After a two-year hiatus, collectors’ exhibits will be encouraged at the next Central States Numismatic Society (www.CSNS.org) convention in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois, April 23-26, 2025. To participate, the 2025 convention displays must be related to the state of Nebraska.
CSNS launched a multi-year program in 2024 to honor all 13 states that comprise the Central States area with one state featured each year starting with Iowa in 2024. The 2025 State Showcase program will focus on Nebraska.
"We want to give exhibitors a new goal. This exciting and fresh angle we hope will inject new life into the exhibit area of the bourse floor," said CSNS President Mitch Ernst.
"We deeply appreciate what veteran exhibitors have done over the years, but we want to give newcomers, especially those from Nebraska, a unique opportunity to share their knowledge and insights about the state," Ernst explained.
At the recent CSNS Board meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, the Board unanimously voted to adopt a "Back to the Future" State Showcase exhibit program concept presented by the organization’s Secretary/Treasurer Jack D. Huggins Jr. who also will serve as 2025 Exhibits Chairman.
"For the 2025 convention, only exhibits about Nebraska will be displayed or accepted. Coins, paper currency, medals, tokens, wooden nickels, or even a historical display about a famous Nebraska numismatist can be exhibited. The simplified rules make it easier to exhibit," explained Huggins.
"We want to give our members and friends from across the nation the opportunity to share their Nebraska state-specific numismatic related items. You do not have to be a resident of Nebraska to exhibit state showcase items in 2025," Ernst said. "Our new exhibit program will elevate them to a higher level so the entire numismatic community can see and enjoy them."
Exhibitors will be allowed up to five cases and entries will be judged during the convention according to a specially designed set of rules that are available online at www.CSNS.org/exhibit-rules. The exhibitor application is available at www.CSNS.org/exhibit-application.
The exhibits entry deadline for the 2025 convention is March 31, 2025.
Future Central States State Showcase honorees will be Missouri in 2026, Michigan in 2027, Wisconsin in 2028, Illinois in 2029, and Ohio in 2030.
"So, if you have material to exhibit from those states start working on them now!," suggested Ernst.
The 2025 CSNS convention (www.CSNS.org/convention) will be held at the same site as in recent years, the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, in Schaumburg, Illinois.
For additional information about the State Showcase exhibits program, contact Jack D. Huggins Jr. by email at treasurer@CSNS.org, or by writing to him at P.O. Box 24267, Belleville, IL 62226-9267.
That “one state honoree per year” plan means this CSNS program will run through 2036. I’m thinking this is likely meant for the younger coin collectors among us.