The Artist Who Helped Shape Latvia’s Coins and the Historian Who Brings the Past to Life Earn ANA Awards

From Latvia’s Coins to Forgotten Archives: Two Remarkable Careers Earn ANA’s Awards

Coins preserve history in ways that few other objects can. Their designs reflect national identity, while the documents surrounding their creation often reveal remarkable stories that collectors might otherwise never discover.

At the 2026 American Numismatic Association (ANA) World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, two individuals received major honors for advancing these very different sides of numismatics.

Latvian sculptor Jānis Strupulis, whose work helped define the appearance of his nation’s modern coinage, received the ANA’s Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture. Meanwhile, David Hill, librarian and historian at the American Numismatic Society (ANS), earned the Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing.

The ANA recognized both men during its 135th Anniversary Awards Banquet on August 28, 2026, at the Westin Pittsburgh.

Jānis Strupulis: An Artist Who Helped Give Latvia Its Identity

When Latvia restored its independence from the Soviet Union, the country faced an enormous task. It needed to rebuild its institutions, restore its national currency, and create monetary designs that expressed its renewed independence.

The return of the Latvian lats in 1993 marked an important milestone. For collectors, those coins also represented a striking new chapter in European numismatic art.

Jānis Strupulis played a significant role in that transformation.

Born in 1949, Strupulis graduated from the Art Academy of Latvia in 1973. Over the following decades, he established an international reputation for sculpture, medallic art, and graphic design.

His contributions to Latvian currency rank among his most familiar achievements. Working with graphic artist Gunārs Lūsis, Strupulis helped create the sculptural models for modern Latvian coins, including the distinctive 1999 bimetallic 2-lats piece.

That coin provides a wonderful example of how everyday money can communicate national character. Its reverse features a cow, a traditional symbol of Latvia’s agricultural heritage. Meanwhile, the obverse carries the country’s coat of arms.

Strupulis also contributed to 1-lat designs from 1999 and 2001, along with numerous other circulation and commemorative coins.

His artistic achievements extend far beyond the mint. He has produced medals, drawings, portraits, and commemorative plaques honoring historical figures in Riga and elsewhere.

Moreover, his work has earned international recognition, including honors at the Baltic medal art triennials and Dante medal art biennials in Italy.

Strupulis belongs to several major artistic organizations, including the Artists’ Union of Latvia and the International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM). He has also served as president of the Latvian Arts Medal Club.

The ANA’s Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture recognizes artists whose lifetime achievements demonstrate exceptional mastery of medallic design and sculpture.

Established in 1966, the award has honored many influential figures in the field, including Gilroy Roberts, Frank Gasparro, and John Mercanti.

For Strupulis, the 2026 recognition celebrates a career that connects artistic achievement with the preservation of national heritage.

David Hill: Finding Remarkable Stories in Forgotten Archives

While Strupulis preserves history through metal and sculpture, David Hill approaches numismatics from another direction.

He searches archives, studies original documents, and uncovers the personalities and events that shaped the hobby.

A New York native, Hill became the American Numismatic Society’s librarian in 2014 after serving as its archivist. Before joining the society, he spent approximately two decades working with libraries, historical collections, and archival institutions.

That experience prepared him for a position offering extraordinary access to numismatic research materials.

Hill has written extensively for ANS Magazine, the society’s quarterly publication. His articles draw on primary sources from the ANS archives, often exploring subjects that extend well beyond familiar coin dates, mintages, and auction records.

For Hill, a historical document can provide the starting point for an unexpected discovery.

“My subjects seem to present themselves, practically insisting on being written about,” Hill explained.

He credits much of that inspiration to the historical resources surrounding him.

“My job involves dipping into all the rare and wonderful historical materials I’m fortunate to be surrounded by.”

Yet Hill does more than assemble historical facts. He invests considerable time in identifying the people behind those records and placing their experiences into a meaningful narrative.

His approach demonstrates why original research remains essential to numismatic journalism. Old correspondence, institutional records, and overlooked documents can change how collectors understand even familiar subjects.

Above all, Hill wants his research to remain useful long after publication.

“My long-term goal has always been to leave something behind that is well documented, so that other people can use and build upon the information I’ve uncovered.”

That commitment helped earn him the 2026 Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing.

The award recognizes researchers, authors, and journalists whose sustained contributions have advanced numismatic knowledge. Established in 1999, it honors Burnett Anderson and his legacy of excellence in numismatic journalism.

The ANA, American Numismatic Society, and Numismatic Literary Guild participate in selecting the recipient.

Two Careers That Demonstrate the Lasting Value of Numismatics

Although Strupulis and Hill work in different disciplines, their careers share an important purpose.

One uses artistic skill to preserve a nation’s culture on coins and medals. The other uses original documents to recover stories that history might otherwise overlook.

Both have devoted decades to work that reaches far beyond the collecting community.

Their recognition at the 2026 World’s Fair of Money serves as a reminder that numismatics involves much more than collecting rare objects. It also depends on the artists who create them and the researchers who explain their place in history.

Together, Strupulis and Hill demonstrate how numismatic art and scholarship can preserve important stories for generations to come.