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AN ENJOYABLE 34th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA STATE NUMISMATIC SOUTHERN SYMPOSIUM

The 34th annual California State Numismatic Association Southern Symposium was held at the Sheraton Four-Points Hotel in Fullerton, California on Saturday, March 16, 2002.

The CSNA Symposium was founded by Maury Gould. It is one of the few numismatic educational events remaining in the United States. Four speakers, representing all aspects of the hobby, presented talks with two scheduled prior to lunch and two immediately after lunch.

SARAH NORDIN called her presentation "Criminal Justice Numismatics." She gave an overview of the different tokens, scrip, coupons, tickets etc. used in American correctional institutions. She told of some of the problems in designing these tokens such as the use of the word "Liberty" and portraits on them. Sarah also displayed many of these tokens so viewers had the opportunity to examine them.

Sarah's husband, PHIL NORDIN, was another speaker. Although the Symposium had previously featured presentations by husband and wife teams, this was the first time that a married couple gave two distinct And separate programs. Both talks were illustrated.

Phil, who has lived in nine different countries including the Philippines, titled his presentation "Philippine Numismatics." His talk included all numismatic items including coins, currency, tokens and other exonumia, associated with the Philippines. Phil set up an exhibit featuring many of the items discussed.

ALEX SHAGIN, former engraver and sculptor from the Leningrad Mint of the Soviet Union. made his second appearance at the Symposium.

Mr. Shagin has undoubtedly designed more coins for more nations of the world than any other designer including the 1980 Olympic coins for the Soviet Union, as well as items for Israel, Malta, China and Libya and a commemorative half dollar (shared with another artist) for the United States. Mr. Shagin spoke about the artist who designs coins and medals and their qualifications to design coins. You wouldn't permit a child to practice medicine, he argued, so why do we invite non-artists to design coins.

In March, 2002, the Wells Fargo & Co. observed their 150th anniversary. Founded in San Francisco in 1852 by two entrepreneurs from New York, this company became very important in the development of the west.

Mr. ALLAN PETERSON, curator at the Wells Fargo Museum in San Diego, told the story of the company, Using scenes from "The Music Man" and the arrival of the Wells Fargo Wagon along with scenes of the movie "Stagecoach" featuring John Wayne, Mr. Peterson explained what the actual express services of the company were (produce) and how the Stage Coach, drawn by six horses, became the popular logo of the company.

This program was of great interest to those in attendance who were fascinated with the Gold Rush, the Pony Express, the growth of banking and the city of San Francisco, outlaws such as Black Bart and other stories about the stagecoach so well known from this time in our history.

The Society of International Numismatists (SIN) and The California Exonumist Society (CES) sponsored two of the speakers of this year's symposium.

Juniors in attendance were the guests of NASC for lunch and were presented several numismatic gifts donated by individuals, clubs, and coin shops.

Next year's event, scheduled for Fullerton on March 15, 2003, will be the 35th annual symposium in the south. Plans are under way to make this a special celebration featuring four speakers from all around the United States.

CALCOIN NEWS thanks Dr. Tom Fitzgerald for this report.