Jun 27, 2008 | ANA, coins, gold, US Mint
Another reason to attend the World’s Fair of Money® at the end of July in Baltimore is to be there for the unveiling of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin.
The US Mint announced that US Mint Director Ed Moy will participate in the show’s opening ceremony and then officially open the Mint exhibit that will feature the one ounce gold coin that will go on sale in 2009.
The coin&rsqou;s design will be a high-relief $20 gold piece on a double-thick, 24-karat gold planchet (sometimes called a piefort) 27 millimeters in diameter. The design will feature Augustus Saint-Gaudens original 1907 design where the date will be in roman numerals (MMIX). The inspiration for this coin came from 1907 when the Mint tried to strike an experimental double eagle using two stacked $10 eagle planchets. When it was realized that congress would have to approve the striking of the coin for circulation, the project was abandoned and the test pieces were melted.
Aside from the date, the only difference between the 1907 test pieces and the 2009 bullion issue is that the the motto “In God We Trust” will be added over the rising sun as it appeared in 1908.
Jun 26, 2008 | ANA
The American Numismatic Association emailed a note to members announcing that space was still available for the classes at the ANA World’s Fair of Money® being held in Baltimore. If you are going to attend the show, this would be a great time to learn more about your hobby.
Here is the announcement from the ANA:
Take a Course at the World’s Fair of Money!
Space Still Available for Pre-convention Seminars
ANA members can save up to $100 on pre-convention and professional development seminars before and during the Baltimore World’s Fair of Money® by enrolling by July 1. Technical and collector series courses cater to collectors of all ages and interests.
Technical Series Seminars
Fundamentals of Grading United States Coins: Learn how U.S. coins should be graded according to the latest ANA and market standards. Instructor: Lane Brunner, Ph.D., author and collector. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28-29. ANA member cost: $295 through July 1; $345 after. Life member discount: $50.
Forensic Numismatics: Detecting Counterfeit and Altered U.S. Coins: Focus on items most often seen on the market today with examination of genuine and counterfeit specimens. Instructor: Brian Silliman, NGC grader. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28-29. ANA member cost: $295 through July 1; $345 after. Life member discount: $50.
Collector Series Seminars
Advanced Morgan Dollar Study: Take your passion for Morgan dollars to the next level with hands-on grading and identification of the best varieties of the series. Instructor: Ash Harrison, Society of Silver Dollar Collectors president. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28-29. ANA member cost: $120 through July 1; $145 after. Life member discount: $10.
Numismatics of Colonial America: Discover the intricacies of the early history of the nation’s coinage by learning die varieties, grading, methods of collecting and how to form a colonial coin library. Instructor: Erik Goldstein, numismatic curator at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 1. ANA member cost: $88 through July 1; $98 after. Life member discount: $10.
Overview of Post-Civil War Tokens: Discover why token collecting has become such a popular field, why tokens where produced and used, how to collect, and what factors determine value. Instructor: David Schenkman, columnist for The Numismatist and editor of the TAMS Journal. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 1. ANA member cost: $88 through July 1; $98 after. Life member discount: $10.
>Professional Development Seminar
Coins in the Classroom shows educators how to use money as a tool to create and enhance lessons in mathematics, social studies, language arts and economics. Instructor: Rod Gillis, ANA Numismatic Educator. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30-31. Cost: $45.
Free workshops and lectures
The World’s Fair of Money provides numerous free workshops and lectures, including Numismatic Theatre and World Mint Theatre presentations and the Sundman Lecture Series on the topic, “Money as a Means of Propaganda.”
Pre-registration is required for some workshops. For more information, visit www.money.org and select “World’s Fair of Money” from the “Numismatic Events” dropdown menu.
To register or for more information, call 719-482-9857, e-mail education@money.org or visit www.money.org (select “World’s Fair of Money” from the “Numismatic Events” dropdown menu, then select “Education”).
Mar 10, 2008 | ANA
The American Numismatic Association opened the National Money Show in Phoenix with the announcement that Larry Shepherd was chosen to be the next Executive Director of the ANA. Shepherd is an ANA Life Member and owner and president of Simco Numismatics in Cincinnati, Ohio.
ANA President Barry Stuppler, who chaired the Executive Director Search Committee, said Shepherd was their unanimous choice. “Larry stood out among an extremely well-qualified pool of 37 applicants,” Stuppler said. “We had a number of extraordinary candidates, and we’re obviously very pleased with the results of this search.”
Shepherd is worked as an executive in the financial industry before opening Simco Numismatics in 1989. He started collecting at the age of 10 by collecting Mercury Dimes from circulation and became the first living collector to have a commemorative set pedigreed by Professional Coin Grading Service.
Shepherd will replace acting Executive Director Ken Hallenbeck who was ask to serve following the dismissal of Christopher Cipoletti. Another report noted that no start date was set. It was speculated that the final contract details had to be worked out. In that report, Hallenbeck was quoted as saying he was “greatly relieved. I’ve done my duty, now I can hopefully relax and get out of the way.”
The ANA Board of Governors has done an admirable job since taking office last August amidst rancor amongst the membership. They should be commended for having the courage to change the Executive Director and to vet candidates to find someone who they can unanimously support. As a proud ANA Member and the president of an ANA member club, I wish Mr. Shepherd the best and I hope he can help the Board bring integrity back to the ANA.
Feb 17, 2008 | ANA, Baltimore, bicentennial, medals
With the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention coming at the end of the month, I realized I did not talk about the last show I attended. That show was a while ago and would not be interesting now. What is interesting is one of the items I found while walking the bourse floor.
Whenever I go to a coin show, I look for something “neat.” Something different that was not expensive but would raise an eyebrow or two when I show the item to others. Last summer, I found an 1803 Large Cent with a barely readable date. There was also the GSA Softpack I picked up at the ANA National Money Show in Charlotte.
Before attending to the last Baltimore show, I decided that I would concentrate on my 1976 collection and look for numismatic-related items. With that in mind, I was walking the bourse floor looking at the various tables and found a set of medals in a plastic holder. The blue set caught my eye when I focused in and saw that the set was from 1976.
I stepped up to the table to take a closer look and found that it is the 1976 ANA Convention Medal Set. Back when the ANA held one convention per year, this set consists of pewter, bronze, and copper medals showing the image of the a bust of the Statue of Liberty in front of United Nations building. The medals for the 85th Anniversary convention also featured the star logo of the American Revolution Bicentennial Association (ARBA) and are stored in a custom case made by Capital Plastics.
This set registered high on the “oh, neat” meter. It was from 1976, had the ARBA logo, and would also fit in my New York collection. When the dealer said he is selling the set for $15, I did not hesitate to reach in my pocket for the money. As I learned more about the set, some collectors were offering four-to-five times the price I paid. The set is not for sale, but it is nice to know that I cherry picked a nice item.
I can only wonder what I will find at the end of this month. Stay tuned!
Feb 1, 2008 | ANA, Baltimore
When one catches a cold, life becomes miserable as we slog through our daily routines. Add the bad weather to the cold symptoms and getting out of bed becomes a chore. So after the dog climbed into bed to wake me up, I went to the computer to check my email to see a note from the American Numismatic Association announcing two courses will be taught at the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Show in February.
While everyone points to the FUN Show as the beginning of the numismatic year, I look to Baltimore. After all, the Baltimore Convention Center is a little more than a one hour drive. And since Whitman took over the show, there have been many improvements that make it more enjoyable. One of the improvements was the inviting of the ANA School of Numismatics to teach courses on site. I love walking the floor looking for bargains and coins to fill the holes in my collection. I have also met a number of great people who are regulars in Baltimore. I look forward to seeing them again.
For this show, the ANA will present Understanding Die Varieties and Coin Collecting 101. Both classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Baltimore Convention Center. For more information see the ANA School of Numismatics website for more information.
Last year, I recommended the Coin Collecting 101 to a new collector based on the description of the course. He enjoyed the course so much that he became an ANA member at the show. This morning, he said that he will be coming back to the show from suburban Philadelphia so he can take the Understanding Die Varieties course. Since this friend is also in information security, and those of us in this business tend to be skeptics by nature, I think this is high praise.
If nothing else, if you are in the area, you need to drop by the Baltimore Convention Center. It will be worth the trip.
Nov 30, 2007 | ANA, coins
As I continue to catch up from my week off, I am going through my email and found a note from the American Numismatic Association saying that the deadline for submitting your theme idea for 2008 National Coin Week, April 20-26, is this Sunday. The ANA is looking for themes that focus on unity around the world and the role children and numismatics play in achieving this unity. The ANA is offering a one-half ounce gold American Eagle proof coin for the winning theme. Second place will receive a one-quarter ounce gold American Eagle proof coin. The third place selection will receive a one-tenth ounce gold American Eagle proof coin.
If you are an ANA member and interested in participating, send your theme idea, description of why it should be chosen, and ANA number to ncw@money.org.
Nov 13, 2007 | ANA, Baltimore, BEP, coins, currency, shows
As I take my midday lunch break on Tuesday, I made sure that I posted my Friday day off on my company’s internal calendar and started to think about the Whitman Baltimore show. So I started to gather my email of announcements and news to bring together the scope of Whitman’s effort going into this show.
I previously wrote about the American Numismatic Association offering classes on Understanding Die Varieties and Coin Collecting 101. This is a great step for the ANA expand its education mission beyond its conventions and the summer seminars.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing announced their 2008 Intaglio Print Subscription Program called the “Americana Series.” The first issue will be at the Baltimore Show. BEP will have a press on site in Baltimore. BEP announced that they will also display, for the first time ever, a sheet of the new $5 Federal Reserve Note as well as its “Billion Dollar Exhibit.”
David Lange announced on the Collectors’ Society Boards that he will presenting a slide show about coin boards of the 1930s-40s. This will be based on his book Coin Collecting Boards of the 1930s & 1940s. According to Dave, the program will be on Saturday at 2pm in Room 301. There will be a free drawing in which three attendees will each win a vintage coin board after the program.
With over 4,000 lots and a full currency session, Bowers and Merena Auctions will be holding their largest auction in company history. There are a number of interesting items for the rare coin and currency collector. See their online catalog for the lots that will be auctioned.
There will be coin grading by NGC, PCGS, ANACS, and ICG. The ANA and the folks from Florida United Numismatists will also be present.
It appears as if Whitman is looking to challenge FUN’s proclamation of being the “Largest Coin Show in America.” The only thing Baltimore is missing are the exhibits—maybe this is something they can include next year. But if it is Whitman’s goal to make their Baltimore show larger than FUN, I am sure those of us who live closer to Baltimore appreciates the opportunity to attend a premier show.
Oct 23, 2007 | ANA, Baltimore, shows
I visited the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention website to verify the dates—I will go on Friday—so that I can let those I work with know my plans. On their front page, there is an announcement that the American Numismatic Association’s School of Numismatics will be offering Understanding Die Varieties and Coin Collecting 101 at the Baltimore show. Both classes will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday, November 17 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tuition for both classes is $145 for ANA members or $165 for non-members.
Description of the courses from the ANA website:
Understanding Die Varieties
Designed for the novice or expert, this course focuses on the four major divisions of die varieties for 20th century U.S. coinage: design changes, mintmark styles, doubled dies and repunched mintmarks. Presentations in each area will include an explanation of the origin, major identifying features, cataloging systems and rarities for the “cherrypicker.” Walk away with new knowledge and a fresh enthusiasm for collecting die varieties!
Instructor: James Wiles, author of The Modern Minting Process and U.S. Minting Errors and Varieties: An ANA Correspondence Course.
Coin Collecting 101
Start collecting on the right foot with this expanded version of Coin Collecting Basics! This discussion-based seminar will begin with an overview of the history and role of money in civilization, then move quickly into collector-oriented topics such as the methods of grading, consumer awareness and the differences between collecting and investing in numismatic items. Come prepared with questions!
Instructor: Rod Gillis, ANA numismatic educator
To enroll, call the ANA at 719-632-2646 or visit their website.
Oct 23, 2007 | ANA, dollar
The American Numismatic Association announced that the association is holding a contest to have its members select the team for National Coin Week, April 20-26, 2008. The contest is open to all ANA members and the top three suggestions will win numismatic prizes that will be announced in November. Submission deadline is November 30.
“National Coin Week will feature activities and exhibits that highlight youth across the globe. Submissions should reflect this topic by focusing on unity in a global society, and what role children and numismatics play in achieving this unity.” The theme for 2007 was The Presidents are Coming to celebrate the introduction of the Presidential $1 Coin Program.
The submission deadline is November 30. Include your theme idea and a brief description of why your submission should be chosen. Also include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and ANA member number. Mail, fax or e-mail your idea for a theme to:
American Numismatic Association
National Coin Week Coordinator
818 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Fax: 719-634-4085
E-mail: ncw@money.org
Oct 17, 2007 | ANA
On Monday, October 15, 2007, the American Numismatic Association Board of Governors fired Executive Director and Legal Counsel Christopher Cipoletti. News reports said that the unanimous decision by the Board to “terminate with cause” came in closed session following an undisclosed one-hour presentation by Cipoletti. An arbitrator will help settle the termination of Cipoletti’s contract, which runs through December 2008.
Cipoletti was placed on administrative leave by the new Board of Governors during their first meeting at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last August. His leadership has been questioned as well as his handling of the ANA budget, which ran with deficits the last five years that caused the association to tap into its endowment funds. Cipoletti was a lightning rod for criticism and his work became a campaign issue in the last ANA elections in which all incumbents were voted off the Board.
Now that the ANA is looking for a new executive director, the Board should consider a competent individual who is experience with running a non-profit, membership supported organization would be best for the ANA. It would be wonderful if the new executive director was also a collector, that should not be a priority.
Should the ANA be looking for suggestions, the Board may want to consider interviewing the previous director of the US Mint Henrietta Holsman Fore (now a senior official at the State Department) and the current director Edmund Moy. Fore is from Nevada, which may be a welcome relief from Washington at the end of the administration and Moy is a collector. Both have proven management skills, know the numismatic community, and will be out of a job soon.
It’s just a thought.
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