Hobby
Friendly Legislation Supported by ANA and Whitman Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley today signed legislation that will exempt coin dealers from the requirement to obtain a Maryland trader's license for the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money® in Baltimore, July 30-Aug. 3.
Whitman Publishing, LLC, along with the
ANA and the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, worked together to successfully lobby to change Maryland's trader's license law. The resulting legislation removes burdens that numismatic dealers would have otherwise faced this year if they had participated in more than three coin shows in Maryland within a 365-day period. With four major coin shows planned in Baltimore this year (three by Whitman Baltimore Coin and Collectibles Conventions plus the
ANA World's Fair of Money), dealers would have had to apply for a state trader's license that would have created ongoing regulatory and taxation burdens. With the new legislation, that requirement now excludes the 2008 Baltimore World's Fair of Money as it is promoted by the
ANA, a non-profit national organization.
"This is a landmark effort on behalf of the hobby and will greatly benefit dealers and collectors at this year's World's Fair of Money as well as at Whitman shows," said ANA President Barry Stuppler. "I thank Whitman Publishing, ICTA and ANA Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Mark Olanoff and Diane Piret, who worked tirelessly to ensure that this legislation passed. I think this speaks volumes about what the numismatic community can accomplish when we work together."Without the legislation, dealers would have been faced with a dilemma: skip one or more of the Whitman Baltimore shows or not take a table at the World's Fair of Money. Had they set up shop at all four shows, they would have faced complex tax and regulatory burdens. Ultimately, fewer dealers would have elected to set up at all four shows, giving collectors fewer choices and, possibly, causing the
ANA to lose significant revenue from its largest annual show.
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Posted 04/24/2008 4:31 pm
