Attendees of the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money in Anaheim are encouraged to sign-up for the ANA’s pre-convention, two-day Technical Series Seminars. From the fundamentals of grading United States coins to the more advanced techniques of detecting counterfeit gold coinage, the technical seminars offer proven tips and tools to enhance any collector’s numismatic skills and their enjoyment of the hobby. Both seminars will take place August 7-8 at the Hilton Anaheim Hotel, located at 777 Convention Way.
Fundamentals of Grading U.S. Coins
- Instructors: Rod Gillis, ANA education director; and Sam Gelberd, ANA numismatic educator.
- Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (each day)
Knowledge of coin grading not only helps collectors be more confident on the bourse floor, but helps take the worry out of numismatic purchases. The two-day seminar covers many topics and emphasizes the fundamental principles of grading circulated U.S. coins, including the history and evolution of grading standards, analysis of a coin’s focal points, technical and market grading, how to determine initial signs of wear and evaluating surface marks, strike, luster and eye appeal.
Detecting Counterfeit U.S. Gold Coinage
- Instructor: Brian Silliman, professional numismatist, and former NGC grader/conserver.
- Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (each day)
Many collectors and dealers have unwittingly bought and sold deceptive counterfeits of U.S. gold coins. It’s a humbling and expensive mistake to make. But detecting counterfeit U.S. gold coins is relatively easy to learn. Through digital presentations and extensive hands-on coin exercises, students will learn the genuine characteristics and counterfeit diagnostics needed to authenticate most U.S. gold coins.
Show attendees are also invited to attend the ANA’s free Money Talks lectures. The informative 30- to 45-minute programs are presented by some of the hobby’s most noted authorities. Presentations are offered Thursday through Saturday, August 11-13, 2016, in the Avila Room of the Hilton Anaheim Hotel.
“Don’t miss out on these informative and fun presentations,” said Susan McMillan, ANA seminar director. “Our presenters are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about a wide range of subjects and want to share their insights and passion with you.”
The following is a complete list of Money Talks presentations in Anaheim:
Thursday, August 11
- 9:00 a.m. — “Announcing a New Grading System” by Rick Snow.
- 10:00 a.m. — “Orientation to Grading U.S. Large Cents” by Ron Shintaku.
- 11:00 a.m. — “Numismatic Vignettes of Brighton Center, Massachusetts” by Robert Korver.
- 12:00 p.m. — “Trends that are Shaping the Coin Collecting Hobby Today” by Steve Roach.
- 1:00 p.m. — “’Should ‘In God We Trust’ Be Banned on Money?” by Michael Fuljenz.
- 2:00 p.m. — “Currency Doctoring Detection” by Jeffrey Paunicka.
- 3:00 p.m. — “Discover Suttler Tokens! The Mystery and Charisma of the Coins Carried in the Pockets of Civil War Soldiers” by Q. David Bowers and Susan Trask.
- 4:00 p.m. — “So-Called Dollars in the Mega Red Book” by Jeff Shevlin, William D. Hyder and Dennis Tucker.
Friday, August 12
- 9:00 a.m. — “Double Dimes and the Amazing Discovery at the Carson City Mint” by John Frost.
- 10:00 a.m. — “The 1794 Congressional Committee Appointed to Examine the Mint” by David Finkelstein.
- 11:00 a.m. — “Hidden Profits in Modern U.S. Mint Silver and Gold Medals” by Dennis Tucker.
- 12:00 p.m. — “The Great State Seal of California, Deconstructed: The Early Medals of the California State Agricultural Society” by Michael F. Wehner.
- 1:00 p.m. — “So-Called Athens Civic Mint Tetradrachms 520-500 BC” by Harlan J. Berk.
- 2:00 p.m. — “Is it the End of an Era for Collecting Vintage Coins?” by Scott A. Travers and Maurice Rosen.
- 3:00 p.m. — “The ANA Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary” by Q. David Bowers.
- 4:00 p.m. — “The Castorland Jeton: America’s Most Beautiful French Coin” by Chester L. Sullivan.
Saturday, August 13
- 9:00 a.m. — “Mapping the Transition from Ancient to Medieval Coinage: The FLAME Project” by Alan M. Stahl.
- 10:00 a.m. — “The Newman Numismatic Portal and the Future of Online Numismatics” by Len Augsburger, Wayne Homren and John Feigenbaum.
- 11:00 a.m. — “The Olympic Games: History & Numismatics” by Douglas Mudd.
- 12:00 p.m. — “Collecting Medals” by Robert F. Fritsch.
- 1:00 p.m. — “The World of Elongates” by Richard Jozefiak.
- 2:00 p.m. — “Marijuana and Oil: Expressways to the Highs of California Banking, 1880-1924” by Peter Huntoon.
- 3:00 p.m. — “Connections: Black Pepper, The Mountain that Eats Men and John Reich” by Brad Karoleff.
Sundman Lecture Series
Free and open to the public. Notable speakers will share their ideas and expertise on an array of numismatic subjects related to this year’s theme: “Grande Dames: How the Portraits and Contributions of Women Have Influenced Numismatics.”
Guests are invited to attend the luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 10, priced at $15 per person, and stay for the Legacy Series honoring the life and contributions of David Sundman, president of Littleton Coin Company. Registration for the luncheon closes July 27.
The following is a complete list of this year’s Sundman lectures:
- 9:00 a.m. — “Breaking the Original Glass Ceiling: Warrior Queens Lead the Way” by Prue Morgan Fitts.
- 10:15 a.m. — “A History of Women Medallic Sculptors in America” by R. Lee Barrett.
- 11:30 a.m. — “The Long Shadow of Cleopatra: Numismatic Portraits of Ptolemaic Queens” by Oliver D. Hoover.
- 3:30 p.m. — “From Sarah Waldrake to Rosie Rios: Numismatic Hobby Contributions of Women in the Treasury Department from 1795 to Present” by Walter A. Ostromecki Jr.
In addition to the wide range of technical seminars and educational presentations, the five-day event will feature nearly 1,000 dealers buying and selling coins, currency and related items; major auctions by Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Heritage Auctions; as well as the ANA Museum Showcase, exhibiting priceless rarities from the Money Museum and private collections.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. August 9-12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 13. Admission is $8 for adults; ANA members and children 12 and under are always free.
