Articles and ANA Reading List
A Brief History of United States Proof Coins
Starting in the 1970’s, certain American coins have featured polished fields and unpolished reliefs.
National Coin Week’s Diamond Anniversary
Take a trip through 74 years of numismatic history and learn how American society impacted the hobby — and vice versa.
Ten Notes Worth Noting
Paper money reflects America’s economy, as well as our country’s rich history.
A Contested Space: Women on U.S. Coins & Paper Money
The female figure was used to represent various ideals of American currency long before women achieved equal rights.
The Evolution of Italian Coinage
Vittorio Emanuele III’s currency testifies to a power struggle between a steadfast king and a growing Fascist regime.
125 Years of Collecting with the ANA
The Association emerged from the challenges of 1986-91 stronger and better able to serve its members and the hobby.
The Pageant of North Carolina Currency
The distinctive evolution of North Carolina money adds perspective to our understanding of the American experience and the development of numismatics.
Evolution of the Peace Dollar
Design modifications extended the die life of these beautiful issues.
ANA Library Reading List
View this year’s reading list and expand your knowledge of numismatics.
Live Webinars & Numismatic Presentations
Collecting Civil War Tokens: 100 Years Since Hetrich/Guttag
Live Webinar: April 22, 5pm MT
A century since the landmark 1924 Hetrich-Guttag publication on Civil War tokens, this series is still as popular as ever. This presentation will offer a brief history of these enigmatic pieces, as well as look at the evolution of how they have been collected over the years.
Dr. Jesse Kraft is the Resolute Americana Assistant Curator of American Numismatics at the American Numismatic Society, where his duties include coins, tokens, medals, and paper currencies from all of the Western Hemisphere.
Seeking Relief in Old, New, High and Low Places: The Flip Sides of Medallic Art
Live Webinar: April 23, 5pm MT
Medallic Art is simultaneously rooted in tradition and fueled by innovation. Using the concepts of tradition and innovation as “flip sides” for our consideration, Franki will explore contemporary trends in making, commissioning and collecting medals which impacted his creative research in Numismatic Design.
Jamie Franki is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Illustration recently retired from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he coordinated the Illustration program in their Department of Art and Art History. He was also a designer in the United States Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program. In 2005, his American Bison Nickel reverse design was selected for a six-month minting. This nickel was awarded a “COTY” (Coin of the Year Award) as the Most Popular World Coin of 2005.
Women in Numismatics – The First 2,000 Years
Live Webinar: April 24, 5pm MT
Sculptors and engravers, Mint Directors and civil servants, rulers and goddesses…women have been an integral part of the history of money. Although we are familiar with women as the subject of coins, who have we overlooked? Join us for a National Coin Week talk about famous and infamous women from 300 BC to the 21st century.
Mary Lannin is a former member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), first appointed in 2014 based on the recommendation of the House Minority Leader. She is a life member of both the American Numismatic Society and American Numismatic Association and a member of the Royal Numismatic Society, the Swiss Numismatic Society, the San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society, the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society, the Chicago Coin Club and is currently serving as Vice President of the New York Numismatic Club. She has served as a member on the Board of Trustees of the American Numismatic Society since 2016.
Are Your Papers in Order?
Live Webinar: April 25, 5pm MT
Increasing numbers of trade restrictions threaten to turn what should be a relaxing and educational hobby with many opportunities for people to people contacts with collectors from abroad into a bureaucratic nightmare. This lecture will highlight the issues and provide some vital information how to limit any stress when buying coins imported from abroad. This presentation is Peter Tompa’s own thoughts, not necessarily those of IAPN.
Peter K. Tompa serves as the IAPN’s Executive Director. Previously, he acted as the IAPN’s outside legal counsel, advocating for fair treatment for the micro and small businesses of the numismatic trade before government regulators. He has practiced cultural property law since the 1990s and has written and lectured extensively about the subject. He is a past co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Art & Cultural Heritage Law Committee. Peter is a life member of the American Numismatic Association and the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild, as well as a Life Fellow of the American Numismatic Society.
This presentation is Peter Tompa’s own thoughts, not necessarily those of IAPN.
Numismatics Online: Changing the World of Research and Collecting
Live Webinar: April 26, 5pm MT
In recent years there have been a good number of digital resources for numismatics appearing online, many of them launched by the American Numismatic Society (ANS). In the first part of this talk, I discuss how these resources were developed at the ANS, how they function, and how they are serving to transform aspects of collecting and research. In the second part, I survey additional online resources and point to what we can expect in the years to come.
Peter van Alfen joined the ANS in 2002 to oversee the Greek cabinet, and served the Society as editor of the American Journal of Numismatics (2005-2008), editor of the ANS Magazine (2004-present), and as the (co-)director of the Eric P. Newman Graduate Summer Seminar in Numismatics (2002-2023). He has (co-)curated a number of exhibits including most recently “Art of Devastation: Medals and Posters of the Great War” with Patricia Phagan. He has taught occasional courses at New York University as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Classics.
Building a National Identity Through ‘The Noble Savage’
Dr. Jesse Kraft discusses Building a National Identity Through ‘The Noble Savage’, exploring the evolution of Native American representation on U.S. coins.
National Personifications in Numismatics
Michael Shutterly discusses National Personifications in Numismatics, focusing specifically on the evolution of liberty.
Youth Activity
Numismatic enthusiasts grades K-12 can participate in this year’s National Coin Week Youth Activity for the chance to win a fabulous prize!
The History of National Coin Week
The history of National Coin Week began in 1923, when American Numismatic Association Governor Julius Guttag suggested to the association’s President, Moritz Wormser, that a week-long event should be established “to attract the general public to our hobby and consequently increase our membership, and aid in our science.” That December, the first announcement of a “Coin Week” was made in The Numismatist and scheduled for the week of February 9-16, 1924.
The first National Coin Week was a success, and discussion ensued in 1924 about establishing an annual event. The following year, the name was changed to “Old Coin Week,” and the event was planned for February 15-21. In 1925 Wormser said, “Let us all work together for the accomplishments of the principles for which the American Numismatic Association was founded: To disperse numismatic knowledge . . . to demonstrate that numismatics is an educational and entertaining pursuit . . . and to imbue other collectors with your own enthusiasm and love for the subject.”Coin Week enjoyed successful observances in 1926 and 1927 under President H.H. Yawger.
But, from 1928 to 1938, the association did not actively promote the
event, and it existed in name only. In 1939 member Lee Hewitt of Chicago proposed that the American Numismatic Association reinstate Coin Week
as “National Coin Week.” President J. Henri Ripstra confirmed a new March date and announced that prizes would be given to clubs and individuals
who accomplished the most during the week. In 1942 the observance was
moved to the third full week of April, where it has remained ever since.
Coin Week enjoyed successful observances in 1926 and 1927 under President H.H. Yawger. But, from 1928 to 1938, the association did not actively promote the event, and it existed in name only. In 1939 member
Lee Hewitt of Chicago proposed that the American Numismatic Association reinstate Coin Week as “National Coin Week.” President J. Henri Ripstra confirmed a new March date and announced that prizes would be given to clubs and individuals who accomplished the most during the week. In 1942 the observance was moved to the third full week of April, where it has remained ever since.
Club Resources
The ANA’s promotional kit for clubs includes educational materials, buttons, stickers and more. Clubs can also download templates for National Coin Week flyers (PDF), proclamations (PDF), and press releases (Word) using the buttons below.
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