Heritage Auction Galleries is awarding a complimentary second year of membership with the American Numismatic Association to young collectors who become junior members at 2008 ANA conventions. The offer will be honored at the Phoenix National Money Show™, March 7-9, and at the Baltimore World’s Fair of Money®, July 30-August 3.

“Everyone agrees that reaching out to youth is vital to the future of numismatics,” said Robert Korver, Director Emeritus of Heritage Auctions. “This initiative is a way to get young people involved and excited about our great hobby. We’re proud to promote the ANA’s mission.”

The junior membership offer is part of a larger effort by Heritage to strengthen numismatics through support of the ANA. This April, Heritage will award one life membership, five fiveyear memberships and 20 one-year memberships to people who completed its 2008 Auction Survey. Additionally, 10 ANA members will win $100 gift certificates to MoneyMarket, the ANA’s gift shop and online catalog. Heritage provided similar support in 2007. (more…)

The American Numismatic Association has received a $447,095 donation to support educational programs and produce a much-needed consumer awareness booklet with helpful information on coin collecting.

The donation is from the settlement of a class action lawsuit, Francisco v. Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, concerning First Strikes designation. While admitting no wrongdoing or liability, NGC settled the case and discontinued the use of First Strikes, believing that controversy from the lawsuit would not be in the best interests of the hobby.

The parties, with the court’s approval, agreed that the lion’s share of the proceeds go to the ANA to further support its mission of collector education.

“This donation allows the ANA to implement new strategies as well as enhance its delivery of numismatic education to a vastly larger audience,” said ANA President Barry Stuppler. “We are obviously greatly appreciative of NGC’s commitment to best practices in our hobby, and to its efforts to support education, which is a fundamental value of our Association.”

“The ANA is the hobby’s premiere organization, and no one is better at developing and delivering educational programs,” said NGC Chief Executive Officer Steve Eichenbaum. “Coin collecting is a very complex hobby and everyone benefits when collectors are knowledgeable and well educated.”

Stuppler said the ANA would soon begin work on an educational consumer awareness booklet that will include consumer tips as well as basic information on grading, authentication and conservation. The booklet also will discuss the minting process and what constitutes a “first-strike” coin, plus feature a rich frequently- asked-questions section as well as a comprehensive listing of helpful resources for collectors. (more…)

The American Numismatic Association’s 2008 National Money Show™ gives visitors the opportunity to see rare coins and paper notes worth millions of dollars and learn from some of the world’s foremost numismatists. The show, held March 7-9 at the Phoenix Convention Center, West Building, will feature marquee and collector exhibits, educational presentations, and hundreds of the nation’s top coin dealers.

“Money is history you can hold in your hands, depicting important people, places and events. At the National Money Show you can see everything from a half-cent to a $100,000 bill, and it’s free,” said ANA President Barry Stuppler.

The convention’s exhibits are highlighted by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s (BEP) eye-opening “Billion Dollar Display” of high denomination money. The National Money Show marks the first time these stunning and valuable specimens of paper money have been showcased in Arizona. The display includes demonstrations of an antique, one-ton, handoperated printing press to show how money was made more than a century ago. (more…)