(Colorado Springs, Colorado) – The American Numismatic Association (ANA) and Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California, have reached a cordial agreement to withdraw from the earlier announced $1 million funding for three ANA museum projects. The termination of Contursi’s financial pledge follows decisions by the ANA Board to cancel or delay the projects for which the funding was earmarked.

“Based on the ANA’s inability to commit $40 million right now for these museums, we have reached an amicable, mutual agreement to cancel any arrangements made by the ANA and Steve Contursi in conjunction with these projects. We sincerely appreciate Steve’s commitments to the ANA,” said Barry Stuppler, ANA President.

“I believe in the ANA and its education mission. Perhaps there will be another major ANA project in the future that deserves the strong support of contributors, including me,” said Contursi. (more…)

(Colorado Springs, Colorado) — The American Numismatic Association has halted plans for a previously proposed museum in Washington, D.C.

“At this point in time we can’t make the financial commitment to raise over $20 million that would be needed for the Washington project. When the association’s finances allow us to do so, we may revisit this proposal in the future,” explained Barry Stuppler, ANA President.

In a vote conducted by telephone on October 2, the ANA Board unanimously approved, 9-0, a motion by Vice President Patricia Jagger Finner and seconded by Governor Joseph E. Boling “to cancel plans to open a museum in Washington, D.C.” A colloquy to the motion stated: “Further evaluation and feasibility studies will be engaged regarding San Francisco and Colorado Springs.” (more…)

TEHRAN — A rare collection of coins has recently been donated to the Astan-e Qods Razavi Museum in Mashhad by collector Jafar Asadi.

The collection contains over 200 silver and copper coins belonging to various epochs including the Safavid, Afsharid, Qajar, Pahlavi eras and also some contemporary coins, said the head of the museum.

Mohammad-Baqer Kafshdar-Tusi noted that the coins, minted in the cities of Tabriz, Urmia, Yazd, Isfahan, and Tehran, narrate the evolution of coinage in Iran through the ages.

“The oldest item in the collection is a silver coin minted in Tabriz during the dynasty of Shah Abbas Safavi. On one side it bears the name of the twelve Imams and the other side is inscribed with a piece of poetry,” he added. (more…)