I recently flew out to the ANA Mid-Winter National Money Show Convention, held this year in Portland, Oregon, on March 5, 6, and 7. I stayed with my daughter, Jenna, and her fiancé, Jason, in Vancouver, Washington, right across the Columbia River from Portland. I am an accredited ANA Exhibits Judge, and among other fun things, that’s what I did while in Portland.
On Thursday morning, March 5 I attended a judge’s meeting at 10AM and then met with my team for our judging assignment. This year I drew the “Geography” slot and judged the displays in that category on numismatic content, artistic merit, and eight other categories that run from the obvious to the esoteric. After our judging duties, we met the next day to discuss our comments and to determine which of our many exhibitors deserved the top slots in our category.
Once this important ANA duty was over on Thursday, I had nothing but time on my hands. I immediately looked up some of my friends in the hobby and numismatic business. Wayne Berkley and Chris Napolitano were busy holding down the fort at the Stack’s Bowers table when I stopped by. Next I stopped at the table of Eric “Pumpkin” Steinberg of Broward County Coins in Florida, who was sharing bourse space with another old friend, John “JD” Dannreuther of JDRC in Memphis, Tennessee. JD’s daughter Paige was in attendance at the table, and I saw her sister Drew Ankerman later in the show as well. I also made it a point to see Danny Duncan of Pinnacle Rarities of Olympia, Washington, a good friend in the business that I don’t see often enough.
My daughter works for Douglas Winter Numismatics of Portland, Oregon, and I met up with Doug and his wife, Irma Kane, along with one of the most adorable puppies I’ve ever seen. They shared their bourse space with Michael and Jessica Berkman of Texas, two young friends of my daughter and me. Thursday night Paige Dannreuther threw a pizza party at her home in Portland, a beautiful houseboat anchored on the Columbia River, and all of the friends mentioned above — and then some — were in attendance, and a great time was had by all. For me it was a memorable trip, including three days with my daughter and our best pals in numismatics, dinner with the gang every night while in town, and for my ANA judging duties, I received a beautiful Proof copper judges’ appreciation medal. Judging exhibits is a lot of fun and not as easy as it sounds, and all of the judges earned their medals this year!
