By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek…
Plaques, dinner, and humor dished out at Numismatic Literary Guild Bash…
The Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) Bash is a chance for some of the industry’s brightest and most talented writers to get together, talk about all things numismatic, and tell jokes. Lots of jokes… usually of the eye-rolling, groan-inducing variety.
It’s also the one time of the year when the industry’s leading writers are recognized for their important contributions to the fields of numismatic research and writing.
MC duties for the night’s events were handled by Scott Travers, who, alongside Mike Fuljenz of Universal Coin and Bullion, broke out a coin industry version of the Great Carnac. Together, they poked fun at the “monotony” of choosing the city of Rosemont as the site of the ANA World’s Fair of Money and made light of the dismissals of former ANA Executive Directors Jeff Shevlin and Larry Shepherd.
The vaudevillian feel of the night continued as the audience was serenaded with coin-themed songs and skits.
John Albanese was given the organization’s highest honor, the Clemy Award. The PCGS, NGC, and CAC founder was not present to receive the award, but was recognized for his valuable contributions to the field of numismatics and numismatic writing.
Q. David Bowers’ Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money took home the NLG Book of the Year Award.
The first two volumes of this impressive magnum opus on America’s long-forgotten currency notes debuted this March at the Whitman Expo in Baltimore. Bowers and Whitman Publisher Dennis Tucker held a Money Talks seminar on the project, which is ongoing and dubbed “The Owl Creek Project” by Whitman.
Longtime NLG Director Ed Reiter was the recipient of the Burnett Anderson Award. Reiter, who has led the NLG for more than 20 years, gave an emotional acceptance speech in which he discussed the history of the NLG and Anderson’s lasting legacy. Those in attendance were touched by Reiter’s remarks and gave him a standing ovation.
CoinWeek took home seven awards.
CoinWeek won Best Online News Web Site and ran the table, taking home all three writing awards in the Web Site category.
Greg Reynolds won Best Web Site Coin Article for “The Fabulous Eric Newman Collection“. He also won “Best Portfolio”, an award Reynolds has won three years in a row.
Hubert Walker and I won Best Web Site Token and Medal Article for the three-part “Spotlight on So-Called Dollars“. We also won Best Web Site Paper Money Article for “The Sochi 100 Ruble Note and Other Circulating Russian Banknotes: A Brief Primer“. This is the second year in a row that we’ve won in that category.
CoinWeek President David Lisot won NLG awards in both video categories, winning Best Commercial Video for “Kagin’s Sells Saddle Ridge Gold Treasure with Amazon” and Best Non-Commercial Video for “More Advice for Coin Collectors”, with Michael Fuljenz.
In addition, CoinWeek contributor David Provost won the Best Column, Small Publications Award for his piece “Exploring North Carolina Exonumia,” which was published in the North Carolina Numismatic Association Journal.
The Complete List of NLG Award Winners:
Books
Book of the Year:
- Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money, by Q. David Bowers
Best Specialized Book:
- United States Coins: New Jersey State Coppers, by Roger S. Siboni, John L. Howes and A. Buell Ish
- World Coins: The Island Standard, by John Tully
- Tokens and Medals: Utah Trade Tokens, Second Edition, by H. Robert Campbell
- U.S. Paper Money: Panic Scrip of 1893, 1907 and 1914, by Neil Shafer and Tom Sheehan
- World Paper Money: Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues, 12th Edition. George S. Cuhaj, Editor
- Numismatic Investments: Cash In Your Coins, by Beth Deisher
Extraordinary Merit:
- Ancient Coins, Ancient Skies, by George Latura
- A Register of Liberty Seated Half Dollar Die Varieties, Volume IV, by Bill Bugert
- Collecting Confederate Paper Money, by Pierre Fricke
- Communion Tokens, by Michael Shutty Jr.
- From Crime to Punishment – Counterfeit and Debased Currencies in Colonial and Pre-Federal America, by Philip J. Mossman (CoinWeek “First Read“)
- Money of the Bible, 3rd Edition, by Kenneth Bressett
- The Dollar of 1804, The U.S. Mint’s Hidden Secret, by Mark Ferguson (CoinWeek “First Read“)
- The National Coin Album, by David W. Lange
U.S. Numismatic Magazines
Best Article or Series of Articles:
- Coins: (Tie) “What Price Perfection?” by Tom DeLorey, COINage
- Coins: (Tie) “Hidden in Plain Sight: Smithsonian Reveals Modern Era Treasures” by Jeff Garrett and Steve Roach, Coin World Special Edition
- Tokens & Medals: “Habemus Papam: Popes on Coins and Medals” by David T. Alexander, COINage
- Paper Money: “Paper Records “ by Scott Fybush, COINage
Best Column:
- “My Two Cents’ Worth,” Ed Reiter, COINage
Best Issue:
- Coin World Special Edition, May 2013, Steve Roach, Editor
World Numismatic Magazines
Best Article or Series of Articles:
- Coins: “What Better Symbols – The Designing of a Nation’s Coinage” by Edward Colgan, Coin News
- Tokens & Medals: “Rare U.S. Legion of Merit Award to an Aussie Coastwatcher Fetches Mere $235” by Dr. K.A. Rodgers, Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine
- Paper Money: “The Issues of Armée Catholique et Royale” by Kerry Rodgers, Coin News
Best Column:
- “From A to Z,” Bob Reis, World Coin News
Best Issue:
- Coin News, July 2013, John W. Mussell, Editor
Non-Profit or Club Numismatic Publications
Best Article, Large Publications:
- “The Tale of the Thurrock Potins” by Mark Fox, The Numismatist
Best Column, Large Publications:
- “Medieval Coins,” Allen G. Berman, The Numismatist
Best Issue, Large Publications:
- American Numismatic Society Magazine, 2013 Issue 4, Peter van Alfen, Editor
Best Article, Small Publications:
- “Numisgraphics – The Flesh and the Spirit” by John W. Adams, The Asylum
Best Column, Small Publications:
- “Exploring North Carolina Exonumia,” David Provost, North Carolina Numismatic Association Journal (See David’s excellent work for CoinWeek)
Best Issue, Small Publications:
- John Reich Journal, December 2013, John Reich Collectors Society, Brad Karoleff, Editor
Numismatic Newspapers
Best Spot News Story, or Continuing Coverage of Developing Story in Numismatics:
- Continuing coverage of 1974-D aluminum cent, Paul Gilkes, Coin World
Best Article or Series of Articles:
- Coins: “Stellas Illustrated Strange Theory” by R.W. Julian, Numismatic News
- Tokens & Medals: “What Makes the 1776 Libertas Americana Medal So Special?” by Steve Roach, Coin World
- Paper Money: “Hometown Notes Often Offer a Glimpse Behind the Scenes” by Michele Orzano, Coin World
Best Column:
- “Shades of the Blue and Grey,” Fred Reed, Bank Note Reporter
Best Issue:
- Bank Note Reporter, July 2013, Robert Van Ryzin, Editor
Non-Numismatic Publications
The Maurice M. Gould Memorial Award, Best Column:
- “Money Talk,” Frank J. Colletti, Lost Treasure Magazine
Best Article:
- “Couple Stumbles on $10 Million in Rare Coins” by John Rogers, The Associated Press
Computer Software and Internet Web Sites
Best Web Site Coin Article:
- “The Fabulous Eric Newman Collection” by Greg Reynolds, CoinWeek
Best Web Site Token and Medal Article:
- “Spotlight on So-Called Dollars” by Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker, CoinWeek
Best Web Site Paper Money Article:
- “The Sochi 100 Ruble Note and Other Circulating Russian Banknotes: A Brief Primer” by Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker, CoinWeek
Best Web Site Column:
- “USA Coin Album,” David W. Lange, NGC News
Best Online News Web Site:
- CoinWeek.com, David Lisot, Executive Producer; Scott Purvis, Webmaster
Best Dealer Web Site:
- HeritageCoins.com (coins.ha.com), Heritage Auction Galleries, Paul Minshull, Michael Weems, Brian Shipman, Ryan Sokol and Stewart Huckaby
Best Non-Trade Press Web Site:
- Numismatics.org, American Numismatic Society
Best Internet Blog:
- “The Buzz,” Dave Harper, Numismatic News
Best Software:
- HA.com/Live, Heritage Auctions, Paul Minshull, Matt Jackson, Ryan Sokol and Michael Weems
Auction Catalogs
Best Auction Catalog, Coins and Currency:
- “Missouri Cabinet Collection,” January 2014, Ira and Larry Goldberg
Extraordinary Merit:
- “Selections From the Eric P. Newman Collections, Part II,” November 2013, Heritage Auctions
Best Auction Catalog, Books and Exonumia:
- “John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XXIV,” September 2013, Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Commercial Publications
Lee Martin Founder’s Award for Best Investment Newsletter:
- The Rosen Numismatic Advisory, Maurice H. Rosen
Best Dealer-Published Magazine or Newspaper:
- Investors Profit Advisory, Mike Fuljenz
All-Around Award
Best All-Around Portfolio:
- Greg Reynolds, CoinWeek
Audio-Visual Awards
Best Radio Report:
- “The Coin Show,” Mike Fuljenz, KLVI 560, Beaumont, Texas
Best Television Report:
- “The Coin and Precious Metal Report,” Mike Fuljenz, KBTV-TV FOX 4, Beaumont, Texas
Best Non-Commercial Video:
- “More Advice for Coin Collectors,” CoinWeek.com, David Lisot, Producer; Michael Fuljenz, Author
Best Commercial Video:
- “Kagin’s Sells Saddle Ridge Gold Treasure With Amazon,” David Lisot
In Appreciation
- Arlene Germano, Entry Coordinator – For long and devoted service to the NLG and entrants in our Writer’s Competition
Memorial Awards
James L. Miller Memorial Award:
- David W. Lange, The Numismatist, “The Search for A.W. Faxon”
Clement F. Bailey Memorial Award for Best New Writer:
- Daniel Wolf, American Numismatic Society, American Journal of Numismatics
Burnett Anderson Award:
- Ed Reiter
The Ribbit:
- Tom DeLorey
