Earlier this year The Elongated Collectors (TEC) club opened up their annual design contest to all active members. Each year there is a theme and members can let their imaginations run wild when submitting their own designs for a chance to be picked the winning entry. Winners are awarded by having their design engraved and rolled for all members to receive, and they also will be a judge in the following years contest. For 2022 the contest theme was “My Dream Vacation”, and as soon as I read this an image popped in my head so I went to work trying to create my entry.

Try not too laugh too hard. I’ve mentioned in the past that I always wished I had at least some artistic talent, but alas I do not. To help me with my design I googled some clip art images of a large RX with trailer that I then traced and attempted to add a few extra details. My idea of a dream vacation was hoping in a big RV with my family to drive across the country with a trailer filled with pennies to press along the way. Now my wife may have something to say about this trip, but a penny collector can dream can’t he.

The following TECNews issue was released and the winners were announced which we will get to shortly, but I was shocked to see that my design actually came in Third place. I think the judges may have been taking pity on this collector.

First we have the Junior Division winner. This wonderful design was created by Jackson Hancock, it was engraved by John Gusmano and rolled by Paul Conner. This very creative design shows off the TEC owl observing the Earth and Moon from space.

Next we have the Adult Division winning design that was created by Dana Breyer, also engraved by John Gusmano and rolled by Paul Conner. This coin shows off a stunning desert scene with a Volkswagen beetle cruising along the road. The details in this coin are really beautiful and Dana did a great job. Congratulations!

Well that’s another years contest in the books, and again we came out with some really amazing designs. The members of TEC really are a wonderful group of people and are certainly talented. I’m honestly very happy with my third place showing, but one of these years I’m going to figure out the winning design. Have a wonderful week, keep tracking down those pennies and I’ll check in with you next time.