FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2023
I had fewer meetings to attend on Friday but was still quite busy. In the morning I met Dana Linett of Early American History Auctions who recently announced his firm's relocation from San Diego, CA to Winchester, VA, a town about 45 miles from me here in the Washington D.C. suburbs. As it happens my good friend Eric Schena lives in Winchester and I introduced the two of them before heading off to the NBS General Meeting.

We had a nice crowd for the charity auction at our NBS General Meeting Friday. David Fanning called the sale while Len Augsburger recorded bids. Dan Hamelberg showed the lots while ANA Librarian Akio Lis and I shuttled books from the display tables in the back of the room to chairs in front where Dan could reach them.

Later in the day NBS Board Member Shanna Schmidt introduced me to the folks at Gorny & Mosch, enjoying a laugh about the nearly matching green dresses.

There were great pickings for numismatic ephemera collectors at tables in the lobby. Some well-produced and interesting pieces here. Print is not dead - there is still room for hardcopy advertising at in-person shows.

Friday night I attended a great dinner at the invitation of Len Augsburger. A group of about 20 numismatists and family members attended a fun evening of food, drink and conversation.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2023
Saturday morning brought the annual Rittenhouse Society breakfast. A fitting capstone to every convention, it's an honor to be a member of this august group of numismatists. It was great to see all of these old friends and learn something about the goings-on in their personal and numismatic lives.

Following breakfast it was time to head home, but I wasn't in a huge hurry. So I took a more scenic route back to my hotel, following the waterfall trail at the convention center that I hadn't even realized was there. Most conventiongoers walked right past it. It passes between the two street level sections and takes pedestrians down to the river.

Here a man was feeding a flock of waterfowl. The scene was a great way to end my visit to the show. Before long I was on the road back to my home in Virginia.