Gsna Convention: "A Room Full Of Great Grandpas"

... now that title MIGHT sound derogatory if you don't understand the context behind it, so bear with me. :-)

I went to the Garden State Numismatic Association convention this afternoon with my wife and kids (I have two daughters, 2 and a half and 5 and a half). It was an absolutely wonderful convention.

Not too big, not too small, plenty of surprises and neat things to see.

The most amazing part, however, was that everywhere we turned, the dealers were -- literally out of nowhere, they sought *us* out -- giving our kids gifts, all the while repeating the mantra "we've got to hook them young." :-)

Two proof sets, a hand full of bus tokens, a 1945 farthing, a British West African mil, casino chips, 1943 steelies, it was simply amazing how kind and generous they were.

Needless to say, hook them they did. Where my eldest is already a budding numismatist with a knack for roll hunting, my youngest was in paradise and wanted to show off to me and her mother everything she was given.

I walked about, but not having both my hands free with the kids, I wasn't able to take as good a look at things as I wanted to. I was, however, able to pick up a really nice silver contemporary counterfeit Seated Liberty half dollar for $15, which I'll post pictures of later, and I caught wind that some of the dealers had Henning nickels and Micro O Morgans somewhere on the floor.

The good news is, that I'll be back there tomorrow at 10 AM for the Young Numismatists program with my eldest, and then I hope to sniff the Hennings and Micro Os out, so if you see someone dressed in a corduroy vest wearing a brown cap with a 5 year old in tow, chances are it's me. :-)


Anyways, now back to the title of the post and why it isn't as derogatory as you may think it is:

My late grandfather was the last great numismatist in our family. He had a collection unparalleled amongst our relations, and ever since I was young he shared his hobby with me.

Well, as you can guess from "late," we lost him a few years ago when both of my daughters were very very young. However, to my surprise, my eldest still knew him quite well for his passion for coins.

So, when we were on the showroom floor, it lead to a bit of embarrassment as she remarked to one of the dealers, "Yeah my great grandpa really liked coins... But he's dead..." My wife and I -- at the quirked brow of the dealer -- quietly shushed her, telling her that of course you don't say such things in public...

...but then she turned to me and quietly exclaimed, "But daddy, this is like a room full of great grandpas!"