With the ANA, History Ain’t Changed
ANA President Steve Ellsworth (Image courtesy of the ANA.)
Admittedly, I had not downloaded the June issue as I am still reading stories from May. After downloading the issue, I turned to page 9 to read the message. To my surprise, I found this passage:
OPEN MESSAGE TO ROB OBERTH: Been there. Done that. Got the award to prove it.
I was once an armchair quarterback. Then I was invited to be part of the solution. After six years, I learned more about the ANA’s intricacies than someone with one-year on the Board of Governors could fathom. I know the history, which is very important because it looks like we are going backward. Remember, George Santayana once opined that if you do not learn from history, then you are destined to repeat it.
It is no secret that I am not a fan of Steve Ellsworth. Aside from his previous actions with me, other things bother me about Steve.
- If you go back to Steve’s first run for the Board of Governors about eight years ago, his candidate statements mention his interest in certain aspects of history and the “War of Northern Aggression.” Sorry folks. I have a difficult time embracing this type of attitude about the side the LOST a war only to glorify in later years. And the last I looked, it was the Confederacy that started the shooting at Fort Sumter. Time to get over it and move on.
- In Steve’s current tome, he says, “Not since our Civil War 160 years ago have we dealt with such adversity.” A statement like this is from someone who is stuck in a historical time warp. All we have to do is look at the effects on numismatics to debunk that view of history. The desire to create the Peace Dollar, the ending of gold coinage in 1933, the necessity to produce steel cents, and remove copper from nickels are just a few examples of adapting to more difficult times.
I am not trying to minimize the worldwide effect of this pandemic. My business is closed as being “nonessential,” according to the government. My livelihood is on the line. As someone very close to being of Medicare age, this is not the time to start over. However, the U.S. Mint continues to strike coins. It was considered a market catastrophe when the West Point Mint closed for a short period.
Compassion and understanding is one thing. Leadership and being levelheaded is another. Skipping over World War I, Great Depression, World War II, and 9/11 dismisses other lessons from history. Remember the warning from George Santayana.
Although Steve has not said it in so many words, his actions prove that I will not be on his Christmas card list.
But that is not what bothers me. What bothers me is that after six years of helping with the ANA’s technology, bringing it up from the virtual stone age, and working to prevent the ANA from making a multi-million dollar mistake, Steve will not ask me to help on behalf of the ANA.
I came out against him in the election. Big deal! This type of thing happens all of the time, and Steve should know better. He once lived in the shadows of Washington, DC. Opponents work with each other after the elections are over.
I did not respond in his timeframe for input to his strategic plan. Well, Steve forgot that exercise, too. I have not seen anything about this “strategic plan,” nor has anyone else I asked.
If Steve is such a student of history with a fixation on the Civil War, he would recognize how President Abraham Lincoln included those who were opposed to his presidency in his cabinet. It was a move that was uncommon in the 19th century as it is today. I recommend reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin if you want to learn more about a real profile in courage. I can lend my copy!
As a numismatic historical reference, Lincoln appointed primary rival Salmon P. Chase as the Secretary of the Treasury. Chase was considered more radical than Lincoln. The former Whigs did not trust the one-time Democrat after he joined the new Republican Party. As Treasury Secretary, Chase created the paper currency system, which led to his portrait appearing on the first $1 Demand Notes. Later, his portrait would appear on the $10,000 gold certificate.
I do not know Ron Oberth. However, I am sure the reason he has not contacted his immediate predecessor is that Steve said something. I know Steve will respond along the lines of, “I did not tell Ron not to talk to you.” I know, Steve. But you are the type that I would have to check for the knife if you pat me on the back. I am willing to bet that Steve said something like, “I don’t think he would have anything to offer.”
I do not expect to be contacted by the Ellsworth, Oberth, or anyone with the Board of Governors. Too bad, because I would have agreed to work with the ANA regardless of these opinions. I would do it for the benefit of the Association.
I expect to hear from Steve’s fans!
His fans are a fiery bunch. Anytime I criticize Steve, my inbox gets scorched with the same type of vitriol that makes the evening news after a presidential rally. However, the difference is that I can work for the benefit of the whole while I can disagree with someone.
Yes, Steve, I am going to be an armchair quarterback because you took me out of the game and cut me from the team. I know what the ANA needs and why it has not made progress. I will use that knowledge to make sure that membership dues benefit the members.
Sun Tzu did not write, “keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” That was from The Godfather Part II. But it was Machiavelli who wrote, “It is easier for the prince to make friends of those men who were contented under the former government, and are therefore his enemies, than of those who, being discontented with it, were favourable to him and encouraged him to seize it.”
Gotta love Santayana’s wisdom!
Meet W.H. Brett
William H. (W.H.) Brett was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1893. Brett was the son of William Howard Brett who introduced the “open shelf” concept to libraries allowing books to be more freely accessed. The senior Brett’s work in Cleveland became a model for other library systems throughout the country.
W.H. Brett served in the Army during World War I and attended Dartmouth College before returning to Cleveland as a businessman. He was appointed as the 29th Director of the U.S. Mint by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. Brett succeeded Nellie Tayloe Ross after her retirement from the U.S. Mint serving five full terms.
W.H. Brett was a guest on the television game show “What’s My Line” that aired on November 25. 1956. Making this episode interesting is the reference to Ivy Baker Priest who also previously appeared on the show.
Appearing on the show as a panelist is Burgess Meredith who was on Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s “Red List” accused of being a communist sympathizer because of Meridith’s support of labor unions.
Actor and director Charles Laughton was the mystery guest on this episode.
W.H. Brett died in 1989. He was 95 years old.
What Was Ivy Baker Priest’s Line
Ivy Baker Priest was born in Kimberly, Utah in 1905. A staunch Republican, Priest began her political career as a delegate to the 1932 Republican State Convention. In 1934, her bid for the Utah legislature came up short but was elected as co-chair of the Young Republicans for the western states. While serving for the Republican National Committee, she helped organize Republican women’s study clubs throughout Utah.
In 1950 Priest ran for congress against incumbent Reva Beck Bosone (D). The race attracted national attention for being the first time two women were running for the same seat. Bosone won that election with 53-percent of the vote.
Priest continued to be active and worked to gain support for eventual Republican nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower during the 1952 convention. She became co-chair of the Eisenhower’s national campaign committee and worked to get women out to vote. Eisenhower rewarded Priest by appointing her as the 30th Treasurer of the United States.
Ivy Baker Priest was the mystery guest on the television game show “What’s My Line” that aired on August 29, 1954. Watch as she stumps the panel:
Appearing on WML after Priest on the same show was Debbie Reynolds.
Ivy Baker Priest is the mother of Pat Priest, better know for playing Marilyn Munster on the 1960’s hit sitcom, “The Munsters.”
Ivy Baker Priest died from the complications of caner in 1975.
Shepherd Doen’t Know Either
On Dave Harper’s blog at Numismatic News, American Numismatic Association Executive Director Larry Shepherd called regarding being put on administrative leave.
According to Harper, Shepherd said, “I’m disappointed I was not told what the reasons for this was and I was not given an opportunity to defend myself to the board before they took this action.”
If Shepherd does not know why he was put on administrative leave, who does?
While it is important for the ANA to respect Shepherd’s privacy during an employment manner, I think the ANA should be responsible for telling Shepherd why they are taking this action. Then, unless there is a confidentiality agreement that would require Shepherd to remain silent, it should be up to him to chose whether to divulge the nature the problem.
The last time the ANA Board put an executive director on administrative leave, not only was it public, but the vote was also made public. While there was a lot animosity between the newly elected Board and then Executive Director Christopher Cipoletti with publicly made allegations of wrong doing, nobody seems to be aware of anything that Shepherd might have or have not done.
Let’s hope the ANA does the right thing and ends this soon.
Here We Go Again
On Tuesday, the American Numismatic Association announced that Executive Director Larry Shepherd was place on administrative leave. The entire statement released by the ANA is as follows:
Newly elected Governor Greg Lyon wrote on the PCGS message board, “This decision was not taken lightly and was clearly in the best interest of the ANA. / At this point, an investigation will be conducted by a third-party group and any further decisions will be made by the board subsequent to that investigation.”
CoinWeek is reporting that the third-party group investigating the situation is Employer’s Resources of Colorado, a human resources service firm based in Colorado Springs.
“The Board felt that there was significant reason to take this action but details cannot be shared,” wrote Lyon in another post.
Ironically, this came after it was announced last Friday during an open meeting at the World’s Fair of Money that Cipoletti had resigned his member, ending the ANA’s association with the former Executive Director four-years after his removal.
The ANA’s recent history with Executive Directors is far from stellar. After the debacle that became the reign of Christopher Cipoletti as Executive Director, here is another situation where “something” causes the ANA Board of Governors to have to take action. Although the ANA has not disclosed the reason for this action citing privacy issues, it does not look good for the organization.
Making of the 2 Euro Coin
One of the reason I collect coins and write this blog is that I find coins interesting, regardless of whether they are modern or otherwise. I do not have to collect a particular coin type to be fascinated by them. Although I do not collect Euro coins, I am fascinated by the bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro coins.
As with all Euro coins, the common reverse side shows its value and depicts a map of Europe representing the entire Eurozone. The obverse has what is called the “national side,” the side each member nation customizes to represent their unique place in the world. Some countries, like Belgium, uses the same design on all of their coins while others use different designs.
While all Euro coins are made of base metals, the 1 and 2 Euro coins are bi-metallic. For the 1 Euro coin, the inner part is made of copper-nickel with a silvery color while the outer part is made of a nickel brass and has a golden-like color. The composition is reversed for the 2 Euro coin.
The edge of the 1 Euro coin consist of alternating segments, three smooth, three finely ribbed.
The edge of the 2 Euro coin is finely milled with lettering that varies by nation, the same as the obverse.
What I find fascinating is that both metals are made separately but when they are struck, the design overlaps both metals and the striking process fuses the metals together. It was fascinating since I never thought about how the one and two Euro coins were until I came across a video show how the 2 Euro coins are made.
This video is from the National Geographic Channel. I am not sure what show it is from, but it shows how the 2 Euro coin is made:
All images courtesy of Wikimedia.
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