The ANA Election is Over, Support Your New Board
The American Numismatic Association election is over and the membership has made a choice. Steve Ellsworth will become the new President of the American Numismatic Association at the World’s Fair of Money in August. Ralph Ross will become Vice President.
Although these were not my choices for leadership, I will support them for their two-year term. Both men deserve the support of the entire membership regardless of what you thought about the election.
The ANA is at a critical juncture in its modern history. There is a societal change happening that is affecting many hobbies and traditional institutions. It is a change borne out of changes in ideas, ideals, and how the new generation thinks about hobbies and their traditions.
The status quo is no longer acceptable. Millennials and those identified as Gen Z, who graduated from high school this year, grew up in a different world. In their world, money is electronic, stamps are utilitarian only used when necessary, and the concept of formality is reserved for a noncontroversial post on social media.
With the Millenials and Gen Z now in that numismatic black hole between being a Young Numismatist and their reawakening when they get older, it is time that the ANA adapt to the new world order of technology.
Adapting traditional hobbies between the past and technology will be difficult. Ask the philatelic (stamp collecting) world how technology has upended what they built. Technology has changed many aspects of our lives, and if numismatics do not change along with it, numismatics will become a minor aspect of the hobby community.
Making this bridge between the traditions of numismatics and the future is what the new ANA leadership and the Board of Governors will need your help. The only way the ANA will change to meet the needs of the membership is for the association to speak out. Members, especially those that are not of AARP eligible age, must be the ones to speak to the Board and let them know what the ANA has to do to have a healthy future.
One of the most significant issues is that the membership is not engaged. Maybe it is time for the ANA members to get off the sidelines and become involved.
Members must open lines of communications with the Board of Governors and let them know what you think. They cannot perform their jobs without knowing how to respond to the membership. Your input will help President-elect Ellsworth, and the rest of the Board set their agenda.
Help Ellsworth and the Board have a successful term. Let them know what you think. As a member you can contact the ANA directly. When you do, please keep it respectful and include your membership number.
Those who want to add their comments to a public forum, the ANA gives you that opportunity. Go to the ANA website, register, and post your message as an open blog post. Yes, the ANA website has a blog section for you to post whatever you like. Keep it clean, respectful, to the point. If you can add details to your ideas, I am sure the Board would appreciate the help.
In case you did not know, the ANA website also has a section of numismatic forums for collectors to talk with other collectors about numismatics. For those who are not happy with other forum sites, you might want to take the opportunity to see what the ANA has to offer.
If all else fails, you can write to me. Although I am one voice in the numismatic wilderness, I am a collector who wants to see the ANA remain a thriving home for numismatic collectors. You can write to me directly or post a comment here.
It is your ANA.
Your ANA needs your input.
Support the new Board and help them find their direction.
John Quincy Adams Dollar and Stroke Awareness
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States and the first president who was a son of a president. Adams served one term, 1825-1829, and was the first president not to take the oath of office on the bible. Adams was a very religious man who felt that the bible should be only used for religious reasons. Adams took the Oath of Office on a book of American laws in effect saying that he was taking his oath to the Constitution.
Adams was elected to the House of Representatives in 1831 and served until he died of a stroke in 1848, two days after collapsing on the floor of the House.
As the US Mint releases the John Quincy Adams dollar coin, the National Stroke Associations will join with the Mint to bring stroke awareness to the forefront.
The National Stroke Association is promoting the FAST method for recognizing stroke symptoms:
- F = FACE Ask the person to smile, does one side of the face droop?
- A = ARM Ask the person to hold both arms outstretched, does one arm drift downward?
- S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, does the speech sound slurred?
- T = TIME If anyone experiences any of these symptoms, time to call 9-1-1 and ask to be taken to the nearest stroke center hospital
It is a good idea to remember the FAST method. Not only it could save a loved one’s life, it can save yours!
Are We Really In 2008?
Now that we are at the middle of May, I continue to check my pocket change and ask where are all of the 2008 coins? By now, I would expect to see a few 2008 coins in my change but I have seen only a few Oklahoma quarters in circulation. And even after the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said that the Federal Reserve would only circulate the new Series 2006 $5 notes for the first two weeks after issue, I have yet to receive from circulation.
I performed an unscientific survey of five co-workers who did not have a single 2008 coin amongst them.
Of all the 2008 coins I expected to see sooner was the Lincoln Cent. According the US Mint, the presses that strike cents in Philadelphia and Denver run 24 hours per day, seven days per week in order to supply the Federal Reserve with coinage to support the nation’s money supply. But where are they?
One theory was that floated that with the soft economy, people are bring jars and buckets of change to coin counting machines, placing hoarded coins back into circulation. Coinstar, whose kiosks are seen at many grocery stores, has been advertising for people to turn in their change. Those using Coinstar machines pay 8.9 percent for the service (9.5 percent in Canada) or customers can redeem their coins for gift cards with no fees.
Coinstar’s reported earnings for their coin counting operations have risen. In an attempt to jump on the “green” bandwagon, Coinstar is promoting the environmental savings that can be realized by recycling coins. They are promoting it with a website at ChangeForYourEarth.com.
With some banks offering free coin counting services, Coinstar promoting coin services as a green initiative, and the slowing economy lowering the demand for coinage seems to have lead to a reduction in striking cents.
Hopefully I will find a 2008 coin soon.
Watch Out for Counterfeits
One of the biggest problem with some online auction sites are the number of counterfeit coins being sold as genuine. Many of these coins look genuine. They may have been made of cast models of genuine coins with engraved enhancing to make them look better. Others are very badly made where designs have dates of coins that does not exist. Two coins commonly faked are Trade Dollars and Morgan Dollars.
Susan Headly of about.com posted an excellent and scary report that counterfeiting foreign coins, or any non-Chniese product, is legal in China as long as the seller pays the appropriate government taxes. Even with complaints from numerous copyright owners about piracy and the many recalled products from China, the United States government appears to be unable to prevent these products from entering the country. It is especially distrubing when Nancy Nord, acting chairperson of the Consumer Product Safety Commission turns down additional appropriations to help her agency to do their job better showing the government will not help.
Even if you are buying graded coins that are encapsulated in a reputable third party grading service’s holder, you have to be careful with some coins because the slabs are now being counterfeited. The picture on the left was posted on the Collectors’ Universe Forums by user pcgs69 showing a genuine coin in a PCGS slab next to a counterfeit slab complete with valid serial number. In this case, pcgs69 knew the real coin was sold by Heritage Auction Galleries a few years earlier.
I was prompted to write about this from a friend who purposely bought a counterfeit Trade Dollar on a very well know online auction site. He knew it was counterfeit because it was dated 1886 (Trade Dollars were struck 1873-1885) but was curious as to what he would receive. The coin was sent from an address in China and arrived in ten days. The first thing he noticed was that the coin was made from a casting with softer details than a struck coins. My friend consulted a metallurgist who estimated the coin was made from a mixture of metals containing 40-percent silver. A real Trade Dollar is struck on a 90-percent silver planchet.
As my friend was telling me about the coin he asked if we will be seeing more of these coins this fall? With the Summer Olympics starting on 8/8/08 in Beijing, how many unsuspecting tourists will be sold counterfeits as “rare coins” and will try to post them on a popular online auction site hoping to make quick money?
Please be careful as you look to purchase items marked as “rare coins” from unfamiliar sources.
Congressional Gold Medal for Burmese Leader
On Tuesday, the White House announced that President George W. Bush signed H.R. 4286 to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s prime minister-elect who has been under house arrest for the past six years. The enrolled bill was sent to the President on May 1, President Bush singed the bill after the recent natural disaster in the country now called Myanmar and the problems with trying to get aid to the people posed by the current military government.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her work on behalf of the Burmese people. When award the $1.3 million prize, Ms. Suu Kyi used the money to establish a health and education fund for Burma. She is the only Nobel Peace Prize winner imprisoned. Congress will present her with the gold medal to recognize her commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights and democracy in Burma.
H.R. 4286 call for the Secretary of the Treasury to “shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions.” The Secretary can also strike duplicate bronze and gold medals for sale to the public at a price to be determine. Proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals will be deposited in the US Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Happy Birthday Harry
Harry S Truman became the 33rd President of the United States following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, a few months into Roosevelt’ fourth term. Truman presided over the end of the World War II in Europe and the decisive victory over Japan. He also oversaw the signing of the first United Nations charter.
Controversy followed Truman through his presidency which the close election in 1948 against Thomas E. Dewey. Amongst Truman’s controversial accomplishments was helping establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the integration of the armed forces. History has been kinder to Truman than were his critics during the 1952 election.
Harry S Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri making today his 124th birthday. In celebration of Truman’s birthday, the US Mint sent out a release noting that they sell a 15/16-inch bronze medal honoring Truman’s inaugurations. The medal was design by John R. Sinnock (obverse) and Gilroy Roberts (reverse) was struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
Happy Birthday and give ’em hell, Harry!
Support the Coin Collectors Blog
Buy me a coffee
Thank you for your support!
Let Me Know What You Think
Are you going to the World's Fair of Money
Total Voters: 17
Loading ...