interesting what is the longest / oldest running coin show

ScarsdaleCoin

I was thinking about the fact that I used to go to WESPNEX when I was 7 years old.... 40 years ago.... time flies when your having fun....

so here is my question .... what is the longest running coin show in the US.... is it ANA? FUN? some smaller show?

Does anyone care to take a stab?

anyone know the answer..... I not really sure I know the answer

Torex would be Canada's longest running show which started in 1962

Baystate does claim to be the oldest commerical running show....but I believe WESPNEX is older... I would think that there must be an older than 40 year show out there?

thisnamztaken

For U.S. coin shows, I'll say the Bay State Coin Show in Boston, Ma. which started in 1964.

MrEureka

From wikipedia:

Heath then introduced the idea of a numismatic convention, where members could make personal contact with other numismatists. The first (ANA) meeting was held in 1891. From then, it was hosted annually until 1895, and then in 1901 and 1904. After the 1907 convention in Columbus, Ohio, it was decided to hold annual meetings thereafter

DoUPlayOnePocket

Andy, is a "meeting" the same as a coin show? Did the blurb mention anything about dealers/collectors displaying and/or selling their coins?

I only have knowledge about FUN. It was started in 1955.

Chris

firstmint

The first auction held at an ANA show was done by Ben Green in 1907. In 1910, there was a joint ANA / ANS show held in New York.

There were several years where there wasn't any official A.N.A. auction. However, in 1934, there were two separate sales by two individuals, one at the begining of the show, the other at the end.

The first time that dealers were allowed to set up and sell coins on the main floor at an A.N.A show was in 1925. Previously, they would have their coins set up in the display area, talk with prospective customers, and sell them in their hotel rooms that evening after the daily business meetings.

My opinion is that the A.N.A show would be considered the longest running.

As a side note - It was 19th century dealer E.L.Mason who first proposed the idea of a domestic national show in 1867.