COLORADO SPRINGS – The American Numismatic Association will expand its National Money Show™ from three days to four days, beginning with the spring convention in Fort Worth, TX, in March 2010, Executive Director Larry Shepherd announced.

The show, initially scheduled to be open to the public Friday through Sunday, will now be open Thursday, March 25 through Sunday, March 28 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Dealer set-up will be open on Wednesday afternoon. Adding the extra day signals a commitment from the ANA to expand the size of the National Money Show. In addition, the ANA is considering other changes that will add to the excitement and drawing power of the event.

“As the preeminent member based organization in numismatics, the ANA should host the best coin shows in the country,” said Shepherd. “Several commercial and regional shows have equaled or surpassed our spring show in size and dealer participation. We believe a renewed emphasis on growing and improving this show will ensure that the National Money Show continues to be among the elite spring shows in the country.

Critical to the success of this show in the future will be better scheduling and site selection, factors we are putting a lot of emphasis on currently. In the future our National Money Shows will be held in larger cities than in the past, and these cities will be selected to provide maximum appeal to collectors and dealers.”

Shepherd said he is pleased that the ANA’s summer convention, the World’s Fair of Money®, remains the golden grail of coin shows and hopes that the National Money Show will one day become the nation’s premier spring coin event.
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Judge Confirms Former Executive Director Must Pay $53,550 Judgment

COLORADO SPRINGS – An El Paso County District Court Judge has granted the American Numismatic Association’s motion to confirm two arbitration decisions, which will allow the ANA to pursue collection of $53,550.26 from former ANA Executive Director Christopher Cipoletti.

The order, by District Court Judge Thomas K. Kane, confirms two decisions by American Arbitration Association Arbitrator Kathryn E. Miller: a May 27 decision which held that Cipoletti was terminated for cause and that he breached his fiduciary duties to the ANA, and a July 29 order that ruled Cipoletti must pay $53,550.26 to cover the expenses of the arbitration. Judge Kane concluded that Cipoletti “set forth no basis to vacate the July 29, 2009 order.”

Cipoletti, who was terminated for cause by the ANA in October 2007, filed the arbitration case to seek additional payment under his employment contract and a deferred compensation plan. The arbitrator denied Cipoletti’s claim and, instead, found him “guilty of intentional misconduct” and prosecuting “this matter in bad faith.” Arbitrator Miller characterized his conduct as “stubbornly litigious and disrespectful of truth and accuracy.”
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Heritage Auction Galleries will be the official auctioneer for the two 2010 American Numismatic Association shows, the Boston World’s Fair of Money® and the Fort Worth National Money Show™, ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd has announced.

“This partnership makes perfect sense for both parties,” said Shepherd. “Heritage has done many things to build our membership and support our educational efforts in the past, and we are looking forward to working with them to ensure a successful relationship in 2010.”

“We have always believed in the mission of the ANA,” said Heritage President Greg Rohan. “This is an opportunity to deliver first-rate auctions in partnership with an organization that does great things for the hobby. We’re excited about Fort Worth and Boston.”

Live auctions will be held during the Boston World’s Fair of Money, Aug. 11-15, and during the Fort Worth National Money Show, March 25-28. In addition, Heritage will conduct a sanctioned Internet auction immediately preceding each convention.

Heritage Auction Galleries is based in Dallas. For more information, visit www.HA.com.

ANA Statement to the Press:

The ANA received several competitive bids for its 2010 National Money Show auctions in Dallas/Fort Worth and the 2010 World’s Fair of Money auctions in Boston. The bids were complex and required a review of several diverse components. After review, it was determined that the most favorable bid that best served the interests of the ANA’s members was tendered by Heritage Auctions, Inc. As the bids contain proprietary and confidential proposals, it is the policy of the ANA not to discuss the details of the bids. The bids were sealed and received by BiggsKofford, the ANA’s auditors, and were then tendered to the ANA Executive Director and General Counsel, each of whom conducted an independent review and thereafter conferred to review their respective analysis of the bids. After extensive review, they made a unanimous recommendation to the Board of Governors. (more…)