CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: JUNE 14, 2020

David Lange (June 10, 2020)
In his Summer 2020 Coin Board News author David Lange writes:

"DISPATCH FROM THE BUNKER In the Spring issue I speculated that we soon might be under quarantine, and to varying degrees this has come to pass. Most coin shows have been cancelled through July, with the August ANA Convention uncertain as of this writing. It's one of the most highly anticipated events on my calendar, along with the ANA's Summer Seminar, already lost to the pandemic.

While the virus situation is ongoing my work has alternated between home and office, but any additional travel is limited to once-weekly jaunts to the supermarket, during the very early "seniors only" hour, and to the post office to pick up mail, mostly when only the box lobby is open.

Despite these fears and restrictions our hobbies somehow go on, and I've acquired a few nice boards in recent months, including some upgrades to my own collection. I'm foregoing the usual list of boards for sale this time, and the newsletter will be a short one. My best wishes to all for good health and safety."

The program was announced too late for our last issue, but the International Paper Money Show staged a virtual convention this week with nine speaker presentations held via Zoom meetings. Some of the talks may be made available online and we'll publish details once announced. As announced in another article elsewhere in this issue, the Newman Numismatic Portal will sponsor an online seminar in August.

I think we're about to experience a tsunami of virtual numismatic speaking. Organizations, speakers and collectors alike have learned how easy it is to hold these conferences, and I understand many more are being planned in the US and around the world. So many in fact, that it may become impossible to attend all that one might like to because of scheduling conflicts or the sheer lack of time.

Coin publications were once the clearinghouse for announcing show dates and they still are, but show calendars have moved online. As more and more virtual conventions and educational talks move online, there will be a need for new or expanded calendars to keep track of these virtual events. We'll certainly help publicize any that we become aware of, but the plethora of upcoming events could become a problem. -Editor

"In the event that the ANA World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is canceled, Stack's Bowers Galleries plans to move our auction to Las Vegas, Nevada to be held alongside the previously announced "substitute" PCGS Members Only Show.

"Our tentative plans for the auction and lot viewing are as follows:

"Stack's Bowers Galleries
California Headquarters Lot Viewing
July 20 through July 24

"Dallas, Texas Lot Viewing
July 31 through August 2

"Las Vegas, Nevada
Auction and Lot Viewing
August 5 through August 7

"Please save these dates and mark your calendars accordingly. More details will follow if the World's Fair of Money is formally canceled. Please note that we do not have any information outside the public domain regarding the status of the show.

"Stack's Bowers Galleries is still accepting consignments for our Official Auction of the ANA World's Fair of Money and generous cash advances are available. For more information please inquire by phone (800-458-4646) or by email at consign@stacksbowers.com."