FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 23, 2017
CONTACT: Deborah Muehleisen
Telephone: 719-482-9864
E-mail: pr@money.org
National Money Show Draws 2,500 Attendees
Kagin’s Auctions Realizes $6.385 Million

The American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2016 National Money Show in Orlando welcomed a total of 2,513 people for the three-day event, which was held March 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center.

“The show featured a week of great numismatic educational opportunities, camaraderie, and a bourse filled with numismatic treasures and knowledgeable dealers,” said ANA President Jeff Garrett. “The auction room was standing-room only. Everyone attending had a chance to experience what an ANA convention is all about.”

The event featured more than 350 dealers buying and selling coins, currency and related items. A wide range of technical seminars and educational presentations led by notable speakers sharing their expertise also were offered, as were exhibits of priceless rarities from the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Exhibits included a 1792 silver half disme, one of the first coins ever struck by the U.S. Mint; recovered Spanish-fleet sunken treasure; and the famous 1913 Liberty Head nickel, valued at $3 million. The only known complete collection of historic Florida banknotes from 1865 to 1935 was exhibited for the first time ever, courtesy of William Youngerman of Boca Raton.

Kagin’s Auctions of Tiburon, Calif., served as the show’s official auctioneer. The three-session sale featured 1050 lots and realized $6.385 million, including a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium. “More than 70 people crowded the auction room, which is almost unheard of in these days of Internet bidding,” said Dr. Donald Kagin, president of Kagin’s Auctions. Highest prices realized (with buyer’s premium) included:

  • 1860 “No Motto” Liberty Head $10 Gold Eagle, PR-65 PCGS — $258,500
  • 1876-CC Seated Liberty dime, Specimen-66 Branch Mint PCGS — $158,625
  • 1865 “No Motto” Liberty Head $5 Gold Half Eagle, PR-65 PCGS — $141,000

“The Kagin’s Auction was well regarded,” according to Los Angeles coin dealer Fred Weinberg, “and some very nice rare coins were traded on the floor as well. I sold a Sacagawea Dollar/State Quarter mule – the very first time I had one for my showcase at any coin show in the past 17 years. And though I can’t disclose any details, three extremely rare, very famous U.S. coins appeared at the show. I was privileged to be able to examine them before they were presented to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) for authentication. It likely will be a major news story in the coming months.”

Presidential Awards Recognize Bill Calderazzo and John and Nancy Wilson

During the show’s opening ceremonies, ANA President Jeff Garrett presented a Presidential Award to Bill Calderazzo of Tampa, Fla. Calderazzo founded Florida Coin Exchange in 1967, and was president of the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) from 1974 to 1976. President Garrett noted that Calderazzo was his mentor when he first entered the hobby.

Also recognized with a Presidential Award were John and Nancy Wilson, two long-time ANA supporters who have personally recruited thousands of members for the Association. The husband-and-wife duo have each previously served as ANA board members and have received numerous awards, including the ANA’s Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service in 2007.

President Garrett also presented National Money Show Host Chair Cindy Wibker with the Goodfellow award, and FUN with the Lewis S. Werner Host Club appreciation plaque.

Legacy Series Dinner Honors Mark Salzberg & Rick Montgomery

Two of the hobby’s titans – Mark Salzberg and Rick Montgomery, leaders of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) – were the focus of a Legacy Series dinner and interview on Thursday evening, March 9. Moderated by Barbara Gregory, editor-in-chief of The Numismatist, the interview gave attendees a perspective on the world of third-party grading while allowing the two men to share personal stories about their early years in numismatics. Past installments of the Legacy Series have celebrated numismatists Q. David Bowers, Ray Dillard, Fred Weinberg, Jim Halperin and Steve Ivy, and David Sundman. Previous interviews can be seen on www.money.org/LegacySeries; the March interview will be posted in the coming weeks.

ANA Board of Governors Candidates Forum

Ten of the 12 individuals who have received the necessary nominations for the 2017 ANA Board of Governors election participated in a forum on Friday, March 10, to answer questions and express their views on a number of topics. The Association is governed by a nine-member board that includes a president, vice president and seven governors, each of whom is elected to a two-year term that begins in August. All nine seats are open. Video of the Candidates Forum will be posted on www.money.org by March 31. ANA members also will be able to read candidate biographies and answers to questions in the June issue of The Numismatist. ANA members can expect to receive election ballots in June.

ANA Board of Governors Meeting

Housekeeping items comprised much of the ANA Board of Governors agenda during its meeting at the National Money Show on Saturday, March 11. Most notable was the review and approval of the IRS Form 990 and the Fiscal Year 2016 audited financial statement prepared by Waugh & Goodwin, LLP.

“The ANA remains in a strong financial position, with over $74 million in assets and investments of nearly $21 million,” said Greg Lyon, chair of both the Audit Committee and the Budget & Finance Committee. “Since 2009, the Association’s net assets (not counting the Museum collection) have grown over 75 percent. The ANA Board remains committed to keeping the Association financially sound, while using a sustainable portion of our assets to further our educational mission and support capital expenditures.”

The ANA’s Fiscal Year 2016 audited financial statement and 990 report will soon be available for review online at www.money.org/financial-reports.

In other business, the Board selected the Chicago Coin Club (CCC) as the host club for the 2019 World’s Fair of Money, with the selection of Richard Lipman as host chair. That year, the CCC will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding.

The Board unanimously passed a resolution of support for the creation of a commemorative coin in the year 2021 honoring the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The resolution now goes to U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), who has expressed interest in sponsoring legislation to create the commemorative.

Excerpts from the ANA Board of Governors meeting will be published in the June issue of The Numismatist. Video replays of the opening ceremonies, the Board meeting and other show highlights can be viewed at www.NationalMoneyShow.com beginning March 31.

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.

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