A photograph taken at the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) Convention in Halifax this July illustrates a strong presence by the American Numismatic Association.
The photograph was taken by U.S. collector Robert Fritsch, a Fellow of the RCNA and a member of more than 50 other numismatic groups, at the RCNA banquet on July 23. It shows (from left to right) Tom Uram, the newly elected president of the American Numismatic Association (ANA); Steve Woodland, the former RCNA president, whose term ended during the convention, when he was replaced by new elected president Bill O’Brien; outgoing ANA president Ralph Ross, whose term ends on Aug. 11; and Clifford Mishler, an ANA past president, long-time ANA governor, and the former CEO of Krause Publications.
This year’s RCNA Convention, the organization’s 69th annual gathering, drew more than 100 registrants while offering a large bourse of 40-plus dealers from across Canada. From the July 18-22, the convention also offered an educational symposium, several club meetings and receptions, an auction, an awards banquet plus local tours.
“Going to an RCNA convention is very much the same as eating peanuts. Once you start, it’s impossible to stop, and you keep on coming back all the time,” said Bill Waychison, an RCNA past president and current member of the board. “It’s one place where I can meet almost all my numismatic friends every year. It’s one of the main reasons people collect. It’s not what you collect; it’s the people you meet on the voyage.”