards (as the BEP does at each ANA show).
    The BEP also will feature the billion-dollar display of uncut $1,000 bills, $500,000,000 bonds, and other BEP products.
    The BEP will be selling uncut sheets of bills in various formats such as eight notes and larger sizes. Full sheets of the very valuable Zeppelin stamps series printed by the BEP 75 years ago will also be displayed (but not for sale).
    Several organizations will hold meetings and dinners during the convention. The Numismatic Literary Guild will hold its annual "Bash" on Thursday evening at 8:30, where they award publications and writers in various fields. The Tokens and Medals Society will hold its annual banquet, and meetings will be held for the Professional Numismatists Guild and several specialty clubs. The full schedule will be available at registration.
    ANA-sponsored seminars will include such topics as "Coin Grading," "Facing the Threat of Chinese Counterfeiting," and "Ancient Greek and Roman Coinage."
    The Numismatic Theater will feature a series of one-hour programs on a variety of subjects by various experts in the field. I will be conducting "High Profits from Lincoln Cent Varieties" on Saturday at 2 p.m. The visual program shows some lesser-known, yet valuable varieties than can be found in old collections, dealers' stock, or even at auctions. A full schedule of Numismatic Theater events is available at registration.
    For out-of-town visitors, there are scheduled tours of such highlights as the LaBrea Tar Pits and Page Museum, a Dodger game, the Getty Villas Museum, Wells Fargo Bank and Museum, and several others.
    The featured auction is being held by Bowers & Merena. Colorful auction catalogs will be available at the Bowers & Merena table. Auction lots may be inspected by registered bidders before the auction time. Bidder registration is free.
    Collectors with coins for sale can offer them to any of the dealers on the bourse floor. Professional grading services will be available to examine and give opinions of visitors' coins. Specialty dealers will be on hand to evaluate and buy tokens, medals, numismatic books and other numismatic items.
    The Smithsonian Institution will provide some super-rarities for its ANA display, including the only 1849 $20 gold piece and a 1933 $20 gold piece. A similar 1933 $20 gold piece sold a few years ago for $7.5 million. Many superb competitive exhibits will also be on display.
    This year's convention is hosted by the California State Numismatic Association (CSNA) and the Numismatic Association of Southern California (NASC). G. Lee Kuntz is the convention's general chairman.
    For more details, go online to worldsfairofmoney.com. See y'all there.