Numismatic Exhibiting For Added Hobby Enjoyment.

Many coin shows (remember them?) no longer provide space for educational exhibits. This is sad, because exhibits allow the collector to show off their collections, provide an educational contrast to the commercial activity, and give laymen in attendance something to look at while their spouse drools over dealers' tables. Add to this...it's fun making up your exhibit...and good hobby time that does not involve spending money for the next coin.

Larger shows offer judges and prizes. Lately, some shows have underwritten better prizes to encourage exhibits. The American Numismatic Association rules for exhibitors are the standard for most shows. Things will eventually return to normal, and coin shows will re-appear.

After a point, merely buying items for your collection becomes somewhat soul-less. Research and preparing an exhibit allows the collector to become more familiar with their own material, and permits an appreciation of the history behind your coin or paper money (and allow you to show off your stuff). An exhibit adds to the incentive to attend a show beyond mere shopping.

Some considerations: Exhibiting requires your presence at the beginning and at the end of the show. If you have to travel a long distance, you will have several days of hotel costs.

There is a lot of information available about security when flying and carrying around valuable material. Assess your comfort level with managing your items before they are locked up in the cases, and afterward, on the way home.

Many shows provide standard Allstate coin cases (22"x34"). Some have limited numbers to loan and need an early reservation. If you have your own cases, some shows will drill your cases for a tamper-proof seal before they allow you to leave it. Custom or odd-size cases are permitted with special permission. ANA rules prohibit non-standard cases from participating in competition for prizes. Some shows lend lamps that clamp to the table, and most allow you to bring your own. Variable room lighting makes the exhibit show up better with lamplight.

Exhibits can be the most common material, even one item, and they are competitive if they present the item well and tell a complete story. Rare, expensive items are nice to see, but they are judged harshly if they are not accompanied by educational information.

General remarks: I collect "go-with" material for exhibits. Use anything colorful or illustrative that might break up the monotony of a case with just money and labels. I have had postcards, China plates, photos, etc. in cases, all related to the theme. Become familiar with your photo software, scanner and close-up camera. Blow-ups of a feature of a coin to illustrate your point are helpful. The viewer may not be able to see the tiny feature on the coin, but the enlargement shows it clearly. A picture and short bio of the person involved with your material adds interest.

Tell a story. Say everything about your items that you can think of. Show them a picture and reiterate how it relates to your story.

I write captions for everything in the case. I put the caption near or slightly overlapping the corresponding item so there is no confusion about which caption goes with which item. I use a clear, plain font, bold with justified margins. I print on a color paper that harmonizes with the background cloth in the case. Spray adhesive bonds the paper label to posterboard or mat board, again in a good color. (spray adhesive will blur inkjet, but not laser toner) I trim the captions to leave a border of the mat showing around the paper. You want it to be readable, and attractive enough to make the passer-by want to read it. The general appearance has almost equal weight as the educational aspect for the judging.

Mentioning background cloth: cloth heavy enough to lay flat in the case without an intrusive pattern is necessary. Smooth plastics are not so good, because material can slide around, making setting up and straightening the exhibit difficult.

Set up your exhibit at home and take pictures of each case's arrangement. I also make a crude drawing to place the material and labels. This makes the show setup much easier. Shows allow early entrance to exhibitors. Allow yourself plenty of time to get everything squared away and locked up before the crowds descend.

You are not allowed to be present when the judges are working. Otherwise, and if there is no judging, you can stand by and give anyone interested a "guided tour" of your display, if you are so inclined. It can be a teaching moment, especially for children. Getting kids interested in the hobby helps insure that someone will want your stuff when you are through with it.

Use one label to list the reference books and websites that you used for your information. Do no make any reference to the money value of your material. Do give the judges an indication of the purpose, rarity and completeness of your exhibit.

Obviously, design your exhibit to fit in the Allstate cases, however many you need. Shows put a limit on how many cases for one exhibit, maybe 3 for coins, 5 for paper money, for example.

I have used cheap materials as stands and risers to bring material closer to the glass. I found things in the hardware store and scraps of plexiglass to prop and tilt items. Clear plastic cylinders sold as safety covers for glass fluorescent tubes can be cut up for many purposes. Wadded paper has gone behind enlarged pictures to add a tilt for visibility and variety.

Decide on your story and tell it, show it, and make it pretty. It gets easier with practice. Even if a show has no formal exhibit space, many will allow you to set up an exhibit. They mostly don't sell 100% of their dealer tables and have extra spaces.

Not only do you learn about your own collection, but show attendees might also learn something. It doesn't hurt for others to know what you collect. My exhibiting has resulted in my getting a few new items for my collection, just because someone became aware of my interests. I have won a few small gold coins and some nice plaques. The gold coins are not offered as prizes any more, but it is exciting to be recognized with a prize for your effort.

If you are at the point where the time between new "finds" is getting longer, and the next item comes at an outrageous price, maybe researching and exhibiting what you already have can renew your enthusiasm for numismatics.