Deisher, Herbert inducted into Numismatic Hall of Fame
Beth Deisher and Alan Herbert were inducted into the Numismatic Hall of Fame during the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Ill. The induction ceremony took place at the ANA Banquet, where ANA Numismatic Hall of Famer Q. David Bowers spoke about this year’s inductees and the Hall of Fame. Both Deisher and Herbert were numismatic reporters and editors.
Deisher is a dedicated hobby advocate and retired editor of Coin World. She is the founding editor of four numismatic publications. As an advocate for the hobby, Deisher served as hobby spokesperson to the general media for decades. She also testified at a 1988 congressional hearing about changing the designs on U.S. circulating coinage, and she cited abuses in the U.S. Mint’s commemorative coin program in a 1995 House subcommittee hearing. Her ANA accolades include the Glenn Smedley Memorial Award (1995), two Presidential Awards (1999, 2009), and the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service (2010).
Herbert, who died in January at the age of 86, began collecting coins in 1963. He began to write a column for a bulletin published by Collectors of Numismatic Errors (CONE). In 1983 CONE merged with Numismatic Error Collectors of America (NECA) to form CONECA. Herbert was the club’s secretary from 1967-1991. Herbert served as editor of Coins magazine for two years. He also was on the ANA Board of Governors in 1999 and from 2003-2008; in 2010 he replaced a departing Board member. Herbert was the recipient of the ANA Medal of Merit (1994) and the Glen Smedley Memorial Award (2001).
Induction into the Numismatic Hall of Fame is the ANA’s highest honor. The Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Jack W. Ogilvie, a Hollywood film writer and editor who served as ANA historian from 1950-1970. The Hall of Fame was created in 1964, and the initial inductees were named in 1969. The Numismatic Hall of Fame Gallery is located at the ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. The gallery features photographs and brief biographies of those enshrined.
For more information on the new members of the Numismatic Hall of Fame, refer to page 76 of the September issue of The Numismatist.
ANA announces 2013 Literary Awards winners
The ANA’s 2013 literary awards — recognizing articles published in the 2012 volume of the ANA’s official magazine, The Numismatist — were presented on Aug. 15 at the ANA World’s Fair of MoneySM in Rosemont, Ill. The Numismatist was first published by ANA founder and inaugural editor Dr. George F. Heath in 1888 and this year celebrates its 125th anniversary.
The Heath Literary Award, introduced in 1949, acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding year. First place went to Q. David Bowers for his March 2012 article, “Era of Secrecy,” which focused on the U.S. Mint’s practice of striking special coins for collectors in the late 1800s. Bowers received $250, a silver medal, and a certificate. Bowers generously donated his $250 prize money to the ANA’s Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library.
Nancy Oliver and Richard Kelly, co-authors of the magazine’s monthly “Numismatic Chronicles” column, took second place ($100, a bronze medal, and a certificate) for their article “On the Wrong Track” (September 2012), describing a daring 1877 train robbery in which the perpetrators got away with thousands of double eagles. Bibliophile David F. Fanning received third place (a bronze medal and a certificate) for “Top 10 American Numismatic Books of the 19th Century” (February 2012), which exemplified how classic references continue to inform today’s collectors.
The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award, endowed by the late John J. Ford Jr., is presented for articles in The Numismatist that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics. Mark Fox for “In Search of Machin’s Mill’s” (December 2012) received first-place honors ($400 and a certificate), and David E. Schenkman was awarded second place ($200 and a certificate) for “The Numismatic Legacy of S.D. Childs” (October 2012).
Funded by an anonymous donor, the Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies was presented to two authors. First place ($50 and a certificate) went to P. Scott Rubin for “New Jersey Currency of 1776” (July 2012), which considered Revolution-era notes and a historic hoard. Gerome Walton received second-place honors (certificate) for “Nebraska’s Smallest National Bank Town” (August 2012), in which he explained how surviving $10 and $20 notes tell the story of tiny St. James, Nebraska.
Additional coverage of awards can be found in the September issue of The Numismatist –page 74.
The Heath Literary Award
- First place – Q. David Bowers, “Era of Secrecy” (March 2012), ($250, silver medal and certificate)
- Second place – Nancy Oliver and Richard Kelly, “On the Wrong Track” (September 2012), ($100, bronze medal, certificate)
- Third place – Bibliophile David F. Fanning, “Top 10 American Numismatic Books of the 19th Century” (February 2012), (bronze medal, certificate)
The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award
- First place – Mark Fox, “In Search of Machin’s Mills” (December 2012), ($400, certificate)
- Second place – David E. Schenkman, “The Numismatic Legacy of S.D. Childs” (October 2012), ($200, certificate)
The Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies
- First place – P. Scott Rubin, “New Jersey Currency of 1776” (July 2012), ($50, certificate)
- Second place – Gerome Walton, “Nebraska’s Smallest National Bank Town” (August 2012), (certificate)
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its 26,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or go to www.money.org.
New design for 2013 Heath Literary Award
Newly designed Heath Literary Award medals created by Jamie Franki were presented at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Ill., on August 15. The Heath Literary Award was initially introduced in 1949 and acknowledges outstanding articles published the preceding year in the ANA’s official magazine, The Numismatist.
Measuring 3 inches in diameter, the medal was stuck in antique bronze and nickel-silver by the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It replaces the bronze and .999 fine silver medals produced in 1986 by Medallic Art Company.
The obverse of the new medal features a right-facing portrait of George Heath, a facsimile of his signature and the ANA Lamp of Knowledge as it appeared on early issues of The Numismatist. The reverse shows the small press on which the journal was first printed. The doves and rays emanating from the press represent the dissemination of knowledge and goodwill.
Franki is the Associate Chairperson of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Aside from the Heath Literary Award, he designed five other medals for the Association commemorating ANA World’s Fair of Money Conventions in Baltimore (2008), Boston (2010), Chicago (2011, 2013) and Philadelphia (2012). Franki is best known in the numismatic community for creating the reverse of the 2005 “American Bison” nickel and the obverse of the 2006 “Jefferson 1800” nickel.
The new award medal was generously underwritten for the next 25 years by author and former ANA President Q. David Bowers. “We are very grateful to Dave Bowers for endowing this time-honored tradition,” says Numismatist Editor Barbara J. Gregory. “Without his support, the Heath Literary Award no longer would include a beautiful medallic prize, nor would we have been able to engage Jamie Franki to design and sculpt it.”
All feature articles in The Numismatist are eligible for the Heath Literary Award. The winners are determined by a panel of judges, with first place receiving an engraved, nickel-silver medal and $250; second place earning an engraved bronze medal and $100; and third place garnering an engraved bronze medal.
The Numismatist welcomes the opportunity to review well-written, well conceived articles displaying original, documented research. To learn more about the Heath Literary Award or submitting articles for possible publication, contact Editor Barbara J. Gregory, phone 719-482-9831, e-mail [email protected].
ANA’s honors top members during 2013 World’s Fair of Money
The American Numismatic Association honored several of its members with a variety of awards during the recent 2013 World’s Fair of Money at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont, Ill.
Richard Doty was honored posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Doty, who died on June 2, 2013, was senior numismatic curator at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. He authored several books, including Pictures from a Distant Country; The Soho Mint & The Industrialization of Money; America’s Money, America’s Story; and The Token: America’s Other Money.
Raymond Dillard won the Adna G. Wilde Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence, which recognizes ANA members who dedicate their time and resources to further the educational purposes of the Association, the hobby, and who set an example for others. Dillard has worked diligently to further the ANA’s educational mission through presentations and mentoring programs. He is a prolific designer of elongates and estimates that he has pressed more than 2 million coins in his lifetime.
Exemplary Service Awards, bestowed to those who go “above and beyond” in supporting the Association, were given to the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation and Joseph E. Boling. The Bass Foundation has been a prolific supporter of the ANA and the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum since 1991, donating time, money, material and expertise to several educational programs. Boling, a member for more than 40 years, is an author, educator, past ANA governor and the chief judge of the ANA Collector Exhibit competitions. He has been an instructor at Summer Seminar since 1999.
The Medal of Merit, given to members who dedicate years of service to the ANA and to the hobby, was awarded to David Sklow and Larry Gaye.
The Glenn Smedley Memorial Award, given to members who have devoted their efforts to the betterment of the ANA, was given to Daniel and Kathryn Freeland, Michael Fuljenz, Paul “Sonny” Henry, Sandra L. Hill, Debbie Williams and Wendell A. Wolka.
The Elvira Clain-Stefanelli Memorial Award For Achievement In Numismatics was bestowed posthumously on its namesake. The award is presented in recognition of the lifetime achievements of a female numismatist. Clain-Stefanelli was the retired executive director and curator of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection when she died in 2001. Her aggressive pursuit of donations helped increase the Smithsonian’s numismatic holdings from 60,000 to nearly 1 million.
Presidential Awards were given to Carl Wolf, Mark Wieclaw and Larry Gaye.
Member Booster awards were given to John and Nancy Wilson, who signed up 180 new members in the last year. Jeff Swindling was recognized for signing up 121 new members, while Stack’s Bowers Galleries won the Dealer Boost Award for signing up 363 new members.
9,082 hobbyists attend the 2013 World’s Fair of Money
A total of 9,082 people attended the American Numismatic Association’s 2013 World’s Fair of MoneySM, held Aug. 13-17 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.
There were 3,494 members of the public in attendance over the five-day show, and 539 attendees signed up for membership in the ANA at the show.
The 2012 World’s Fair of Money, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa., drew 8,810 visitors. The 2011 convention, also held in Rosemont, drew 9,113. In 1999, the Chicago World’s Fair of Money saw 9,558 visitors.
There were 1,620 table-holders and accompanying booth personnel in attendance, 31 staff and board members, and 19 national volunteers. Additionally, 113 Scouts attended the Boy Scout and Girl Scout clinics on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Daily member attendance: 3,805
- Pre-registered members: 361
- Aug 13: 561
- Aug 14: 688
- Aug. 15: 809
- Aug. 16: 753
- Aug 17: 633
Daily public attendance: 3,494
- Aug 13: 522
- Aug 14: 544
- Aug. 15: 1,130
- Aug. 16: 1,153
- Aug 17: 145
Total daily attendance: 9,082
- Aug 13: 3,114 (returning visitors, such as table-holders, staff and national volunteers, are counted in first-day attendance only)
- Aug 14: 1,232
- Aug. 15: 1,939
- Aug. 16: 1,906
- Aug 17: 891 (total includes Scouting attendance)
The World’s Fair of Money is the nation’s premier money show. The event featured a major auction by Stacks Bowers Galleries; more than 1,000 numismatic dealers with the best inventory anywhere; the ANA Museum Showcase exhibiting some of the world’s most valuable and beautiful coins and paper money; a Mint Promenade with mints from around the world; the Collector Exhibits area; educational presentations and seminars; and special events.
