Many collectors eagerly await the moment in which they will finally be able to meet friends and colleagues at a coin fair again. And coin fair organisers feel the same. The ANA World’s Fair of Money kicked things off in August. It was the first large-scale event of the numismatic world since the start of the pandemic. However, some dealers seem to have contracted Covid. So, how safe are the first coin fairs that are to take place? We asked around among various large coin shows.
Sberatel
The first large coin fair in the autumn of 2021 will be Sberatel, taking place on 10 and 11 September 2021 in Prague. It was one of very few numismatic events that were also held during the pandemic in 2020. Visitors should be aware of travel restrictions to the Czech Republic: Germany and Spain, for example, are currently considered areas of high risk of infection, which may require you to self-isolate. You can find links to the latest information from Czech authorities (in English) on the Sberatel website. Masks are required and you can only visit the fair if you are vaccinated, recovered from Covid or have a negative test result. Disinfectants will be available allover the area.
Coinex London
The next event is Coinex, taking place on 24 and 25 September 2021 at the Biltmore Hotel in London. While the UK has lifted almost all restrictions related to Covid, Coinex is committed to utmost safety precautions.
Masks are mandatory at the event and disinfectants will be available. Before entering the Ballroom, your temperature will be taken and the hotel will disinfect door handles, railings, toilets and other surfaces every other hour.
Moreover, all visitors have to register their name and telephone number. Those who do not want to wait in line can simply use a QR code on site.
And if you have any suggestions: the organisers are open to further ideas!
Singapore
On the same weekend, the Singapore International Coin Fair would have taken place on the other side of the globe. However, the organisers decided to cancel the fair. The next one is scheduled for March 2022.
Zurich
At the end of October, on 30 and 31 October 2021, the Numismatic Society of Zurich will hold its 49th annual International Coin Fair at the Marriott Hotel. The organisers are closely monitoring the situation and are still waiting for more information before announcing a detailed hygiene concept. However, the organisers emphasise that they will of course implement the safety measures of the Federal Office of Public Health, the canton and the city of Zurich as well as the hotel. They will be able to react at short notice and adapt the measures if necessary.
Outlook
This means organisers still need to be flexible and they wait as long as possible before making a final decision in order to react quickly whenever new information is available. Whereas the organisers of September events had to make a decision, the motto for October is: be prepared to adapt at short notice. This was also confirmed by statements made by the large events of the first months of 2022: New York International Numismatic Convention, FUN, World Money Fair, Numismata. All of them are still working on their hygiene concepts or will wait and see how the situation changes over the next few months.
This means that organisers and participating dealers face challenges. For visitors, things are a bit easier since they usually do not have to plan their visit well in advance. In any case, you should check beforehand by asking the organisers or looking at the website to find out whether there are new specifications or information. We will keep you updated.
And here you can visit the websites of Sberatel, Coinex, the Singapore International Coin Fair and the International Coin Fair Zurich.
You can find more coin fairs in our events section.
