The American Numismatic Association’s School of Numismatics offers the opportunity to improve coin grading skills with their ‘Fundamentals of Grading U.S. Coins’ course by instructor Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D.

The American Numismatic Association’s School of Numismatics will offer its Fundamentals of Grading United States Coins, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 8-9 during Coinfest in Stamford, Conn.

Students will learn and understand how U.S. coins should be graded according to the latest ANA and market standards during this highly enriched two-day seminar. Participants will gain confidence in evaluating surface marks, strike, luster and eye appeal through interactive discussions, group activities and individual study of hundreds of coins from the ANA grading set.

"A well-rounded education is the foundation of any successful collector," said ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd. "Courses like Fundamentals of Grading United States Coins can teach hobbyists skills and information that will save them thousands on the bourse floor."

Summer Seminar instructor Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D., will teach the course.

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Hobby Friendly Legislation Supported by ANA and Whitman

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley today signed legislation that will exempt coin dealers from the requirement to obtain a Maryland trader’s license for the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money® in Baltimore, July 30-Aug. 3.

Whitman Publishing, LLC, along with the ANA and the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, worked together to successfully lobby to change Maryland’s trader’s license law. The resulting legislation removes burdens that numismatic dealers would have otherwise faced this year if they had participated in more than three coin shows in Maryland within a 365-day period.

With four major coin shows planned in Baltimore this year (three by Whitman Baltimore Coin and Collectibles Conventions plus the ANA World’s Fair of Money), dealers would have had to apply for a state trader’s license that would have created ongoing regulatory and taxation burdens. With the new legislation, that requirement now excludes the 2008 Baltimore World’s Fair of Money as it is promoted by the ANA, a non-profit national organization.

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Not many people understand the connection between Edgar Allan Poe and the City of Baltimore, home to the 2008 World’s Fair of Money®. But anyone purchasing a 117th Anniversary ANA Convention medal will own a striking collectible and gain a greater understanding of Poe’s connection to the city where he lived, wrote, died and was buried.

Artist Jamie Franki conducted countless hours of research on Poe, searching for images preserved in portraits, daguerreotypes and drawings – as well as numismatic items that may have celebrated the author and his genius. But for all of his efforts, he found just one low relief, traditional side-view medal of Poe – used as a literary award by the New York Public Library in the late 19th century.

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More than 35 Other Winners in Heritage’s 2008 Survey, Including an ANA Life Membership

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Auction Galleries has selected more than 40 winners in their 2008 Auction Survey. The Grand Prize winner, an East Coast collector from Maryland, received a Mint State High Relief Saint-Gaudens $20.

Additionally, an ANA Life Membership was awarded to a numismatist from Ohio, and five ANA members won five-year memberships, and twenty one-year ANA memberships were awarded. Another ten ANA members won $100 gift certificates to the ANA Gift Shop/catalog.

Five Second Prize winners won the ability to auction $100,000 in numismatic properties with no Seller’s Fee, and ten Third Prize winners can auction $50,000 without a Seller’s Fee. Four additional winners received Mint State Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coins.

The winner of the Mint State High Relief Saint, who prefers to remain anonymous, had been collecting coins for more than 49 years, and is an ANA member.

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Earlier in the day the American Numismatic Association (ANA) sent out an e-mail notice letting members know ANA Money Museum Curator Douglas Mudd would be discussing the history, design and current use of the $1 bill on the Fox Business Network.

Unfortunately, the odds would have it that many likely read the e-mail only after the interview took place, which occurred at 12:45 p.m. (ET). Or, the daily business routine made it impossible to watch.

The good news is that the Fox Business video entitled, Decoding The Dollar, is now available online and embedded below.

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The American Numismatic Association and the coin collecting community will celebrate the 85th annual National Coin Week, April 20-26, with the theme, “Money Makes the World Go Round,” a tribute to numismatics, youth and world unity.

The ANA has created a National Treasure Hunt built around this year’s theme to help attract new collectors. Special bookmarks and buttons have been developed to help generate interest and enthusiasm for the event. More than 50 member clubs are distributing the bookmarks at dozens of schools, libraries and other community organizations across the country. The bookmarks list the five objects needed to complete the treasure hunt:

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Anthony Tumonis of Tucson, Ariz., received the Best-in-Show Exhibit Award for his display, "1940 Arizona Movie Scrip," at the American Numismatic Association’s 2008 National Money Show™ in Phoenix, March 7-9. In recognition of his efforts, Mr. Tumonis received an engraved medal, a certificate, and a 1928 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold piece donated by Robert L. Higgins and Donald Ketterling of Certified Assets Management, Inc.

The first runner-up award was presented to Emmett McDonald of Islip, N.Y., for his exhibit "Weighing Gold Coins in England, circa 1830." John Grost of El Paso, Texas, received the second runner-up award for his exhibit, "Numismatic Souvenirs of the Meeting of Presidents Taft and Diaz, El Paso, Texas, October 16, 1909." McDonald and Grost received certificates for their accomplishments.

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Dallas, TX. The Official Auction of the ANA’s Phoenix National Money Show, presented by Heritage Auction Galleries March 6-7 has concluded, with prices realized close to $10 million; this marked Heritage’s 37th official auction on behalf of the American Numismatic Association. Prices realized from the 2,000 lots included in the event currently stand at $9,671,627; after adding proceeds from all Post Auction Buys, total prices are expected to exceed $10 million. Images, descriptions, and prices realized are currently posted at Heritage’s HA.com website.

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Former banking and investment executive and life-long coin collector Larry Shepherd has been named the new executive director of the American Numismatic Association, President Barry Stuppler announced today.

Shepherd, whose appointment was announced during opening ceremonies of the Phoenix National Money Show at 9:45 a.m., is an ANA Life Member (#5036) and owner and president of Simco Numismatics in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to founding Simco in 1989, he spent 17 years in the banking and investment community, including 14 years in executive management.

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The First to be Assembled with the Common Reverses. To be Offered by Heritage Auction Galleries at the Baltimore ANA

Dallas, TX. The Ed Price Collection, an incomparable variety collection of early Dimes and Quarter Eagles, valued over $4 million, will be auctioned by Heritage Auction Galleries at their Official Auction of the Baltimore ANA, July 30-Aug. 2, 2008.

Only one complete collection of draped bust dimes by variety had previously been assembled (Allen F. Lovejoy’s, sold in 1990), and only one complete collection of early quarter eagles (1796-1807) by variety had previously been assembled (by Harry Bass - now on display at ANA Museum).

Heritage is proud to present the Ed Price Collection, a complete collection by variety of both the early dimes and quarter eagles, featuring the common reverse dies, such as has never before been assembled.

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