The American Numismatic Association’s 2008 World’s Fair of Money® will give visitors a chance to see millions of dollars in rare coins, learn from the world’s top numismatists, and explore the history of Baltimore. The event, held July 30 to August 3 at the Baltimore Convention Center, will feature over 1,100 dealers and numismatic vendors, world-class exhibits, 15 mints from five continents and a variety of educational presentations for every age and level of interest.

“Money is history you can hold in your hands,” said ANA President Barry Stuppler. “We’ll have thousands of collectors and dealers from around the country buying and selling items ranging in value from a few cents each to $1 million. You can see everything from a half cent to a $100,000 bill, and it’s free.”

United States Mint Director Edmund Moy will unveil a new, pure gold coin – the much- anticipated 2009-dated Ultra High Relief Double Eagle – immediately after opening ceremonies on July 30. It’s a modern, 24-karat version of what many call the most beautiful American coin ever created, the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens double eagle.

Exhibits promise to be a main attraction. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will display “Historic Rarities: Early United States Proof Coins,” a special exhibit showcasing extraordinary objects from the National Numismatic Collection. It includes two unique coins – a pattern 1860 Paquet reverse double eagle and a new variety of proof 1818 silver half dollar. (more…)

(Baltimore, Maryland) — This year’s annual PNG Day conducted by the Professional Numismatists Guild in conjunction with the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® convention will be Tuesday, July 29, 2008, in Hall A of the Baltimore Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Collectors are cordially invited to attend; however, an invitation is required for admission.

“Invitations to attend the PNG Day are available free from participating PNG member-dealers as well as from PNG headquarters,” said Robert Brueggeman, PNG Executive Director. A directory of members is available at the PNG’s web site (www.PNGdealers.com) or you can contact the PNG office.”

More than 60 PNG member-dealers will have booths, prominently designated with PNG banners, for buying and selling numismatic merchandise at the Baltimore PNG Day show.

“To showcase our membership to the collecting pubic, PNG has made arrangements with the ANA and the Central States Numismatic Society to hold two PNG Days each year in conjunction with those organizations’ annual conventions. This gives collectors an opportunity to meet many of the experienced, trustworthy PNG dealers at a less frantic pace than often found during large shows,” explained PNG President Gary Adkins. (more…)

The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors has voted unanimously to acknowledge that the “Lamp of Knowledge” is and remains the official seal of the Association.

The vote, taken during a conference call on June 2, authorizes the use of the Lamp of Knowledge on certificates, awards, the ANA Federal Charter, Bylaws and Code of Ethics documents. The ANA will continue its use of the current ANA logo for marketing purposes until a new logo is selected by the membership and confirmed by the Board. The current logo, created around the Peace Dollar, has been in use since 2003.

ANA President Barry Stuppler, who has championed the creation of a new logo, announced plans last winter to ask five accomplished medallic artists to develop designs for a new logo. Those designs, which were submitted in April, were to be displayed on the ANA website and published in The Numismatist. Members would then vote on their favorite designs.

“We received some beautiful artwork,” Stuppler said. “However, the designs we received would be difficult to use in a variety of ways as required for a logo. As a result, we have decided to seek additional input from artists from a variety of disciplines.”

Stuppler said that once artists have been identified and additional submissions received, the membership would be asked to provide input.

“We want to be sure that we make the right decision in selecting a logo for this Association and that the voices of our membership are heard,” Stuppler said. Stuppler emphasized that no operating funds will be utilized to develop or implement a new logo. “We will need to raise about $62,000, and no new logo will be implemented until those funds are in hand.” He added that the fundraising effort has been seeded with a $2,000 anonymous donation.

Stuppler said the decision to use the Lamp of Knowledge as the official seal recognizes the desire of many members to utilize the time-honored symbol. “It’s an important icon to so many of our members,” he said. “I think that placing the old logo on official medals, awards and documents is a vital step in responding to the wishes of the membership.”

The Lamp of Knowledge was adopted for use by the ANA from the University of Michigan seal. According to an article by ANA Historian Q. David Bowers in the June issue of The Numismatist, it appeared in the ANA magazine as early as 1908.

COLORADO SPRINGS – Gail Baker, former education director for the American Numismatic Association, has been named chairperson of the ANA Membership Committee, President Barry Stuppler has announced.

Baker, who retired May 31 following a 10-year career with the ANA, will replace Alan Herbert, who is stepping down as chair, but who will continue as a member of the committee.

“I’m very pleased to announce that Gail has agreed to replace Alan as chair,” Stuppler said. “She is an innovator who cares deeply for the Association, and who brings with her very relevant recent experience as an ANA staffer. We are fortunate that she is willing to fill Alan’s shoes.”

Baker was hired as the ANA education director in 1998, and was instrumental in creating a second one-week Summer Seminar session as well as launching Coins in the Classroom. Most recently she was the Association’s national numismatic advocate.

“I’m pleased that the Membership Committee has made strides in moving the Association forward,” Herbert said. “We are reaching out to a younger, more Internet savvy group of members – and I’m very pleased that Gail has been named to continue that effort.” The ANA Membership Committee meets monthly via teleconference. For more information on ANA committees, go to www.money.org, click on the communications drop-down menu and go to committees and minutes.