ERRORAMA
CONECA's Annual Showcase!

    Each year, error-variety collectors from across the nation (and other countries) gather together in convention to enjoy the best time that the hobby can provide.  The name of the gathering that draws them is ERRORAMA.

    Historically, ERRORAMA was a private venture that presented something of a hit or miss situation. California hosted most of these private shows and some of them were truly landmark occasions that were well attended and well thought out.  Folks long involved in the hobby remember the Rhode Island event and the Thousand Oaks, California event as best representatives of the class.  With the merger of CONE and NECA, the leadership formulated a plan to have the club (1) sponsor ERRORAMA and (2) make it a traveling show in order that more folks might attend.

    ERRORAMA is marked by a feeling of fellowship that sets it apart from many convention.  In addition to the standard show fare of exhibits, bourse, banquet and educational forums, the hospitality committee works very hard to insure that there are no outsiders by welcoming all, old friends and new, in the best spirit of a festive holiday.  Indeed, the convention does not close from the evening before opening day until departure after the close.  It is doubtful whether anyone really gets a good nights sleep at this show!

    Each ERRORAMA seems to hold a special surprise, a fact not missed by the numismatic press.  Often times, the biggest find of the year debuts here.  Sometimes the surprise comes from a benevolent patron of the hobby when a gift of unusual proportions is announced.   There is an unmistakable air of excitement in the wind when ERRORAMA comes to town.

    In summary, no one should miss a chance of attending the annual ERRORAMA.  In so much as each individual is unique, each ERRORAMA is uniquely represented by its participants.  Come share your questions and your knowledge with us!  Come show your prize errors and varieties and let us be proud with you.   Come see old friends and meet new ones.  Come share the good times.  You will never be sorry that you did!

Adapted from the Official CONECA Handbook May 1987 - Author Unknown

2007 Errorama Report

 
  Members who attended the club meeting included (left to right) – Eric von Klinger, Gary Smith, Robert Mills, James Carrol, Lee Gong, James Wiles, Mike Diamond, Al Raddi, John Roberts, and Jon Sullivan  

The fun started on Thursday August 9, 2007 as members gathered and renewed friendships at the CONECA table at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in the Midwest Airline Center in Milwaukee, WI. Our club table was well equipped with a microscope, hand lenses, a good light, a micrometer, a spreading caliper, a magnet, a scale, reference books, and plenty of expertise to help convention goers identify their error and variety coins (Photo 1). We also had eye-catching photos of Indian Head Cent errors supplied by the Fly-In Club, back copies of Errorscope and minor errors to give away, club shirts for sale, and club membership applications. 

On Friday evening, 33 members and guests gathered at nearby Mader’s Restaurant for a delicious German buffet (Photo 2) and an excellent presentation by Chris Pilliod entitled “Coin Metallurgy 101” (Photo 3). (Special thanks to the Milwaukee Numismatic Society for loaning us their digital projector.) Mike Diamond presented the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Dr. Lyndon King Awards that recognize the year’s outstanding member.  Our award recipients were Bill Crosier, for his contribution as the club’s web technician, Frank Leone, for his contribution as editor of Errorscope, and Mike Diamond, for the numerous well researched articles he contributed to Errorscope, (Photo 4). He also presented Literary Awards to Jim Checkovich, Rick Emery,  Paul Funaiole, Spencer Guiley, Frank Leone, Robert Knauss, B.J. Neff, Larry Nienaber, Bob Piazza, Ken Potter, Al Raddi, Joe Rizdy, Lee Roschen, Bill Slaughter, Russ Vander Meulen, James Wiles, Jose Cortez', Gene Nichols and Jeff Ylitalo for their contributions to Errorscope in 2006 and 2007 (Photo5).  The Literary awards for this year were in the form of 1869/9 Indian Head cent reproductions that were ordered doubled struck by the Royal Oak Mint special for CONECA and encapsulated in a PCI Signature Series holder with the insert signed by president Diamond.  The encapsulation services were supplied to the club as a courtesy of JT Stanton/PCI while the repro coins were donated by Ken Potter.  Kenny Knapp recruitment awards (given to those who recruit 25 or more members) were given to Ken Potter and Frank Leone. 

Lee Gong sold tickets for the Winners’ Windfall banquet drawing (Photo 6) and seven lucky winners took home lots with items donated by Mike Diamond, Mike Ellis, Paul Funaiole, B.J. Neff, Ken Potter, Joe Rizdy, Fred Weinberg, James Wiles, and CONECA. The auction raised $320 for the club’s Young Numismatists fund.  We also announced the winners of our regular Winner’s Windfall drawing. Ten members also took home door prizes – five copies of the Top 88 Coins to Buy and Sell book donated by the author, Scott Travers, and five copies of the Top 100 Lincoln Cent RPMs & OMMs e-book donated by the author, James Wiles (Photo 7). 

On Saturday morning, members gathered for a club meeting, and Mike Diamond reviewed ongoing club projects (top). Later that day, members gathered again for the presentation of the Cherrypickers' Awards. John Whitworth won in the varieties category for picking a BU 1944-D/S type 2 Lincoln Cent, and Gary Smith won in the errors category for picking a BU 2006-P North Dakota Quarter with a cud at five o’clock (Photo 9). 

Approximately 10,000 people attended the show, our club table had plenty of visitors (Photo 10), and we gave away all the back issues of Errorscope and error coins that Mike Diamond donated. 

On Sunday, members headed home – already making plans to meet in Baltimore, MD for Errorama 2008 (Photo 11).

 
Mike Diamond takes a shift at the club table and holds up one of the error coins that he brought to give to visitors.

Joe Rizdy tops off his plate with in the buffet line at Mader’s Restaurant.

In addition to his presentation at the club banquet, Chris Pilliod (left) gave a presentation with Rick Snow (right) entitled “Secrets of the Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarter Revealed”. Here they take questions. 

CONECA president Mike Diamond, the proud recipient off the Dr. King Award for his dedication to CONECA and the Error/Variety hobby.

#5) James Wiles (left) receives one of a number of Literary Awards given out that evening by Mike Diamond (right) that contains a Royal Oak Mint reproduction of a double struck 1869/9 Indian Head Cent in a personalized "CONECA Literary Award Slab" with the insert signed by president Diamond.

Lee Gong (right) sells Winners’ Windfall tickets at the banquet as Lee Roschen tempts him with a heaping plate right off the buffet line.  

 
James Essence (left) and Jon Sullivan are happy winner’s of copies of James Wiles’ e-book,
The Top 100 Lincoln Cent RPMs.

     
Gary Smith (left) and John Whitworth (right) show their Cherrypickers’ Awards.

 
  At the club table, Tom Hallenbeck, Allen Herbert and Lee Gong (left to right) pass some time together in the foreground while Chris Pilliod (left) and Mike Diamond (right) examine a coin in the background. 

Good pals, Stan Turrini (left) and Lee Gong (right) promise to do it all again at Errorama 2008 in Baltimore, MD.

   Report courtesy of Mike Diamond and Al Raddi