The American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild have agreed to jointly sponsor the Official Pre-Show prior to the ANA World’s Fair of Money for three years beginning with the ANA Chicago convention in August 2011, ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd and PNG Executive Director Bob Brueggeman have announced.
The Official Pre-Show will be held, when possible, in the same hall as the World’s Fair of Money on Friday through Monday prior to the convention. The ANA convention will be Tuesday through Saturday, closing each day at 5:30 p.m. The Pre-Show will be limited to wholesale business.
"This agreement is a big step forward for anyone who wants to attend a pre-show at an ANA convention," said Shepherd. "Once established at the Official Pre-Show, dealers will not have to move or set up again for the World’s Fair of Money. They’ll be able to check into their hotels, walk over to the convention hall and set up one time for both shows.
Everything – including the grading services and the ANA sanctioned auctions – will be in the same location. The ANA also will provide security between the end of the Pre-Show and the start of the main convention, so dealers can secure their inventory at their tables."
"This will be a huge improvement for dealers because of the convenience and, importantly, the improved safety and security," said Brueggeman. "There are benefits for collectors, too. This arrangement for a consistent and successful ANA/PNG Pre-Show should encourage more dealers to remain through the entire convention because it could shorten by several days the amount of the time they’re on the road."
All ANA members in good standing will be offered tables at the Official Pre-Show; any dealer applying for a table must be registered for an equal or greater number of tables at the World’s Fair of Money. Costs will be held to a minimum to make it economical for all dealers, both PNG and non-PNG, to participate.
Shepherd said he sees the agreement as significantly enhancing the overall experience at the World’s Fair of Money while solving an ongoing problem created by unauthorized preshows diverting business away from the World’s Fair of Money and its official auction. He explained unauthorized pre-shows currently capitalize on the extraordinary investment the ANA makes in time, money and resources to organize a show, but without sharing in the expense.
"It’s clear there is a need for an Official Pre-Show," said Shepherd. "This solution is more convenient, more cost-effective and safer for both the ANA and the dealer community. More importantly, it reflects an ongoing effort by two of the nation’s premier numismatic organizations to work together for the betterment of the entire numismatic community. I applaud PNG’s support of this concept and look forward to working closely with them on this and other future projects."
The agreement between the ANA and PNG is subject to mutually agreed upon revision and will automatically renew for a new three-year period, assuming both parties approve. "The PNG and ANA have been negotiating for several months to join forces on this project, and this is major achievement for the hobby and marketplace. We look forward to the expansion of the ANA’s National Money Show and the future possibility of similar ANA/PNG Pre-Show arrangements with those annual conventions," said Paul Montgomery, PNG President.
About PNG
Founded in 1953, the PNG is a nonprofit organization composed of United States and world dealers who must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise. For additional information, call 760-728-1300 or visit www.PNGdealers.com.
About American Numismatic Association
The American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its 32,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.
