After years at the Sheraton, the New York International moved downtown to an attractive lower floor in the World Trade Center (as can be noted in the background of this picture).

At the WTC - Miquel Pratt of Paraguay, Joe & Lee Firester, Elon Malis of Israel, Peter Last, and the Pomexport group (Judith, Steve & young Alan - who occasionally prepares E-Sylum advertisements).

A few weeks before the attacks, a German associate, Peter and I were heading down to the ANA in Atlanta, and had a rather strange check-in at Newark Airport. The security lady was a Pakistani who spent an inordinate amount of time going thru every coin flip and each individual banknote. After about 25 minutes of this craziness, I asked if she was looking for something specific and she said - no. In the hopes of speeding up the process, so as not to miss our flight and with the idea that the attention may be drawn away from my innocuous numismatic material, I asked if it was OK that my buddy was carrying a 12" Bowie knife, to which she said - no problem. If that was security, something was wrong.

My associate, Peter, being German was very punctual, but on 9/11 he did not show up as usual; that was strange as it was a short bus ride from Manhattan (where he lived) to my office in NJ. Peter finally arrived and said that there was some commotion in the city, but suggested we look out the window as we had a clear view to the City. Surprisingly all we could see was smoke. Later that day we became aware of the horrendous attacks.

Although we debated heavily, that weekend we set up at the Smythe Show in PA and met with several friends who had survived the ordeal (although we did know the brother of a collectibles dealer who was on one of the planes). To us who were not alive during WW2, 9/11 was really the day that will live in infamy.

It seemed ominous that this New York Telephone card had the white band shown at this level of the towers.

Eric Cheung wrote:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SEPTEMBER 11 (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v04n38a02.html)
AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY EFFECTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v04n38a03.html)
AUCTIONS RESCHEDULED (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v04n38a05.html)
NEW YORK NUMISMATIC CLUB MEETING RESCHEDULED(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v04n38a06.html)