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 21 - 1989-1991

by W.Ray Lockwood

As published in the Spring (Vol 56, Number 1) Issue of the Centinel

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The second CSNS fall show was held November 18-20, 1988, in Dayton, Ohio, with approximately 150 dealers participating in the three-day event. A nice reception for the dealers was sponsored by Numismatic News Weekly, while exhibitors were recognized at a CSNS Board breakfast. The mayor of Dayton proclaimed the convention dates as "Central States Numismatic Society Hobby Days." The CSNS Board voted to hold another fall convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and awarded the 1994 spring convention to Indianapolis.

The "Golden 50th Anniversary Convention" took place in Overland Park, Kansas, April 20-23, 1989. A medal design contest was held to commemorate the 50th year of Central States. Seventy-five designs from thirty individuals were submitted, and the winning obverse design was the work of Scott R. Blazek of Crowley, Louisiana. Hermke Timm from Park Ridge, Illinois, designed the reverse. The two designers divided the $1,000 award. Medals produced at SilverTowne Mint in Winchester, Indiana, were: one-ounce silver prooflikes, priced at $14.95; 13,000 pieces; numbered silver proofs, 1,300 pieces @ $24.95; and a two-piece, gold and silver, cased set, with a mintage of 130 sets priced at $525. Additionally, V. H. Blackinton of Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts, produced large three-inch, 8 ounce, silver and bronze cased high relief art medals with mintages of 130 and 500 and priced at $129.95 and $34.95 respectively. Collectors also were offered a super special five-piece set consisting of the large bronze and silver, as well as one-ounce gold, silver and bronze specimens for only $735. Actual mintages were limited to orders received prior to December 31, 1989. All of the medals were formally released at the 50th anniversary convention in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.

Obverse of the 50th anniversary winning medal designs by Scott Blazek (obverse) and Hermke Timm were adapted to an assortment of sizes and metallic compositions, from one-ounce gold, silver and bronze to massive three-inch high relief silver and bronzes. Production was carried out by SilverTowne of Indiana and V. H. Blackinton of Massachusetts.

Reverse pf the 50th anniversary winning medal designs by Scott Blazek (obverse) and Hermke Timm were adapted to an assortment of sizes and metallic compositions, from one-ounce gold, silver and bronze to massive three-inch high relief silver and bronzes. Production was carried out by SilverTowne of Indiana and V. H. Blackinton of Massachusetts.

50th anniversary winning medal designs by Scott Blazek (obverse) and Hermke Timm were adapted to an assortment of sizes and metallic compositions, from one-ounce gold, silver and bronze to massive three-inch high relief silver and bronzes. Production was carried out by SilverTowne of Indiana and V. H. Blackinton of Massachusetts.

This convention featured the first-ever "Founder's Award," presented to "Mr. Central States," Ray Lefman. Cliff Mishler, representing Krause Publications, presented the coveted Numismatic Ambassador Award to Leonard Owen, CSNS 2nd vice president.

Ray O. Lefman, "Mr. Central States", was recipient of the first-ever CSNS "Founder's Award" during the 50th anniversary convention in Overland Park, Kansas.

Ray O. Lefman, "Mr. Central States," was recipient of the first-ever CSNS "Founder's Award" during the 50th anniversary convention in Overland Park, Kansas.

Ralph Hardman and his hard-working Kansas City crew managed a first-rate show which included a Kurt Krueger auction and a large exhibit area. Stephen R. Taylor won Best of Show for his exhibit, "Seven Ways to Collect Federal Reserve Notes." The Elston Bradfield Literary Award went to Neil Shafer for his Centinel article, "Banknotes and Scrip of Milwaukee County."

The third fall convention was held September 8-10 at the Kellogg Arena and Stouffers Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan. None other than the mayor of Battle Creek, the honorable Al Bobrofsky, served as show host, along with show chairman, Charles Fenwick. The show was outstanding by all measures.

The CSNS board meeting produced a revision to the Society's constitution: the junior membership age was changed to read, "18 and under," rather than "11 to 18" as previously.

The 1990 51st anniversary convention CSNS convention took place in the MECCA Center in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 5-8. John and Nancy Wilson served as co-chairmen of the great event which featured another Kurt Krueger auction, the Bureau of Engraving & Printing's "Billion Dollar" exhibit, the BEP's antique spider press, a special commemorative souvenir card, competitive exhibits with all gold coins for prizes, a large paper money exhibit from Chet Krause's collection, the British Royal Mint booth, a women's luncheon a famous Mader's German restaurant, an educational forum featuring Ken Bressett and Walter Breen, an open ANA board meeting, and meetings of many specialty clubs. Bourse Chairman Kevin Foley managed 375 dealer tables in a very active sales area.

Milwaukee's 1990 convention saw the first of a short series of souvenir cards, specially produced by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, featuring a replica of the face of the never-issued $1 Silver Certificate of 1897.

Milwaukee's 1990 convention saw the first of a short series of souvenir cards, specially produced by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, featuring a replica of the face of the never-issued $1 Silver Certificate of 1897.

The CSNS board, at its Milwaukee meeting accepted the resignation of Kevin Foley as editor of The Centinel, a task he had handled well for ten years. Bob Douglas and Roger Winkelhake were appointed to begin a search for a new editor.

The board voted to make a donation to ICTA, and honorary memberships were given to the Treasurer of the United States, Catalina Vasquez Villapando, and three officials of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing.

1990 was an election year. Marjorie M. Owen-Hendershott became the first female president of Central States. Leonard M. Owen, brother-in-law of the new president, moved up to 1st vice president, and Kevin Foley was elected 2nd vice president. Earl Armstrong, Harry X Boosel* and Don Hudson were replaced by George Beach of Michigan, David Hendrickson of Indiana and Roger Winkelhake of Nebraska. Returning board members included John Cain, Dick Grinolds, Ralph Hardman, Rich Hartzog, Kurt Krueger, Don Mark, Paul Padget, Florence Schook, Leon Thornton and John Wilson.

The election of 1990 saw Marjorie M. Owen-Hendershott become the first Lady President of Central States, a position she handled with ease after serving ten years as Secretary-Treasurer (1976-86)

The election of 1990 saw Marjorie M. Owen-Hendershott become the first Lady President of Central States, a position she handled with ease after serving ten years as Secretary-Treasurer (1976-86).

The fall 1990 show was held in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Hurstbourne Hotel & Conference Center. Bourse chair, Harry Tileston, ran a fine show featuring a 125 table bourse and exhibit area. The show was sponsored and manned by the Louisville Coin Club and the Kentucky State Numismatic Association. During the show, the CSNS board appointed Jim and Karen Jach of Milwaukee as the new editors of The Centinel. Reports for future conventions were heard from the Missouri State Numismatic Society, host of the spring 1991 convention in St. Louis; the Old Fort Coin Club of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the fall 1991 show; and named Dick Grinolds as chairman for the 1992 spring convention in Minneapolis, hosted by the Northwest Coin Club.

Mike Bush and John Bush served as co-chairs for the 1991 St. Louis convention, May 9-12. A memorable highlight of this convention was the Ladies' Luncheon held on board a Mississippi riverboat, the Robert E. Lee.

The Missouri Numismatic Society provided an excellent numismatic climate for the 52nd anniversary convention held in the Cervantes Center in downtown St. Louis. Convention features of note were a large Kurt Krueger auction, a PNG Day, meetings of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, the International Banknote Society, the Professional Currency Dealers Association, the Society for U.S. Commemorative Coins, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, and the National Silver Dollar Roundtable.

A well-attended paper money forum featuring Gene Hessler, Bob Cochran and Dan North was complimented by the exhibit area chaired by Jim Moores with 40 competitive and five non-competitive exhibits. Exhibit winners included Gene Hessler's best-of-show exhibit, "E. H. Gunn and L. T. Loizeaux - Banknotes and Proof Notes of the Two Engravers." Other first-place winners were Jack Huggins, Jr., John Eshbach, Robert Kutcher, Jean Bullen, Jack Schermerhorn and Nancy Wilson. Nancy's exhibit, "Type Set: Second Issue U.S. Fractional Currency," took the honors for being the most educational.

At the board meeting in St. Louis it was voted to try a new idea for the 1993 Rosemont, Illinois, convention: namely, have a professionally run show. An invitation for bids from individuals or organizations to manage the 1993 convention was printed in the summer, 1991, issue of The Centinel. Future conventions were scheduled for Fort Wayne, Indiana, for fall, 1991; Minneapolis, spring, 1992, Rosemont, Illinois, spring, 1993; Indianapolis, spring, 1994; and Milwaukee, spring, 1995.

Central States was well-represented at the ANA's 100th Anniversary Convention in Chicago, August 13-18, 1991. Richard Hartzog designed a series of plastic tokens "good for 100 cents on a life membership." Different dated and colored tokens were given away daily to collectors on each of the six convention days. CSNS members manning the table at ANA included Bob and Marilyn Douglas, Rollie and Betty Finner, Peter and Ruth Ann Phillips and Leon Thornton. Secretary Douglas reported: "We signed up more CSNS members than I thought we would!"

Colorful "good fors," each worth "100 cents towards a life membership," were a daily treat for token collectors who visited the CSNS table during the ANA Centennial Convention, 1991, in Chicago. The 1-1/2 inch advertising tokens were the brain-child of Richard Hartzog of Rockford, Il

Colorful "good fors," each worth "100 cents towards a life membership," were a daily treat for token collectors who visited the CSNS table during the ANA Centennial Convention, 1991, in Chicago. The 1-1/2" advertising tokens were the brain-child of Richard Hartzog of Rockford, Ill.

The fall, 1991, show was held in the Grand Wayne Center, downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 13-15. Bob Douglas, CSNS secretary noted that "…the CSNS board was well taken care of by the chairman, Marvin Mericle, and that the facilities and hotel were very nice and restaurants were in abundance and all very good!" The host club, the Old Fort Coin Club of Fort Wayne, provided man and woman power for the show and supplied much Hoosier hospitality. One highlight worthy of mention was the awarding of an Numismatic Ambassador Award to former CSNS board member, Don Hudson.

Image of Harry X Boosel (NOTE: NO period after middle initial)

Harry X Boosel (NOTE: NO period after middle initial!!!)

*( Editor's Note: Sharp-eyed readers occasionally have questioned the editor's proof-reading abilities, especially when the name of Harry X Boosel appears in print. "You forgot the period after Mr. Boosel's middle initial," is the frequent comment. When asked years ago about the missing period in his printed or written name, Mr. Boosel explained that at his birth no middle name had been selected by his parents, and when the attending physician filled out the birth certificate he merely X'd-out that space. Consequently, Mr. Boosel always preferred to use his FULL name: Harry X Boosel, with X being his middle name rather than middle initial! Those of us who knew him have always affectionately referred to him as "Harry X No Period Boosel," … and we always will! His service to Central States included years as a governor from Illinois and as our 12th president from 1958-60.)

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