So, that was it – the famous NYINC that I had heard so much about. This January, I went to New York City for the first time. Simultaneously, more than a hundred coin dealers and even more collectors from across the world travelled to the city. After all, the NYINC is one of the world’s most important fairs for numismatic dealers and perhaps the most high-profile one of its kind. The focus is on ancient coins and on what is referred to as World Coins in the US, i.e., everything that was created outside the United States. US coins issued after 1815 are even expressly unwelcome there – but there are plenty of other conventions for that.
This year was the second time for the New York International Numismatic Convention to be held at the luxurious InterContinental Barclay in midtown Manhattan. I am not familiar with the previous venues, the Waldorf Astoria and the Grand Hyatt, but the hotel built in 1926 was certainly glamorous enough for my taste. The convention took place in the two large ball rooms on the second floor and in a gallery in between.
Although most exhibitors were from the US, it was clear to see that the convention is very international. Many dealers came from Spain, Italy, France, Great Britain and Germany, and there were many representatives from Switzerland in particular.
In general, almost all major players of the coin market had a booth and were represented by numerous employees, in most cases including leading executives. Actually, this should not be a surprise – customers who travel to the NYINC usually have a budget that makes them “a matter for the boss”. There is a reason why high-profile sales of large auction houses take place throughout the week: Heritage, CNG, Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Spink USA held public auctions, and there was the New York Sale, a joint auction by Ira and Larry Goldberg, Dmitry Markov, M&M Numismatics and Sovereign Rarities. You can learn more about some of the impressive results in our auction section.
Already on Thursday, the set-up day, the venue filled up at noon. Apparently, many coin enthusiasts were prepared to spend as many as 125 dollars to be one of the “early birds” and take a look at what the dealers had to offer before normal visitors entered the convention grounds. In general, the event was very well attended. A long-time visitor, Ursula Kampmann said she had never seen so many people at the show before. The dealers we spoke to were also highly satisfied with the business in New York.
This is certainly a good sign for the new chairman Paul Russell. This NYINC was the first convention that was no longer chaired by Kevin Foley. After 23 years, he had passed on the baton last year. Most times, we only saw Paul in passing because, in his new capacity, he had to constantly rush back and forth to solve whatever problem came up.
After the Covid break, we too had a booth in New York again. As the space reserved for us turned out a little too narrow, Paul was quick to find one that was better suited to our needs. Set up near the popular water dispensers, we were in a perfect position to chat with people who, for a moment, were not only thinking about buying and selling. Moreover, they could pick up the latest CoinsWeekly Special Issue at our booth. The topic was: “The Twelve Caesars on Twelve Coins”. If you have not seen it yet, you can download it here.
Speaking of CoinsWeekly: it was a very special moment for me when our newsletter was sent out on Thursday, while the booths were still being prepared. We had the feeling that half the dealers suddenly looked at their phones! Shortly after, we were greeted by many people saying: “Hey, I just read your newsletter!” It is incredibly rewarding for an online editor to be able to see the readers for a change, to finally put faces to the anonymous mass.
But let’s get back to the convention. Of course it was about much more than dealing. There were lectures as well as board and association meetings. And there was a lot of chatting. In the foyer of the hotel and at the nice Danish bakery on the corner – the most important supply point of convention visitors for coffee, tea and all kinds of sticky treats –, coin enthusiasts were happy about the opportunity to talk with like-minded people. Especially in the evenings, when the crowd died down, the atmosphere at the convention venue became almost family-like. The numismatic world is comparatively small and people know each other well. Therefore, the NYINC was also a large, international reunion party, where people could meet colleagues from all over the world that they had not seen for a while due to the pandemic.
Although I have already been with CoinsWeekly for a while now, I have not had the chance to visit many coin shows for this very reason. Thus, at the NYINC I got to know many wonderful colleagues from all over the world that had names which I only knew from book titles, mail correspondence or our news reports.
There is one thing most people had in common that I met in New York. They radiate so much enthusiasm and passion for their profession and numismatics in general. One of them for example is Mike Gasvoda, owner and Managing Director of CNG, who told me about the magnificent Diocletian medallion auctioned off by CNG. (You can listen to part of our conversation here, and learn more about it in the auction review.) It is precisely this passion that makes our jobs so incredibly rewarding.
And then the convention was already over. I made use of my last hours in New York to go to the National September 11 Memorial. Those who, like me, have not been in the business for decades yet, will not remember it, but before the terrorist attacks occurred on 11 September 2001, the NYINC was held at the World Trade Center. After the tragedy, the convention was moved from the Holiday season to January, and first held at the Waldorf Astoria, then at the Grand Hyatt. Since 2021, it has taken place at the InterContinental and will stay there until at least 2027. The next date has already been set: the 52nd New York International Numismatic Convention will be held from 5 to 14 January 2024. And CoinsWeekly will definitely be there!
For more pictures and interviews from New York and Florida, visit our event website.
For more information please go to the NYINC website.
Shortly before the NYINC, the FUN was held in sunny Florida. Here you can find Ursula Kampmann’s report.
Like almost every coin show these days, the NYINC fell victim to a criminal incident. Here you can read about a theft that occurred at the event.