2018 Theme Celebrates Unity Across Borders
To recognize the role of numismatics in building bridges and promoting unity and reconciliation, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) selected “Connecting Cultures: From Many, One” as the theme for the 95th annual National Coin Week, April 15-21. The theme was provided by ANA member Linda Mosvick.
The Association will host a variety of National Coin Week activities online and at the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo. Events and educational content focuses on U.S. and world coins throughout history, commemorative medals, monetary unions, designs on euro notes, and more.
ANA-sponsored activities for National Coin Week include:
- A writing contest open to ANA members about how numismatics creates unity. Topics can be historical and research based, or personal experiences about people coming together through numismatics. Winning and high-quality entries will be featured on the ANA National Coin Week blog and webpage. Selected entries qualify for prizes.
- An online trivia challenge. Every day from April 15-21, a new question will be released on the ANA’s social media channels and www.NationalCoinWeek.org. Participants submit their answers online for a chance to win proof sets and one-year memberships to the ANA.
- The annual coin club trivia challenge, where ANA member clubs test their numismatic knowledge and compete for prizes.
- A youth activity, “Bridges on Coins.” Children are provided close-up illustrations of bridges featured on coins and paper money, and challenged to identify the objects.
- Online resources on www.NationalCoinWeek.org, including articles from The Numismatist, promotional documents, links and suggestions from the ANA library and more.
- An open house at the Money Museum in Colorado Springs on Saturday, April 21, which will include free admission, activities for children and adults, and the minting of the 2018 National Coin Week medallette in the museum’s Mini-Mint.
“Symbolism is often an important part of designs on coins and currency,” said Andy Dickes, ANA collections manager and coordinator of the 2018 National Coin Week. “For example, the first coins struck for circulation at the United States Mint in 1793 were large copper cents about the size of today’s quarter-dollars, and the “tails” side design on those cents depicted a chain with 13 links forming a circle. It symbolized the unity of the 13 original colonies.”
For additional information, e-mail ncw@money.org, call 719-482-9814, or visit www.NationalCoinWeek.org.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 25,000 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of instructional and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.