Ah, the scissors have closed and the ribbon has been parted! It's time for the biggest coin show in America to begin! U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy (right) is such an amazingly photogenic man; you have to wonder if a likable face is one of the job requirements these days for U.S. Mint directors because the last few Mint directors we've had have all been quite charismatic. Moy, however, really excels in this department.
So, the ribbon has been cut and everybody is eager to get started with the buying and selling of coins and other numismatic items, right? Well, everybody who doesn't know anybody, because the show has actually been going since Monday. Before the convention hall doors open to the public, there have already been several days of coin auctions, numismatic seminars, and the ever-curious PNG Day. PNG Day is usually the day before major coin shows open to the public. It is a spooky environment, with only around 25% to 30% of the tables occupied (much fewer for the ANA show,) and the only way to get in is to belong to the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) or be invited by a member. Much of the real business of the show, the wholesale and bulk buying, is completed before the doors ever open to the public. One of the biggest "open secrets" in the coin marketplace is that anybody can be invited to PNG Day; just ask any PNG dealer for an invitation and you're in!
Right after the ribbon cutting shown here, just about everybody who was waiting to enter all ran straight over to the same place inside. Can you guess where? (See next photo...)