The American Numismatic Association presented 71 competitive exhibit awards at the 2008 World’s Fair of Money® in Baltimore. Winners were announced at the Exhibit Awards Presentation and Reception on Aug. 2.

Sixty-one exhibitors of all ages and experience levels, showing 85 displays, competed in this year’s program. There were also 9 non-competitive exhibitors showing 16 exhibits. The Collector Gallery featured eight current or former ANA convention Best-of-Show exhibits.

The top exhibitor was Mack Martin, who received the Howland Wood Memorial Award for Best-of-Show for his exhibit, "State of Georgia Currency Certificates, 1861-1865." First runnerup was Sam Deep, for "Off the Beaten Numismatic Path." Second runner-up was Steve Middleton for "Medals of the First Ferris Wheel."

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Funds to be used to help offset costs of Summer Seminar

The Central States Numismatic Society today presented a check for $50,000 to the American Numismatic Association to help fund Summer Seminar, the ANA’s annual summer educational program.

The gift, presented by CSNS President Patti Finner during opening ceremonies of the World’s Fair of Money in Baltimore, will be used to offset costs of operating Summer Seminar.

"The Central States Numismatic Society believes in education," said Finner, who also is vice president of the ANA.

"We believe Summer Seminar is the best opportunity for numismatic education on the planet. This is our 40th anniversary present to the ANA Summer Seminar – we want to make sure it’s around for at least another 40 years."

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Dallas, TX. Heritage Auction Galleries has set the record for the most valuable ANA Auction ever! Significant and classic rarities from all series in American numismatics, most of them offered in the Platinum Night catalogs, smashed the previous record of $27.7 million set last year at the Milwaukee ANA event.

The auction was held in Baltimore July 30 - Aug. 3, in conjunction with the World’s Fair of Money summer convention of the American Numismatic Association. Total prices realized for the American coins are currently $41,022,713, and will rise further when the post auction buys are finalized.

“This was Heritage’s 38th Official ANA Auction, a record in itself!” enthused Heritage C.E.O. Steve Ivy.

“We were very pleased with our results in Milwaukee last year, and we think Baltimore has demonstrated the absolute strength of the market for important and high quality coins. Such high prices realized also mean a record-setting check will be provided to the ANA to support their educational and membership programs.

We also take great pride that our total was 50% higher than our previous ANA record, and double that accomplished by any other ANA auctioneer. Heritage delivered for the ANA.”

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(Baltimore, Maryland) – Two prominent rare coin dealers jointly bid a total of $12,650 (including buyer’s premium) to have lunch with Heritage Auction Galleries Co-Chairman, best-selling author and acclaimed numismatic authority, Jim Halperin. 

Conducted in conjunction with Heritage’s official auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® convention in Baltimore on "Platinum Night," July 31, 2008, all proceeds of the winning bid and commission will be donated to ANA education programs.

The highest bid came from Anthony Terranova of New York City and Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics in Lincroft, New Jersey.

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(Baltimore, Maryland) — The brief comments below are in conjunction with the unveiling of a new U.S. gold coin, the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle, by United States Mint Director, Ed Moy, at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® in the Baltimore Convention Center on July 30, 2008.

"This is one of the most creative products to come from the United States Mint.  I believe it will be one of the Mint’s most sought after coins," stated Gary Adkins of Edina, Minnesota, President of the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com), a nonprofit organization composed of many of the nation’s top rare coin experts. 

"Virtually every collector would like to own one of the Ultra High Relief gold pieces issued in 1907 because it’s one of the world’s most beautiful coins; however, because of scarcity and strong demand, prices can range from $10,000 and up.  The 2009-dated Ultra High Relief Double Eagle gold coins will give collectors a chance to obtain this artistic rendition at a price closer to its actual gold bullion value," Adkins said.

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A $5,000 finder’s fee reward is being offered by Kagin’s, Inc. of Tiburon, California for confirmation of the second known gold coin counter-stamped with the genuine hallmark of Baltimore silversmith, Standish Barry. 

The only coin now known with the hallmark is the unique 1735 imitation Lima 8 escudos that was found in the collection of legendary Baltimore banker, Louis E. Eliasberg Sr.

Announcement of the finder’s reward was made by Donald H. Kagin, Ph.D., President of Kagin’s, when he displayed the counter-stamped doubloon at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money convention.

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The American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® convention is packed with exciting collector opportunities and coin exhibits.

Beginning Wednesday, July 30 and ending Sunday, August 3., this year’s convention in Baltimore, Maryland is sure to be one of the best.

Listing all the exceptional events occurring at the show is fruitless… There are simply too many. But here is a selection of several that highlight some of the fun and exciting experiences to enjoy:

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(Dana Point, California) — A previously unrecorded 1943-S Lincoln cent, erroneously struck on a bronze planchet and found in circulation by a teenaged collector over a half century ago, has been acquired by Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California.

The discovery coin now is certified as AU-53 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

"The coin was found in 1944 by Kenneth S. Wing Jr. of Long Beach, California who was assembling a set of Lincoln cents at the time," said Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers (www.RCW1.com).

Wing became a prominent Southern California architect who co-designed the Long Beach Arena in the late 1950s. He passed away in 1996.

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The American Numismatic Association announced Philadelphia artist Jim Licaretz is the 2008 recipient of the ANA’s Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture (NAAEMS). Today, the United States Mint let the public know and praised Licaretz for receiving the award.

“We are pleased the panel of judges recognized Jim’s body of work,” said United States Mint Director Ed Moy.  “Jim’s artistry is helping the United States Mint achieve a new level of design excellence.”

Licaretz was a United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver from 1986 to 1989, and returned to the U.S. Mint in 2006 as a Medallic Sculpture. Recent bodies of work include the Mint’s 2008 Bald Eagle Proof silver dollar coin and the Andrew Jackson Presidential $1 obverse.

"To be honored with the American Numismatic Association’s award is quite a welcome surprise," said Licaretz. "There is a great responsibility in giving form to one’s experience of life. Medallic sculpture is a unique way of recording and sharing these experiences."

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The United States Mint peaked curiosity further for the ANA World’s Fair of Money® convention by announcing their unveiling of the 2009 Saint-Gaudens double eagle designed gold coin and adding a display of six real gold bars that were refined at West Point.

The Mint previously announced they would show the modern $20 gold coin, but the latest announcement adds that their exhibit will:

Show the development of this modern masterpiece-from its origin as gold bars-through test strikes-to the finished, one-ounce 24-karat (.9999 pure) 2009 United States Mint Ultra High Relief Gold Coin.

For sure, an extra element of interest is added to the much awaited revelation of the 2009 Ultra High Relief, which is a modern version of the 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 Double Eagle often described as the most beautiful gold piece ever made.

Weighing in at 27.5 pounds each with 400 ounces of gold, the six gold bars for the exhibit are worth about $2.3 million dollars based on yesterday’s London gold closing of $959.75 an ounce.

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