Notes From Your Editor Ron Gammill

Let me first apologize for the late publication of this Issue of our Newletter. Just a lot that I wanted to include and visits by our kids and grandkids slowed things down. I also want to thank all the club members for submitting articles this quarter. This makes our KNC Newsletter reflect our interest in the hobby and numismatic education. And, even better news, I know other members that are also working on articles. And finally, a special invitation to our YNs! I know we have some budding young scholars out there as well. Let’s help and encourage them to read and write about their hobby.

This last quarter has been filled with activity and excitement! First, we had our Spring KNC show in April with fantastic attendance. The last count I am aware of, we had a total of 656 attendees. The bourse floor was packed with collectors until we closed the doors. I did not hear of a single dealer or collector that was disappointed and that makes us all feel great. Martha and I had a great time making new connections and helping a couple of new collectors figure out the best way to dispose of their collections. In each case, they had inherited collections from their parents or grandparents, so the method of disposal was very important to them. As a side note, when we help individuals tackle this problem, we do not buy any part of their collection
because to us that is a conflict of interest.

The KNC show was a lot of work, but a tremendous reward for the club and all that attended. Our club shows just keep getting better; so thanks to all the volunteers who work so hard to make things go so smoothly.

The last week of June, Martha and I attended the ANA’s Summer Seminars out in Colorado Springs. Matha took a course on Capped Bust Half Dollars (1807-1836) to better understand grading and attribution of these early specimens. The class was small, which is always an advantage. Her instructors were very knowledgeable and did a great job teaching and
interacting with the class.

I took a class on grading mint state and problem coins (“coin doctors”). It was quite an interesting and educational class. Grading and recognizing cleaned, altered and improperly conserved coins remains a troublesome and a moving target. There were 20 students in my class ranging in ages from 18 to 78 years. The young eyes were quick, accurate and some of these youngsters must have had photographic memories; they were very impressive! We had three very experienced and knowledgeable instructors. One gentleman, Bill Shamhart was one of my former instructors in a grading class years ago, and it was a pleasure to get to interact with him once again.

Martha and I also took a mini-seminar on searching archival databases. This too was full of valuable information. We’ll have more to say about this class.