1899 Morgan Dollar Obverse, Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions      1899 Morgan Dollar Reverse, Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions


The History of Central States

Part 1 - 1939 continued



by W.Ray Lockwood


As published in the Spring 2003 (Vol 51, Number 1) Issue of the Centinel

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Black and White photo of the first Central States Numismatic Convention held at the Congress Hotel Chicago April 22, 1939

1939 - Chicago: Conference attendees filled the banquet room at the first official Central States gathering. Veterans of the numismatic world seated at the head table at the extreme left included (left to right ) : Dr. J. M. Henderson, chairman of the ANA board of governors; J. Henri Ripstra, ANA president; R. L. McBrien, Chicago Coin Club president; William G. Rayson, Chicago Coin Club director; Herbert W. Walker, ANA vice president; and Harry X Boosel, ANA board member. (Photo courtesy of Richard N. Wiltberger and CSNS Archives.)


The Central States attendance committee distributed registration cards to several midwest coin clubs. Early registration was urged so that attendees would have their names published in the Conference program. Projected attendance was 200 with fully half that number anticipated from Chicago. Lesser numbers were predicted for Milwaukee, Kansas City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Madison, the Quad Cities and Burlington, Iowa.

Other planned Conference activities were a Saturday evening banquet, door prizes, entertainment, a general meeting for clubs to share ideas, Sunday field trips to the planetarium, aquarium, Field Museum and the "world famous Maxwell Street Market."

Image stating, "The obverse die of this token was used in 1864 to strike tokens for Abraham Lincoln's second presidential campaign."


image of the obverse of a souvenir coin from the Central States Numismatic Conference, Chicago April 22-23, 1939

image of the reverse of the CSNS 1939 souvenir coin

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