Kenneth Bressett's memoir A Penny Saved: R.S. Yeoman and His Remarkable Red Bookcelebrates the life of his mentor, hobby legend Richard S. Yeo (known as R.S. Yeoman), andthe longevity of the Guide Book of United States Coins (the ), first published in1946. The 352-page hardcover volume is available from bookstores and hobby shops andonline (including at Whitman.com). This excerpt is from chapter 5, wherein Bressett sharesa number of Yeoman's writings. It was first published in the February-March 1964 issue ofthe Whitman Coin Supply Merchandiser. Yeoman talks about the importance of coin shows,the camaraderie they foster, and how to balance their objectives. He put these thoughts onpaper 60 years ago-but they could have been written with equal wisdom today.

Whatever observation we make about the trend of coin collecting, the desire toassemble in large groups is clearly the most evident. Any week of the year, with afew obvious exceptions, there are one to ten coin shows in as many communitiesthroughout the United States and Canada. It is a good trend, and those of us whosupply the necessary accessories for arranging, protecting, and pricing coins,should encourage this kind of togetherness to the utmost.

The primary objective of the convention has been and probably will continue tobe the selling and buying of coins. These gatherings are basically bourses, andmost dealers derive an added benefit from making contacts with new and oldcustomers. The sale of a coin folder or Blue Book to a novice collector is often thestart of a long-term dealer-client association.

The future of the coin show or convention, however, rests on more than thebourse, and it is encouraging to see how some local club sponsors are keeping ahappy balance between the dealer's bourse, the auction, and the educationalfeatures. The show chairman is on the right track when he emphasizes exhibitsand announces well in advance that handsome trophies or plaques will go to thewinners. He knows that newcomers to the numismatic ranks are quickly broughtinto the show when the local newspaper, radio, and TV announces a free exhibitof rare coins.

We have noticed that the best attendance comes to those coin shows that have amodest or free registration, accessible display room, cordial committee membersto answer questions, and a place to rest when the feet start to tire. One feature inparticular has been offered by only a few conventions, and that is a specialeducational forum. Sometimes a panel of two to four well-informed individualscan do more to further the hobby than all the coin investment plans ever devised.There ought to be more of this kind of thing.

Our hobby can be torn apart very thoroughly if the profit motive continues to beover-emphasized to the exclusion of educational features. Competitive displays, authoritative lectures, mind-stimulating forums, and displays of availablenumismatic literature are convention attractions that can strengthen andperpetuate the ranks of the coin collecting fraternity.

Let us have both school and marketplace, but in the right proportion. Perhaps wecan plan our conventions this year with more emphasis on profit of the mind.

A Penny Saved: R.S. Yeoman and His Remarkable Red Book
By Kenneth Bressett; foreword by Jeff Garrett.
ISBN 0794849016. Hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 352 pages, full color.
Retail $39.95 U.S.
https://whitman.com/a-penny-saved-r-s-yeoman-and-his-remarkable-red-book/

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: A PENNY SAVED(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n16a02.html)
R.S. YEOMAN AND HIS REMARKABLE RED BOOK(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n18a07.html)