American Numismatic Association


The American Numismatic Association is an organization founded in 1891 by George F. Heath. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it was formed to advance the knowledge of numismatics along educational, historical, and scientific lines, as well as to enhance interest in the hobby.
The ANA has more than 24,000 individual members who receive many benefits, such as discounts, access to website features, and the monthly journal The Numismatist. The ANA's Colorado Springs headquarters houses its administrative offices, library, and money museum. The ANA received a federal charter from the United States Congress in 1912.
A board of governors is in charge of the ANA. Numerous advisory committees help to operate it properly. The ANA has a Young Numismatists program intended to promote interest among youth. The ANA has held annual conventions throughout the nation in most years since 1891, with two per year since 1978. The Farran Zerbe Memorial Award is bestowed upon the most dedicated members. The ANA also maintains a Numismatic Hall of Fame.

History

Dr. George F. Heath of Monroe, Michigan, gained knowledge of world history by studying his collection of coins. The obscurity of his community was an obstacle towards obtaining certain specimens, and made meeting fellow numismatists difficult. In 1888, he printed, published and distributed a four-page leaflet, NUMISMATIST, in which he listed his coin needs, advertised duplicates for sale, and discussed numismatic topics.
The nascent publication found many friends among other isolated collectors. As Heath's subscription list increased, a need for a national organization of numismatists was evident. The February 1891 edition of The Numismatist printed a question, "What is the matter with having an American Numismatic Association?" A follow-up statement was included: "There is nothing like the alliance of kindred pursuits to stimulate growth and interest."
On October 7 and October 8, 1891, five men—Heath, William G. Jerrems, David Harlowe, J.A. Heckelman and John Brydon—holding 26 proxies, met in Chicago with 61 charter members. The result was the founding of the ANA, which has since become the largest non-profit numismatic organization in the world. Heath then introduced the idea of a numismatic convention, where members could make personal contact with other numismatists. The first convention was held in 1891, then annually until 1895, and then in 1901 and 1904. After the 1907 convention in Columbus, Ohio, it was decided to hold annual conventions thereafter.
On June 16, 1908, Dr. Heath suddenly died. Farran Zerbe, then president, assumed the task of editing and publishing The Numismatist, and soon purchased the publication from Heath's heirs. In 1911, W.C.C. Wilson of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, purchased The Numismatist from Zerbe and presented it to the ANA. Since then, the magazine has been owned and published monthly by the ANA.
On May 9, 1912, the ANA attained national prominence as it was granted a Federal Charter signed by President William Howard Taft. In 1962, an amendment to make the Charter permanent and allow for a larger Board was introduced and passed by Congress and signed into law by John F. Kennedy on April 10. The amendment was presented by Congressman Wilbur Mills and Senator John L. McClellan, both of Arkansas.
An ANA national headquarters building fund was established on April 29, 1961. A site in Colorado Springs, Colorado was selected as the headquarter's location and a ground breaking ceremony was held on September 6, 1966. On December 20, the $250,000 building fund goal was reached and the new headquarters was dedicated and officially opened on June 10, 1967.

Headquarters

The ANA's administration operates from its Colorado Springs headquarters. The ANA's monthly journal, The Numismatist, is produced here; its editor-in-chief is Caleb Noel. Many articles are contributed by ANA members. The facility houses the largest circulating numismatic library in the world. Books, educational slide programs and instructional videotapes are loaned to members without charge other than costs to cover postage and insurance. The ANA has many affiliate club members throughout the United States, such as the and the .
ANA headquarters contains the , which includes over 250,000 objects encompassing the history of numismatics from the earliest invention of money to modern day. The Harry W. Bass Collection features American gold coins, experimental pattern coins and paper money. The museum also offers changing exhibits about money in history, art, archeology, banking and economics, and coin collecting. Members may study the items on display and, by prearrangement, can use other museum materials for research purposes.

Membership

The ANA has nearly 24,000 individual members. Memberships last one year, three years, five years, or a lifetime. The cost of the latter is $800 to $1,200, depending on a member's age and whether the ANA's magazine, The Numismatist, is mailed or read digitally.
Membership is classified into four levels:
The ANA is run by a nine-member Board of Governors composed of the President, Vice-President, and seven Governors, each elected by ANA members in odd-numbered years. Governor candidates must have been ANA members for at least three years. President and Vice President candidates must have served at least one term as a Governor. Total service on the Board is limited to 10 years.
The current Board of Governors was elected in 2019. The election results were as follows:
NamePositionLocationVotes Garnered
Col. Steven K. Ellsworth, Ret.PresidentBrentwood, TN3,206
Dr. Ralph W. RossVice-PresidentSugar Land, TXN/A
Clifford MishlerGovernorIola, WI4,479
Greg LyonGovernorSt. Louis, MO3,951
Mary Lynn GarrettGovernorLexington, KY3,935
Rob OberthGovernorMarietta, GA3,112
Shanna SchmidtGovernorOak Park, IL3,871
Michael L. EllisGovernorCamilla, GA3,473
Muriel EymeryGovernorLondon, England3,133

List of ANA presidents

  1. William G. Jerrems Jr., 1891–1892
  2. George F. Heath, 1892–1894
  3. August G. Heaton, 1894–1899
  4. Joseph Hooper, 1899–1902
  5. Benjamin P. Wright, 1902–1905
  6. Albert R. Frey, 1905–1908
  7. Farran Zerbe, 1908–1910
  8. John M. Henderson, 1910–1912
  9. Judson P. Brenner, 1912–1914
  10. Frank G. Duffield, 1914–1915
  11. Henry O. Granberg, 1915–1917
  12. Carl Wurtzbach, 1917–1919
  13. Waldo C. Moore, 1919–1921
  14. Moritz Wormser, 1921–1926
  15. Harry H. Yawger, 1926–1927
  16. Charles Markus, 1927–1930
  17. George J. Bauer, 1930–1932
  18. Alden Scott Boyer, 1932–1933
  19. Nelson T. Thorson, 1933–1935
  20. T. James Clarke, 1935–1937
  21. J. Henri Ripstra, 1937–1939
  22. L.W. Hoffecker, 1939–1941
  23. J. Douglas Ferguson, 1941–1943
  24. Martin F. Kortjohn, 1943–1945
  25. V. Leon Belt, 1945–1947
  26. Loyd B. Gettys, 1947–1949
  27. M. Vernon Sheldon, 1949–1951
  28. Joseph Moss, 1951–1953
  29. J. Hewitt Judd, 1953–1955
  30. Leonel C. Panosh, 1955–1957
  31. Oscar H. Dodson, 1957–1961
  32. C.C. Tim Shroyer, 1961–1963
  33. Paul K. Anderson, 1963–1965
  34. Matt H. Rothert, 1965–1967
  35. Arthur Sipe, 1967–1969
  36. Herbert M. Bergen, 1969–1971
  37. John J. Pittman, 1971–1973
  38. Virginia Culver, 1973–1975
  39. Virgil Hancock, 1975–1977
  40. Grover C. Criswell, Jr., 1977–1979
  41. George D. Hatie, 1979–1981
  42. Adna G. Wilde, Jr., 1981–1983
  43. Q. David Bowers, 1983–1985
  44. Florence M. Schook, 1985–1987
  45. Stephen R. Taylor, 1987–1989
  46. Kenneth L. Hallenbeck, Jr., 1989–1991
  47. Edward C. Rochette, 1991–1993
  48. Kenneth Bressett, 1993–1995
  49. David L. Ganz, 1995–1997
  50. Anthony Swiatek, 1997–1999
  51. H. Robert Campbell, 1999–2001
  52. John Wilson, 2001–2003
  53. Gary E. Lewis, 2003–2005
  54. William Horton, 2005–2007
  55. Barry Stuppler, 2007–2009
  56. Clifford Mishler, 2009–2011
  57. Tom Hallenbeck, 2011–2013
  58. Walter Ostromecki, 2013–2015
  59. Jeff Garrett, 2015–2017
  60. Gary Adkins, 2017-2019
  61. Col. Steven K. Ellsworth, Ret., 2019-present

    Advisory committees

The ANA is also served by various advisory committees. There are temporary advisory committees for searches, and one formed for forming a Strategic Vision for the board in 2012. There are several more permanent advisory committees:
The ANA has many programs for Young Numismatists. There are currently three programs in which YNs can earn free coins by completing coin-related activities. These programs are the Early American Copper Project, the David R. Cervin Ancient Coin Project, and The Dollar Project. Another program, Coins For A's, allows kids to get free coins by getting A's in school. The ANA also has a YN Dollars program in which YNs earn YN Dollars for different activities. They can spend these YN Dollars at the ANA Summer Convention at the annual YN auction. The Young Numismatist of the Year award has been given by the ANA every year since 1968. Many former winners of the award are now prominent numismatic professionals, or have distinguished themselves in other areas.
The Young Numismatists of America was a worldwide coin organization founded in 1990 at the ANA Summer Seminar. In its early days, the YNA was an attractive way for young numismatists to submit articles for publication. However, by late 1996, many of the YNA founders were in college and could no longer help out. The YNA slowly faded away because of lack of interest. In 2001 at the ANA Summer Seminar, the young collectors decided to reform YNA. Within several years, the YNA once again ceased to exist.

Events

The ANA has held conventions annually most years since 1891, and expanded to two annual shows in 1978. The ANA offered a third show in 2011 and 2012, but announced on May 4, 2012 that it will not continue this in 2013. The features of these conventions include the offering of a large bourse room, along with exhibits, educational programs, junior member activities, auctions, and meetings of affiliated specialty organizations. The National Money Show and the ANA World's Fair of Money are the brands for shows that have been held on an Annual Basis by the ANA. The National Money Show is traditionally held in the Spring while the World's Fair is held in the Summer. The Fall shows in 2011 and 2012 also used the National Money Show brand.
The annual ANA Summer Seminar is an assortment of classes held in Colorado Springs mid-summer. Most classes are one week long but some weeks have half-week classes available. Classes are taught by numismatic experts. Students are of all ages and divided between collectors and numismatic professionals. There are special programs for Young Numismatists. The ANA and many local coin clubs sponsor a few scholarships to defer some costs for a few students.

Convention locations

Locations for the ANA Conventions.
YearNational Money Show World's Fair of Money
2022Rosemont, IL
2021Phoenix, AZRosemont, IL
2020Atlanta, GAPittsburgh, PA
2019Pittsburgh, PAChicago, IL/Rosemont, IL
2018DallasPhiladelphia
2017OrlandoDenver
2016DallasAnaheim
2015PortlandChicago
2014AtlantaChicago
2013New OrleansChicago
2012Spring: Denver; Fall: DallasPhiladelphia
2011Spring: Sacramento; Fall: PittsburghChicago
2010Fort WorthBoston
2009PortlandLos Angeles
2008PhoenixBaltimore
2007CharlotteMilwaukee
2006AtlantaDenver
2005Kansas CitySan Francisco
2004PortlandPittsburgh
2003CharlotteBaltimore
2002JacksonvilleNew York
2001Salt Lake CityAtlanta
2000Fort LauderdalePhiladelphia
1999SacramentoChicago
1998CincinnatiPortland
1997ClevelandNew York
1996TucsonDenver
1995AtlantaAnaheim
1994New OrleansDetroit
1993Colorado SpringsBaltimore
1992DallasOrlando
1991DallasChicago
1990San DiegoSeattle
1989Colorado SpringsPittsburgh
1988Little RockCincinnati
1987CharlotteAtlanta
1986Salt Lake CityMilwaukee
1985San AntonioBaltimore
1984Colorado SpringsDetroit
1983TucsonSan Diego
1982Colorado SpringsBoston
1981HonoluluNew Orleans
1980AlbuquerqueCincinnati
1979St. Louis
1978Colorado SpringsHouston
1977Atlanta
1976New York
1975Los Angeles
1974Miami
1973Boston
1972New Orleans
1971Washington, D.C.
1970St. Louis
1969Philadelphia
1968San Diego
1967Miami
1966Chicago
1965Houston
1964Cleveland
1963Denver
1962Detroit
1961Atlanta
1960Boston
1959Portland
1958Los Angeles
1957Philadelphia
1956Chicago
1955Omaha
1954Cleveland
1953Dallas
1952New York
1951Phoenix
1950Milwaukee
1949San Francisco
1948Boston
1947Buffalo
1946Davenport
1945NO CONVENTION
1944Chicago
1943Chicago
1942Cincinnati
1941Philadelphia
1940Detroit
1939New York
1938Columbus
1937Washington, D.C.
1936Minneapolis
1935Pittsburgh
1934Cleveland
1933Chicago
1932Los Angeles
1931Cincinnati
1930Buffalo
1929Chicago
1928Rochester
1927Hartford
1926Washington, D.C.
1925Detroit
1924Cleveland
1923Montreal
1922New York
1921Boston
1920Chicago
1919Philadelphia
1918NO CONVENTION
1917Rochester
1916Baltimore
1915San Francisco
1914Springfield
1913Detroit
1912Rochester
1911Chicago
1910New York
1909Montreal
1908Philadelphia
1907Columbus
1906NO CONVENTION
1905NO CONVENTION
1904St. Louis
1903NO CONVENTION
1902NO CONVENTION
1901Buffalo
1900NO CONVENTION
1899NO CONVENTION
1898NO CONVENTION
1897NO CONVENTION
1896NO CONVENTION
1895Washington, D.C.
1894Detroit
1893Chicago
1892Pittsburgh
1891Chicago

Farran Zerbe Memorial Award

The Farran Zerbe Memorial Award is the highest honor conferred by the ANA. It is given in recognition of numerous years of outstanding, dedicated service to numismatics. The criteria for the nominee should be that the individual is considered someone who has rendered numerous years of outstanding service to the ANA as well as the field of numismatics. An additional qualification is that the nominee should be a former Medal of Merit and Glenn Smedley Memorial Award recipient. The award is limited only to members of the ANA.
To enshrine the most important numismatists of all time, the ANA established the Numismatic Hall of Fame at its Colorado Springs headquarters in 1964. The Hall's constitution and bylaws were drafted that year, and the first inductees enshrined in 1969 and the next group in 1970, with subsequent honorees inducted every two years thereafter. The Hall was the brainchild of Jack W. Ogilvie, a Hollywood film writer and editor who served as ANA historian from 1950 to 1970.
Prior to each induction year, nominations are accepted from the membership. After review by a five-member Hall of Fame council, the names and qualifications of the nominees are passed on to a 25-member elector panel. Candidates receiving 13 or more votes are inducted; those receiving six to 12 votes are reconsidered in the next election. Members of the council, the ANA Board of Governors, and ANA appointed officers and staff are ineligible to serve as electors.

Inductees by year