CHICAGO COIN CLUB 1250TH MEETING

Wednesday March 8, 2023 the Chicago Coin Club celebrated the occasion of their 1250th meeting as a Numismatic club.

It was just a little over four years ago that the Chicago Coin Club celebrated their 100th anniversary, 1200th meeting, with a year of celebratory events in 2019. While the club motto Docendo Discimus translates to we learn by teaching referring to the club's educational mission, the club also enjoys the celebration of milestone events which many times includes a banquet and commemoratives. To celebrate the 1250th meeting the club held a reception and banquet on their regular club meeting night. Attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and beverages followed by a family style dinner and deserts.

Club member Bob Leonard was the featured speaker for the night's program. Bob's presentation was The Lasting Contributions of Honorees of the Chicago Coin Clubs Hall of Fame. In 2018 Bob suggested that the club institute a Hall of Fame to commemorate its centennial in 2019. This was approved together with a group of 12 honorees from charter members to recently deceased and Bob researched them and prepared citations for review. The final versions were released at a rate of one per month throughout 2019, and generated much favorable publicity for the club. Since then, five more numismatists have been inducted. Bob's presentation focused on their notable accomplishments and their service to the club over the decades with some personal anecdotes not in the citations.

 

Attendees each received a numbered Commemorative Souvenir Card and two elongated coins celebrating the 1250th meeting. The elongated coins with a 1250th design were rolled on a one-cent piece and an Illinois state quarter. The club also created a special pre-order only 1250th CCC counter stamped Silver American Eagle.

 

The Chicago Coin Club was born in 1919, although its ancestry traces back much further. Today's club came about from the revival of the original 1904 Chicago Numismatic Society (CNS) which had gone dormant in 1914. In 1917 several previous CNS members began to meet again and by November 1918 a policy for a club was outlined. Two months later members convened as a committee of the whole to discuss future policies. A committee of six was appointed to draw up a new constitution and by-laws for what would thereafter be called the Chicago Coin Club. On Friday, February 14, 1919 the first official meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was called to order. Since then, the club has met continuously despite a great depression, World War II, several recessions, blizzards and most recently a pandemic (thanks to modern technology and online meetings). An incredible feat for any group or organization.

The Chicago Coin Club Latin motto DOCENDO DISCIMUS WE LEARN BY TEACHING exemplifies its objective To pursue numismatic knowledge through the study and research of coins, currency, medals, tokens, and other related items and the sharing of this information through monthly meetings, dialogue, and the publication of literature. Visit the club at www.chicagocoinclub.org.

Individuals interested in joining the club must submit an application in person at a club meeting along with a membership fee. New member applications receive readings at two consecutive meetings during which the applicant must be present at the first reading. The club meets on the 2nd Wednesday each month at the Chicago Bar Association on 321 S. Plymouth Court Chicago at 6:45PM all attendees must show ID to enter the building.

 

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