Herbert fills vacancy left from death of Radford Stearns

Alan Herbert of Belle Fourche, S.D., was installed as a member of the ANA Board of Governors during a teleconference Board meeting on Sept. 11. At the request of ANA President Barry Stuppler, Herbert was installed by Past President Adna G. Wilde, Jr. following a moment of silence for Dr. Radford Stearns, who passed away Aug. 31.

In accordance with ANA bylaws, any vacancy on the Board of Governors is offered to the person who failed to be elected as a Governor by the least number of votes in the most recent election. Herbert received 2,243 votes in the 2007 election, the most votes of any unsuccessful candidate. Stuppler contacted Herbert on Sept. 2 to confirm his acceptance.

Herbert previously served on the ANA Board of Governors from 1999-2001 and from 2003-07. He is a Life Member and former chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee, Information Technology Committee, Membership Committee and Terms and Standardization Committee. He is known as ?The AnswerMan? in his popular columns for Numismatic News, World Coin News, Bank Note Reporter and Coins Magazine.

“I am honored to serve on the ANA Board of Governors, but saddened by these circumstances,” Herbert said. “Radford was a remarkable person who diligently served the Association. I intend to do the same in this role.”

“Alan is a respected journalist and knowledgeable numismatist who has done great things for the hobby,” Stuppler said. “I look forward to working with him on this Board to make decisions that benefit our members and our Association.”

Dr. Charles Radford Stearns, a member of the ANA Board of Governors, died on Aug. 31 after a long illness. He was 67 years old.

“We have all lost a special person and dedicated numismatist,” said ANA President Barry Stuppler. “As a board member I was able to see his passion for helping the ANA provide better services and educational programs for its membership. Our board and the entire numismatic community will sincerely miss him.”

Radford Stearns was born in Evanston, Ill. in 1940. He attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery (Loyola) in 1967. He served as a Naval Officer in Albany, GA from 1967-1969, and practiced dentistry in Lilburn, Ga. until his retirement in 2006. In his time away from dentistry and numismatics, he enjoyed adventure travel, scuba diving, wildlife photography and the Georgia Aquarium; he also supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Lilburn Relay for Life.

A prolific exhibitor and collector of Georgia Colonial paper money, Dr. Stearns is a former winner of the ANA Howland Wood Best in Show exhibit award. He also was a collector of Russian money. He was an exhibitor at shows across the country, including conventions held by the Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) and Florida United Numismatists (FUN).

Stearns received the ANA Good Fellowship Award in 1987 for serving as General Chairman of the Association’s 96th anniversary convention in Atlanta; he served at various ANA conventions as Assistant General Chair, Educational Forum Chair and Exhibit Chair. (more…)

“The Medal Is the Message: Global Ideas in Handheld Sculpture,” an innovative exhibit at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum, is closing on Sept. 15, and will be replaced by “A House Divided: Money of the Civil War,” opening on Oct. 9.

“Global Ideas in Handheld Sculpture,” which opened in Sept. 2007, features more than 1,400 works of art created by artists from 32 countries. The exhibit was created for the International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) Art Medal World Congress, which was hosted by the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs. It was the first time in 20 years the prestigious event took place in the United States.

The theme of the Congress, Passages to Reconstruction, conveyed a message of hope following Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Many artists incorporated themes of tragedy and renewal in their work.

The Money Museum will celebrate the opening of “A House Divided: Money of the Civil War,” with a gala public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 9. For more information, call 719- 482-9814 or e-mail museum@money.org

(Baltimore, Maryland) — Seldom-seen early American coins from the Smithsonian’s collections, the triumphant return to Baltimore of a previously missing $3 million nickel and a $1 billion U.S. Treasury Department display will be among the many historic, valuable exhibits at the World’s Fair of Money® (www.money.org) in the Baltimore Convention Center, July 30 - August 3, 2008.

But it won’t cost a cent to see a billion bucks. The five-day collectors’ show and educational family event is free and open to the public, sponsored by the non-profit, 32,500 member American Numismatic Association (ANA).

United States Mint Director Ed Moy will personally unveil a new, pure gold coin at the show, the much-anticipated 2009-dated Ultra High Relief Double Eagle ($20 denomination) Gold Coin with a raised design so high you can feel it. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will display “Historic Rarities: Early United States Proof Coins,” a special traveling exhibit showcasing extraordinary objects from the National Numismatic Collection. It includes two unique coins, a pattern 1860 Double Eagle and a new variety of proof 1818 silver half dollar.

Another highlight will be the eye-opening, Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) “billion dollar display” of high denomination money, such as $100,000 bills. There will also be demonstrations of a 150-year-old, hand-turned money printing press.

Over 100 other fascinating exhibits from private collections include the famous 1913 Liberty Head nickel that was missing for 41 years until it was authenticated in Baltimore in 2003 following a nationwide search. It is returning to Baltimore for the first time since its surprising re-discovery five years ago. (more…)