American Numismatic Association

Hannah Powell named ANA YN of the Year

Hannah Powell, of Strawberry Point, Iowa, was named the 2012 YN of the Year by the American Numismatic Association on Thursday night in Colorado Springs. Powell has compiled a remarkable record as a numismatist and as a young adult serving as a role model for others.

Powell began collecting coins as a 4-year-old and later learned from one of the best mentors in the business, coin dealer and Summer Seminar instructor Brian Fanton.

"I wasn't expecting to win the award," Powell said. "When I accepted it, I had all these thoughts running through my head about how lucky I am to be involved in numismatics, especially at this level."

She is the founder and leader of the Starmont Coin Club and helps the Ames Coin Club with its youth programs.

Powell has a wide range of collecting interests and is currently collecting a note from every country in the world, building her MPC collection (especially with the number 6), as well as elemental coins from the periodic table. Powell's numismatic interest was on display with her high school prom dress, which was designed with coins sewed into the material.

Powell is currently a student at Iowa State University, majoring in agricultural systems technology, with minors in sustainability and economics. She is active in a variety of activities ranging from the Campus Ministry to the Carnivorous Plants Club. She's also deeply involved with the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa's youth ministry program.

One day, Powell hopes to ply her academic interest in sustainable agriculture to help feed an ever-expanding world population.

The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its 27,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or go to www.money.org.