Thursday, August 27, 2026

10:00 AM | Three Centuries of U.S. Numismatic Myths and Mysteries

Presenters: Richard Rosenfeld and Jesse Kraft

In this Money Talk we explore five fascinating numismatic controversies: (1) Why the Massachusetts Mint in 1652 began producing the NE Shilling and retained the 1652 date on all subsequent shillings during three decades of production (defiance of English overlords vs. minting tradition and a debasement scandal). (2) How Willow Tree coinage was minted (cold hammer vs. rocker press) and why it was a production disaster. (3) Why, and by whom, the 1776 continental dollar was created (first U.S. pattern coin vs. European medal). (4) Who supplied silver for the first official U.S. mint coin, the 1792 half dismes (Washington vs. Jefferson). (5) Do any original 1839 Gobrecht dollars really exist (or are they all restrikes)? Our goal is to provoke thoughtful inquiry and debate, recognizing that myths and mysteries may never be resolved. Attendees will have the opportunity to examine the coins discussed.

Speaker Profiles:

• Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, is an advanced collector of colonial and U.S. type coins, having assembled the #1 ranked PCGS Registry Set for Massachusetts Silver Designs (1652-1682) and #2 ranked PCGS Registry Set for U.S. Copper, Nickel, and Silver Type (1792-1964). He specializes in lifestyle medicine and otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), with over 30 years in academic medicine at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn as a department chair, distinguished professor, and journal editor.
• Jesse Kraft is the Resolute Americana Assistant Curator of American Numismatics for The American Numismatic Society with a PhD in History from the University of Delaware. He is a widely published numismatic scholar and museum professional specializing in the history of coins and currency in America. Jesse’s scholarship relates to the myths and mysteries discussed in this presentation.

11:00 AM | The U.S. Flag in Early Numismatics

Presenter: Jeff Pritchard

It’s the most powerful and emotionally charged symbol of our freedom and founding. We sing its praises in the National Anthem, pledge allegiance to it as children, and our soldiers die for what it represents. Yet the U.S. flag only rarely appeared on our nation’s early coinage. Attendees will leave with a solid understanding of our flag’s history, its portrayal in numismatics, and its changing symbolism during the last 250 years.

Speaker Profile: Jeff Pritchard is a lifelong numismatist and retired financial professional. Jeff has been published in The Numismatist, the ANS Magazine, the Gobrecht Journal, the MCA Advisory, and the C4 Newsletter, among others. He has done previous presentations for NumismaTalks, ANS Long Tables, and Newman Numismatic Symposiums. And Jeff is a member of numerous numismatic organizations.

12:00 PM | Lunch Break

1:00 PM | The Making of an ANA World’s Fair of Money Medal for Pittsburgh

Presenters: Heidi Wastweet and Jamie Franki

Through images and anecdotes, designer Jamie Franki and sculptor Heidi Wastweet share the backstory of their collaborative journey in creating the Official Medal for the 135th Anniversary Convention of the American Numismatic Association.

Speaker Profiles:

• Jamie Franki is an emeritus associate professor of illustration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he coordinated the Illustration program in their Department of Art and Art History. He also served as a contract artist 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. In January of 2006, his Jefferson 1800 nickel obverse design began its long-term run gracing America’s new and historic forward-facing circulating coin, now approaching 22 billion strikes in circulation thus far. In 2008, Franki designed the Order of IKKOS Medallion, the United States Olympic Committee’s perpetual honor society award medal for Team U.S.A. Olympic and Paralympic coaches. In 2021, his jury selected reverse design for the United States Air Force Silver Medal was struck and released by the U.S. Mint. He is a member of the American Medallic Sculpture Association and an honorary lifetime member of the Charlotte Coin Club. No stranger to the Money Talks podium, Jamie has enjoyed a long consultative relationship with the American Numismatic Association, for whom he has designed and sculpted numerous medals for their World’s Fair of Money® and National Money Show® conventions.
• Heidi Wastweet is a leading American sculptor specializing in bas-relief, from coins to monuments. Her career began in 1987 at Sunshine Mint, before opening her own studio in 2001, eventually relocating to the San Francisco Bay. She has hand-sculpted over 1,000 models for coins and medals — and honestly, stopped counting long ago. Beyond sculpture, Wastweet has used her voice to help shape American numismatic culture. She served two terms on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, advising the Treasury on U.S. coin designs. In 2019, she joined the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, completing her four-year term with notable design credits, including the reverse of the 2021 National Law Enforcement Memorial commemorative half dollar and both sides of the 2022 National Purple Heart Hall of Honor silver dollar. Her work has been featured in publications such as Coin World, The Medal, and Sculpture Quarterly, with exhibition credits including New York, Ottawa, Glasgow, Florence, and Tokyo. Her works are found in the permanent collections of the Yale University Art Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the British Museum, and the Fine Arts Museum of Boston. A fervent advocate for preserving and advancing the medallic arts, she teaches an annual medal workshop at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. She is a past president of the American Medallic Sculpture Association, current editor of AMSA’s Members Exchange, an active member of The International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) and a fellow of the National Sculpture Society. In recognition of her contributions to the field, Wastweet was named the 2024 recipient of the American Numismatic Association’s Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture. She is happy to return to the ANA convention in 2026, to once again collaborate with Jamie Franki in creating the official ANA convention medal.

2:00 PM | A Tribute to Joel Iskowitz and His Numismatic Contributions

Presenter: Chang Bullock

In the captivating realm of coin design, few names have shined as brightly as Joel Iskowitz. Joel was a maestro of numismatic artistry. Iskowitz has not only left an indelible mark on American coinage but has also made significant contributions to the global landscape of numismatics. In this exploration, we delve into the extraordinary career of Joel Iskowitz, tracing his journey from the early days of the Franklin Mint to his prolific contributions at the United States Mint, to his post U.S. Mint career in designing coins from around the world including his final project, the 2026 ANA Show Eagles.

Speaker Profile: Chang Bullock is a 33-year veteran of the coin industry. He has worked directly with most of the major world mints in the creation and distribution of over a billion dollars’ worth of numismatic coins. He is the owner and president of Minted Assets, which is a company that focuses on the distribution of modern world coins. His company focuses heavily on supporting coin artists and engravers and strives to highlight the human element of coin production and the artistry and story behind each piece.

Friday, August 28, 2026

10:00 AM | What’s New at the Newman Numismatic Portal

Presenter: Leonard Augsburger

Launched in 2014, the Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP) is known today a s the premier online library for numismatic research. The Newman Portal has recently been migrated to a new repository that will increase the ability to search and utilize NNP resources. This presentation will cover new features and capabilities now available to NNP users.

Speaker Profile: Len Augsburger is the project coordinator of the Newman Numismatic Portal, which is sponsored by the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society and administered through Washington University in St Louis. Len has researched widely in American numismatics and holds four Book of the Year awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. He is a fellow of the American Numismatic Society and serves as president of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club and the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

11:00 AM | The Tumultuous and Successful History of the New Orleans Mint

Presenter: Craig Eberhart

Legislation was signed in 1835 to create the first branch mints in New Orleans, Charlotte, and Dahlonega. New Orleans had no local sources of precious metals, but by 1840, it had become the third-largest city in the U.S. due to the export of sugar and cotton, and the resultant large influx of gold and silver. These metals were used to mint coins comparable to those of the Philadelphia Mint; however, the variety of New Orleans coins is unmatched. In this presentation, learn about the arduous early days marked by epidemics and deaths, a struggle to mint coins with limited dies being stored in tropical conditions, to changing hands three times during the Civil War. The complicated history of the most interesting U.S. mint is written in its coins. New Orleans issues feature transitional designs, rotated reverses, multi-year die combinations, including backdated coins, missing and hand-carved mintmarks, and cracked and deteriorating dies.

Speaker Profile: Craig Eberhart remains passionate about studying the New Orleans Mint and its coins. Last year, two friends and Craig developed the first Summer Seminar course on the New Orleans Mint, which was held again this year. He is currently vice president of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club and has served in other elected positions as well. He has been a member of the ANA since 1989, and of several specialty clubs for nearly as long, including the BCCS, the JRCS, and the LSCC. He has published papers in all four club journals and received multiple medals for his articles in the Gobrecht Journal.

12:00 PM | Lunch Break

1:00 PM | The Coinage of Ancient Thasos

Presenter: William E. Daehn

This presentation will explore the coinage of the island of Thasos during ancient times, based on a comprehensive new study. Combining the latest research on this fascinating yet complex coinage, this presentation will explore the history of the island, show how its culture influenced its coinage, and explore the related coin types—revealing some important new attributions. By definitively identifying the denominations and weight standards used for this coinage, this new study will allow for consistent and accurate description by collectors, dealers, and future researchers. And, importantly, after more than 200 years of misattribution, the early Satyr & Nymph and related “dolphin” coinage is here given to a group of communities in the “Thracian Monetary Zone” rather than to Thasos. This presentation will provide the basis for a better understanding of this enigmatic coinage, allowing collectors to confidently attribute these coins.

Speaker Profile: William E. Daehn has collected and studied ancient Greek coins for more than 40 years. He has authored three numismatic books and 18 published papers. An experienced presenter, he has given more than 40 talks to local coin clubs on a variety of numismatic topics. An ANA member for 49 years, Daehn is also an active member of the Twin Cities Ancient Coin Club and numerous other hobby organizations.

2:00 PM | Collectible Pittsburgh

Presenter: Lawrence Korchnak

Every city is unique and Pittsburgh is no exception. Collectible Pittsburgh takes a numismatic journey through Western Pennsylvania history using selected coins, tokens, medals, and depression scrip. From Beaver Falls to Kittanning, Oil City to the Strip District, discover what the Brooklyn Bridge, the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Ferris wheel have in common with the city. Hear the story behind Chinese strike breakers, the last voyage of the Shippingport Ferry, America’s first commemorative medal, and the activist priest who ran for president.

Speaker Profile: Dr. Korchnak is an avid numismatist with varied collecting interests. His main area of specialization is siege money. He is a life member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA LM-1928), Numismatics International (NI LM-74), Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN LM-25), Pittsburgh Numismatic Society (PNS LM-5), and the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society (WPNS LM). He is also a member of the Society of Paper Money Collectors (SPMC) and a number of local clubs. Dr. Korchnak has been a collector since childhood and enjoys sharing his passion with others by speaking at local, regional, and national conventions. Dr. Korchnak wrote Siege Coins of the World 1453-1902 that was named Best Specialized Book on World Coins by the Numismatic Literary Guild in 2022. His most recent publication is Siege Notes of the World 1793-1913.