The Heath Literary Award

Introduced in 1949, the Heath Literary Award acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding 12 months.

First Place – William Eckberg for “Pattern Enigma” (November 2025)

Second Place – Russ Bega  for “Counterfeit, He Wrote” (August 2025)

Third Place – David Schenkman for “The Greenduck Story” (February 2025)

---

The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award

Endowed in 1978 by the late John J. Ford Jr., this award is presented for articles that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics.

First Place – William R. Eckberg for “Silver Center Cents” (January 2025)

Second Place – Joel J. Orosz and Lance Humphries for “A Misattribution Rectified” (December 2025)

Third Place – Frank W. Garmon Jr. and Dylan Frederick for “Pratt’s Perspective: The Art of the Indian Head Gold Pieces” (February 2025)

---

The Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for Paper Money Studies

Founded by an anonymous donor, this award includes $50 and a certificate for first place.

First Place – David D. Gladfelter for “Back Talk: Comments Found on the Flip Side of New Jersey Obsolete Notes” (March 2025)

Second Place – Rick Melamed for “Fractional Imitations” (December 2025)

Third Place – Ray Williams for “In Search of Ensign Anthony Morris” (April 2025)

---

The Prue and Arthur Fitts Literary Award for Ancient and Medieval Coinage Studies

This award recognizes literary excellence in ancient and medieval coinage studies.

First Place – Mark Fox for “For ‘New’ Ancient Mints” (January 2025)

Second Place – Benjamin D.R. Hellings for “Total Recall” (March 2025)

Third Place – Ken Bressett for “Tally Stick Money of Medieval England” (March 2025)

---

Honorable Mentions

• “The Redfield Hoard: 50 Years Later” by Jeffrey A. Johnson (November 2025)
• “Coinage in Flux: Reconnecting Original & Modern Hobo Nickels” by Jonathan Marker (June 2025)

The Heath Literary Award

Introduced in 1949, the Heath Literary Award acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding 12 months.

First Place – David Schenkman for “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (March 2024). The author will receive $250, an engraved nickel-silver medal, and a certificate.

Second Place – William R. Eckberg for “The Birch Cent” (June 2024). Award includes $100, an engraved bronze medal, and a certificate.

Third Place – Alex Schultz for “The 1964 Special Mint Sets: Special or Not?” (November 2024). Award includes an engraved bronze medal and a certificate.

---

The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award

Endowed in 1978 by the late John J. Ford Jr., this award is presented for articles that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics.

First Place – William R. Eckberg for “The Birch Cent” (June 2024). Award includes $400 and a certificate.

Second Place – R.W. Julian for “The 1836 Gobrecht Dollar” (December 2024). Award includes $200 and a certificate.

Third Place – William R. Eckberg for “Robert Scot’s Signature” (September 2024). Award includes a certificate.

---

The Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for Paper Money Studies

Founded by an anonymous donor, this award includes $50 and a certificate for first place.

First Place – David Schenkman for “Building Canals with Paper” (June 2024).

Second Place – Kenneth Bressett for “The Shot Heard ’Round the World” (July 2024).

Third Place – Ray Muniak for “Wartime Memento” (May 2024).

---

The Prue and Arthur Fitts Literary Award for Ancient and Medieval Coinage Studies

This award recognizes literary excellence in ancient and medieval coinage studies.

First Place – Michael Shutterly for “Medieval Salutes to Mary” (April 2024). Award includes $250 and a plaque.

Second Place – Bruce Bartelt for “Nero & the Ancient Games” (August 2024). Award includes a certificate.

Third Place – Donald H. Kagin for “St. Eligius: A Numismatic Saint” (December 2024). Award includes a certificate.

---

Honorable Mentions

• “The Finest in the Country” by Pete Smith (September 2024)
• “Congress and U.S. Currency, Parts 1 & 2” by William Cather (March and April 2024)

The Heath Literary Award

Introduced in 1949, the Heath Literary Award acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding 12 months.

First Place – William R. Eckberg, “French Liberty & the American Civil War” (September 2023). The author will receive $250, an engraved nickel-silver medal, and a certificate.

Second Place – David Schenkman, “Philadelphia Incuse Lettering Tokens of the 1850s” (October 2023). Award includes $100, an engraved bronze medal, and a certificate.

Third Place – Ronald B. Gammill & John F. Conour, “Overlooked & Misattributed: The Medallions, Medalets, and Counterstamps of Lafayette’s 1824 Visit” (June 2023). Award includes an engraved bronze medal and a certificate.

---

The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award

Endowed in 1978 by the late John J. Ford Jr., this award is presented for articles that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics.

First Place – Roger W. Burdette, “A Brief History of United States Proof Coins, Parts 1 & 2” (January & February 2023). Award includes $400 and a certificate.

Second Place – David Schenkman, “The War at Coal Creek” (June 2023). Award includes $200 and a certificate.

Third Place – Ronald B. Gammill & John F. Conour, “Overlooked & Misattributed: The Medallions, Medalets, and Counterstamps of Lafayette’s 1824 Visit” (June 2023). Award includes a certificate.

---

The Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for Paper Money Studies

Founded by an anonymous donor, this award includes $50 and a certificate for first place.

First Place – David Schenkman, “The Green Family’s Maryland Currency” (March 2023).

Second Place – Nick Bruyer, “The Mafia’s Morristown Fives” (December 2023).

Third Place – Ray Williams, “The British are Coming!” (July 2023).

---

The Prue and Arthur Fitts Literary Award for Ancient and Medieval Coinage Studies

This award recognizes literary excellence in ancient and medieval coinage studies.

First Place – Allen Berman, “Power Struggle” (March 2023). Award includes $250 and a plaque.

Second Place – Aedan Garcia, “The Eleusinian Mysteries” (March 2023). Award includes a certificate.

Third Place – Steve M. Brenner, “The Ill-Fated Sons of Roman Emperors” (December 2023). Award includes a certificate.

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

The Heath Literary Award, introduced in 1949, acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding 12 months.

• First place – David Schenkman, “Little ‘Bits’ of American Numismatics, Parts 1 & 2” (August and September 2022), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal, certificate)
• Second place – Joel J. Orosz, “Greetings! Duke Bernhard’s 1826 Visit to the First U.S. Mint” (April 2022), ($100, engraved bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – David McCarthy, “The Myth of the Continental Dollar, Parts 3 & 4” (March and August 2022), (engraved bronze medal, certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award, endowed in 1978 by the late John J. Ford Jr., is presented for articles that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics.

• First place – William Eckberg, “The Artistry of Robert Scot” (July 2022), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – David McCarthy, “The Myth of the Continental Dollar, Parts 3 & 4” (March and August 2022), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – Joel J. Orosz, “Greetings! Duke Bernhard’s 1826 Visit to the First U.S. Mint” (April 2022), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

Founded by an anonymous donor, the Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies includes $50 and a certificate for first place.

• First place – Jan Pierre Pallares, “Captain Aaron Treat Crane & His St. Louis Post Office Paper Money” (February 2022), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – David Schenkman, “North Carolina’s First Currency Printer” (February 2022), (certificate)
• Third place – Robert Alan Witmeyer “Mummy Money: Urban Myth or Forgotten History?” (June 2022), (certificate)

PRUE AND ARTHUR FITTS LITERARY AWARD FOR ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL MONEY STUDIES

The Prue and Arthur Fitts Literary Award for Ancient and Medieval Coinage Studies recognizes literary excellence in those fields.

• First place – Michael A. Kodysz, “Prince of Youth: The Rise and Fall of Roman Emperor Publius Septimius Geta” (September 2022), ($250, plaque, certificate)
• Second place – Loretta Schultz, “The Revered One: Coins of Rome’s First Emperor” (December 2022), (certificate)
• Third place – Michael T. Shutterly, “Coinage of the First Real Empress” (March 2022), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

The Heath Literary Award, introduced in 1949, acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding 12 months.

• First place – David Schenkman, “Whitehead & Hoag: Advertising Innovators” (April 2021), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal, certificate)
• Second place – David Schenkman, “Company Stores & Scrip in America, Parts 1 & 2” (August-September 2021), ($100, engraved bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – John Nebel, “Andragoras: Parthian Governor or Noble Cypriot?” (March 2021), (engraved bronze medal, certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

The Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Literary Award, endowed in 1978 by the late John J. Ford Jr., is presented for articles that display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics.

• First place – David McCarthy, “An Act of Independence” (July 2021), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – William D. Hyder & Jeff Shevlin, “The Other Continental Dollar: Montroville Dickeson’s Commemoratives” (October 2021), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – William Eckberg, “Gobrecht, Peale, Saxton & the Cents of 1835-57” (May 2021), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

Founded by an anonymous donor, the Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies includes $50 and a certificate for first place.

• First place – David Schenkman, “Company Stores & Scrip in America, Parts 1 & 2” (August-September 2021), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Bill Gunther, Ph.D., “It’s Not the Destination, It’s the Journey” (February 2021), (certificate)
• Third place – Benjamin Dieter R. Hellings, “Yale Art Gallery’s Educational Series Proofs & Progressives” (February 2021), (certificate)

PRUE AND ARTHUR FITTS LITERARY AWARD FOR ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL MONEY STUDIES

The Prue and Arthur Fitts Literary Award for Ancient and Medieval Coinage Studies recognizes literary excellence in those fields.

• First place – Francis Jarman, “The Apostles on the Road” (May 2021), ($250, plaque, certificate)
• Second place – Mike Gasvoda, “Alexander the Great” (December 2021), (certificate)
• Third place – Allen G. Berman, “The Spanish Marches” (March 2021), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – David W. Lange, “Birth of the Blue Folder” (December 2020), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal, certificate)
• Second place – David Schenkman, “America’s First Superstar: The Musical Genius of Patrick Gilmore & His Peace Jubilees” (May 2020), ($100, engraved bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – Eric Brothers, “More than Pocket Change: Adolph A. Weinman’s Medallic Works” (June 2020), (engraved bronze medal, certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – William Eckberg, “The Earliest Hubs of the U.S. Mint” (August 2020), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – Mitchel Olszak, “Laura Gardin Fraser’s Washington & the Gold $5” (January 2020), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – Matthew Campbell, “Ivah Coles’ Carnegie Hero Medal” (March 2020), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• First place – David Schenkman, “From Doty & Bergen to Doty & McFarlan” (February 2020), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Gerome Walton, “The Women Behind Nebraska Bank Notes” (August 2020), (certificate)
• Third place – Michael E. Marotta, “Pay Warrants of the Texas Navy” (November 2020), (certificate)

PRUE AND ARTHUR FITTS LITERARY AWARD FOR ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL MONEY STUDIES

• First place – Michael T. Shutterly, “Leaves of Silver: The Art & Artistry of Bracteates” (April 2020), ($250, plaque, certificate)
• Second place – Antonino Crisà, Ph.D., “Ancient Tokens of Sicily” (February 2020), (certificate)
• Third place – Steve M. Benner, “The Year of Six Emperors, Parts 1 & 2” (March-April 2020), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Tom DeLorey and Dan Owens, “Not a Ghost of a Chance: Revisiting the Mystery of the 1873-S Seated Liberty Dollars” (July 2019), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal)
• Second place – Nick Bruyer, “Brunaugh’s Treasury Notes” (November 2019), ($100 and an engraved bronze medal)
• Third place – David Schenkman, “Turnpikes & Toll Roads: Tokens, Tickets & Scrip of America’s Early Highways” (June 2019), (engraved bronze medal)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Tom DeLorey and Dan Owens, “Not a Ghost of a Chance: Revisiting the Mystery of the 1873-S Seated Liberty Dollars” (July 2019), ($400, certificates)
• Second place – David McCarthy, “The First Fugio Cent?” (June 2019), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – David McCarthy, “1942 High-Relief Cent Pattern” (January 2019), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• First place – Heinz Tschachler, “The Wildman in the New World” (September 2019), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Nick Bruyer, “Brunaugh’s Treasury Notes” (November 2019), (certificate)
• Third place – David Schenkman, “The Scrip of DuBois, Pennsylvania” (February 2019), (certificate)

PRUE AND ARTHUR FITTS LITERARY AWARD FOR ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL MONEY STUDIES

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

 

 

• First place – Erik Goldstein & David McCarthy, “The Myth of the Continental Dollar, Parts 1 & 2” (January and July 2018), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal)
• Second place – John Frost, “Reimagining the Barbers” (August 2018), ($100 and an engraved bronze medal)
• Third place – David Schenkman, “James Murdock Jr.: Ohio Die-Sinker” (May 2018), (engraved bronze medal)

 

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

 

 

 

 

• First place – Erik Goldstein & David McCarthy, “The Myth of the Continental Dollar, Parts 1 & 2” (January and July 2018), ($400, certificates)
• Second place – John Frost, “Reimagining the Barbers” (August 2018), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – Jim Neiswinter, “Smith of Ann Street” (April 2018), (certificate)

 

 

 

 

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

 

 

 

• First place – Heinz Tschachler, “George Washington: Gallant Revolutionary” (February 2018), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Todd Sciore, “Moore Money: A Glasshouse, A Bank and a Scandal” (December 2018), (certificate)
• Third place – Angel O. Navarro-Zayas, “Spanish Colonial Paper Money in Puerto Rico and New Orleans” (October 2018), (certificate)

 

 

 

PRUE AND ARTHUR FITTS LITERARY AWARD FOR ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL MONEY STUDIES

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

 

• First place – Joel J. Orosz and Leonard Augsburger, “A More Accurate History of the 1792 Half Disme” (August 2017), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal)
• Second place – Roger Burdette, “Rescued Rarities” (June 2017), ($100 and an engraved bronze medal)
• Third place – Allan Schein, “The Identity of Pratt’s Indian” (November 2017), (engraved bronze medal)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD 

 

 

 

• First place – Pete Smith, Joel J. Orosz and Leonard Augsburger, “A More Accurate History of the 1792 Half Disme” (August 2017), ($400, certificates)
• Second place – Roger Burdette, “Rescued Rarities” (June 2017), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – David McCarthy, “Nova Constellatio: Identifying the First American Coin” (August 2017), (certificate)

 

 

 

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES 

 

 

• First place – David Schenkman, “Numismatic Mementos of the Glass Industry” (March 2017), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Ray Williams, “An Evening with Uncle Ray” (September 2017), (certificate)

 

 

PRUE AND ARTHUR FITTS LITERARY AWARD FOR ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL MONEY STUDIES

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Q. David Bowers, “125 Years of Collecting with the American Numismatic Association: A Milestone Celebration” (January-December 2016), ($250, engraved nickel-silver medal)
• Second place – Robert LeNeve, “The 1861-O Proof Half Dollar” (January, 2016), ($100 and an engraved bronze medal)
• Third place – John M. Kleeberg, “The Curious Persistence of the New York Shilling” (May, 2016), (engraved bronze medal)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Craig Sholley, John Dannreuther and Saul Teichman, “The DTS Theory of Gobrecht Dollars” and “Gobrecht Dollars: Restrikes and Cabinet Coins” (June, 2016), ($400)
• Second place – David Stone and Karl Moulton, “The Stickney-DuBois Connection” (October 2016), ($200)
• Third place – Kenneth E. Bressett, “United States Cupped Coins, 1857-2014” (April 2016), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• First place – Gerome Walton, “DeSoto Where?” (October 2016), ($50)
• Second place – David Finkelstein, “Henry Voigt’s Surety Bond” (February 2016), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Eric Brothers, “The Brilliant and Corrupt Franklin Peale” Oct. 2015), ($250, silver medal and certificate)
• Second place – Ron Guth, “100 Greatest Women on Coins” Oct. 2015), ($100, bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – Robert Bair Jr., “Legendary Collector” Aug. 2015), (bronze medal, certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – R.W. Julian, “U.S. Mint Expense Warrants of 1793”  (December 2015), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – William Hyder and Jeff Shevlin, “Die Trial: Insight into the U.S. Mint’s Medal Production” March 2015), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – Erik Goldstein, “A Present from Saint-Gaudens” (August 2015), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• First place – Kent Ponterio, “The First National Bank of Tustin” (Nov. 2015), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Bart A. Stump, “Revolutionary Rarities” (Dec. 2015), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Eric P. Newman and Maureen Levine,  “18th-Century Writings on the Continental Currency Dollar Coins” (July 2014), ($250, silver medal, certificate)
• Second place – John Nebel, “The Celator as Artist” (August 2014), ($100, bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – R.W. Julian, ” The 1841-O Half Eagle” (July 2014), (bronze medal, certificate)
• Honorable Mention – George Kolbe, “the Tale of the Tape” (January 2014), (certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Eric P. Newman and Maureen Levine, “18th-Century Writings on the Continental Currency Dollar Coin” (July 2014), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – R.W. Julian, “Notes on 19th-Century Silver Dollars” (December 2014), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – Donald G. Tritt, “Die-Pressed Wooden Medals and Plaques of the 1876 Centennial Exposition” (July 2014), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• Winner – Andrew Hurle, “Abstractions of Value” (September 2014), ($50.00, certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Donald H. Kagin, “Treasury Notes of the War of 1812” (February 2013), ($250, silver medal and certificate)
• Second place – Andrew Laurie Stangel, “Medaling in politics: The Artful Satire of Karl Goetz” (November 2013), ($100, bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – Gary M. Greenbaum, “The Other Side of the Oregon Trail Half Dollar” (October 2013), (bronze medal, certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Richard Snow, “On the Verge of Change, 1848-55” (April 2013), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – Q. David Bowers, “The New Kids on the Block: Early Pioneers in American Numismatic Auctions” (January 2013), ($200, certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• First place – Donald H. Kagin, “Treasury Notes of 1812” (February 2013), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Dennis Schafluetzel, “Rare Notes from a Railroad & River Hub” (May 2013), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Ernie Nagy, “Great Numismatic Moments in American Literature” (September 2011), ($250, a bronze medal and a certificate)
• Second place – John M. Kleeberg, “Getting to the Bottom of the Seawater Uncs” (February 2011), ($100, certificate)
• Third place – Eric Brothers, “John Reich: The Mint’s Overworked & Underappreciated Engraver” (March 2011), (certificate)

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – John M. Kleeberg, “Getting to the Bottom of the Seawater Uncs” (February 2011), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – Eric Brothers, “John Reich: The Mint’s Overworked & Underappreciated Engraver” (March 2011), ($200, certificate)
• Third place – Leroy Van Allen, “Morgan Dollar ‘Micro O’ Fakes” (July 2011), (certificate)

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• First place – Mark D. Tomasko, “Lions on Steel” (May 2011), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Todd Sciore, “The Gettysburg Connection” (July 2011), (certificate)
• Third place – Chip Scoppa, “Red ‘R’ & Red ‘S’ Revisited” (March 2011), (certificate)

THE HEATH LITERARY AWARD

• First place – Joel J. Orosz and Leonard Augsburger, “Frank H. Stewart and the First U.S. Mint,” April 2010
• Second place – Walter A. Ostromecki Jr., “Some Women behind Our Money,” May 2010
• Third place -Ernie Nagy, “Artifacts of Andrew Jackson’s Bank War,” September 2010.

THE WAYTE AND OLGA RAYMOND ­MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• First place – First place – William D. Hyder and Jeff Shevlin, “The Golden Age of California State Celebrations,” December 2010
• Second place – R.W. Julian, “All About the Half Dime,” December 2010

THE CATHERINE SHEEHAN LITERARY AWARD FOR U.S. PAPER MONEY STUDIES

• Winner – Ricardo de León Tallavas, “Two Voices from a Forgotten War,” January 2010