This article was originally published in the "Journal of the Barber Coin Collectors' Society -- Volume 22, Number 3"
Please use the above credit in any re-posting.
http://www.barbercoins.org/Originally, I wrote this at the request of Eileen Ribar, our editor, to encourage our own members to consider volunteering at regional shows in their areas.
But, having read some of the messages here I believe that a number of other folks are experiencing a re-awakening of their own "inner children."
Kids just wanna have fun!
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My Inner Child Had a Blast in Manchester
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Thursday, July 28 - Day One - The Adventure Begins
Whoever said that getting there was half the fun should be shot! My trip began with about an hour and a half standing on the side of I91 with a blown tire and another
two and a half hours sitting in a Firestone Tire shop in Cromwell. A three hour trip turned into more than seven hours and my mood was less than stellar. My car was full of books, coins and clean underwear. And my head was full of worry. Oh well. Go with the flow. Go with the flow.
I pulled up to the entrance of the Radisson Hotel at about 7:50 p.m., greeted with the sounds of a country music band playing to a crowd of locals. I just wanted to empty my car and crash in my room. I would make my apologies on Friday. Wow, I was in Manchester, New Hampshire!
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Friday, July 29 - Day Two - The New Hampshire Coin and Currency Expo Begins
My room was nice. But I needed to be on the bourse floor. After I checked out all of the available sources for coffee, I got my badge and walked over to the joint exhibition table. I threw my arms up into the air as I introduced myself to John Frost, my mentor, with the following: "I am so sorry! I can explain. I had a flat tire and I did not arrive until 8PM last night." He understood.
As this was my first experience at a major regional coin show I was petrified. What was expected of me? Although John had written to me that it would be informal I could not let myself relax. I was, after all, representing the BCCS and I did not want to be anything less than a proper gentleman. And although John insisted that I have fun this was not, as yet, within my vision. I came to work. I came to teach. And then the public was admitted.
Little by little I began to relax. I met and chatted with Joe Casazza from Nashua NH. He was like me: an ordinary BCCS member who came to assist and to have fun. I wished that I had his calmness. And I met Gerry Fortin, from Maine, who represented the Liberty Seated Coin Collectors group. Talk about being between two great exhibitions! The finest and the finest. Such an opportunity.
I took my cues from John and Gerry. I welcomed people, inviting them to to feel free to sit down and take a look, ask questions. There were four display cases. I had access to two of them. But you know what? I was less interested in studying these "have not seen daylight in a decade" coins and much more interested in serving the public. Yeah, I am a frustrated teacher at heart.
And then the time for the long planned "Joint Meeting" of the BCCS and the LSCC arrived. We left the exhibit table in the capable hands of a security guard. We gathered in an adjacent meeting room. Both John and Gerry gave their presentations. Now, I had no idea what would be considered a "success" but both of these gents were very pleased with the turnout. The group photo is now available on both the BCCS and the LSCC sites.
The rest of Friday is a blur. John, Joe and Gerry left at five o'clock and I was free to roam the bourse floor until 7:00 PM. Just looking, not buying, making small talk.
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Saturday, July 30 - Day Three - The NH Coin and Currency Expo Continues
While Friday was a trial by fire Saturday was a fun fest.
Not much sleep but the adrenalin kicked in. That, and several cups of coffee got me going. My thoughts about this show kept coming back to young folks. Teaching adults was one thing but teaching kids was in my brain since the beginning. After several hours, my cohorts abandoned me one by one. Gerry went off to teach a seminar and John and Joe went off to "do the bourse floor." These gents were evidently dealing with their own inner children and the kids were winning!
Earlier, I had gone to my room to gather the last of my bags and camera. When I got back to the floor I saw a group of kids and parents. I whipped out the camera. Turned out, this was the young folks session sponsored by the New England Numismatic Association. My spirits were boosted even higher. Conducted by Jack Haroian and Jack Kiley, the John Kittredge YN Program is sponsored by NENA and the Kittredge Foundation. This program is wonderful! The session drew a healthy crowd of families. The kids were captivated by the talks and delighted with the handouts. Ah, the family that shares a love of coins shares a lot of fun. I would had taken a seat in back but duty called me to our own table.
After this group broke up several youngsters stopped by our table for a look see. And poor me! I was alone. One lad asked what we had for sale. I explained to him that were were an educational exhibit and that we had nothing for sale. Then I remembered something. During the last minute packing I had thrown into my bag a 1964
Lincoln Cent which was stamped with the bust of John F. Kennedy. I showed it to him with the explanation that people were deeply affected after his assassination. All sorts of tributes and souvenirs appeared on the market. I told the lad, "I cannot sell you this. But if your father gives his permission I CAN give it to you."
Well, his dad understood where I was coming from. He told me his son was interested in history and that he would learn a lot from this penny. My cost: one cent. The joy of teaching a young collector: priceless. OK. So this is not related to
Charles Barber. But my inner child could not be stopped.
And THEN my casual use of the word "penny" came back to haunt me. Another lad stopped by the table with his grandmother. He renewed my faith that young people are interested in coins and most very interested in learning about coins. He told me, with just a bit of superiority, that the USA never had a penny denomination. "The correct term is 'cent'." Well, how could I not like this kid?
I saw an opportunity and I went for it. I opened the case and handed him my single contribution to the exhibit: an 1895-O dime. He examined it like an old pro. I answered his question about condition rarity and how to use the 12 hour analog clock to identify a given location on a coin. When he asked for an explanation about rarity factors I grabbed a copy of a handout which John had prepared. Then I circled the 1895-O date and its R5 rating and wrote: "I saw this at the NH Coin and Stamp Expo - 2011 - Good collecting - Matthew Student." Oh! My inner child was pleased! Grandma nodded with approval.
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Sunday, July 31 - Day Four - The NH Coin and Currency Expo Draws to a Close
Sunday afternoon I saw a woman speaking to Ernie Botte, the organizer of the Expo. She had a problem common to many people: her father had died and she had an accumulation of his coins to deal with. I listened with interest and offered to take her around the floor.
Ernie had told her to buy a copy of the
Red Book, so I whisked her to the book seller. I explained I am not a dealer, I am a collector, but she could ask me anything and I would do my best to answer her. And we TALKED! When she told me that she remembered, as a child, her father showing her the coins that he had received from HIS father, I understood what I needed to tell her. So I said, "You are so fortunate to have this memory. Many people inherit coins without the slightest idea what they meant to a family member. Unless the family member has shared the love of coins, the joy is lost. This memory will allow you to remember your father's joy and allow you to have fun as you research your holdings." Or words to that effect. She felt better. A lot better.
As we walked back to Ernie I introduced her to a dealer I had spoken with earlier. We talked about her situation and he also gave her good advice. The woman now had two good contacts and left with a feeling of confidence.
The dealer asked me if I had sold my collection of
Buffalo nickels?" I replied that I had had only a partial success with selling it. He and the dealer next to him decided to pool their remaining cash and buy my collection jointly. Boy was I happy! Had I not stopped to help the woman I would have carried the collection home. She did tell me that she would say a prayer for me. God must have been having a slow day because the prayer was answered pretty darn quickly!
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Monday, August 1 - Day Five - The Journey Home
Unlike Dorothy, I could not just click the heals of my ruby slippers three times. I would have to drive. I I filled up with gas and hit the road. I had only two thoughts: go south and go west.
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Two new tires and a front wheel alignment: $264.09.
Hotel, parking and phone calls: $511.99
Awakening one's inner child: Priceless!
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Matthew, Joe and John -- July 2011
Posted 01/23/2012 6:47 pm
