The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 47, November 5, 2005, Article 17

ON EDITORIALS AND THE LATEST ANA DUST-UP

And speaking of controversies, the latest involving the
American Numismatic Association keeps growing and growing.
Alan V. Weinberg writes: "Has anyone read or commented
upon the recent Coin World editorial by Beth Deisher? It
was an extraordinarily bold and perhaps controversial
2/3rds page commentary on ANA Executive Director Chris
Cipoletti and the path down which he is taking the ANA.

Ever since attorney Cipoletti took over, first as ANA
legal counsel and now Executive Director (talk about a conflict
of interest & approach to problems!), replacing the badly-
missed retired Ed Rochette, the ANA's key operational
decisions have been made in secret sessions, involved
the ANA in questionable personnel dismissals and litigious
situations which will end up costing the ANA a lot of money
in legal fees and likely case losses/settlements. It is
clear it was not a good idea to hire a lawyer as head of
the ANA, much less a person who has no numismatic
knowledge or background whatsoever. And the newly elected
Board members, most or all accomplished numismatists, seem
to be a rubber stamp for Cipoletti's actions.

It is unprecedented in modern hobby times for the Editor
of a major numismatic publication to take a strong public
stand against the current ANA administration but it is
commendable and brave, and hopefully only the first salvo."

Pete Smith writes: “Coin World and Numismatic News have
reported on the action by the ANA board to remove Walter
Ostromecki. If the story reported in these papers is correct,
I do not believe the removal is justified. I have not heard
or read an explanation from the ANA.

I doubt if the ANA board will pay much attention to the
response of a single ANA member but an organized response
might get their attention. I am looking for suggestions or
guidance. If any ANA member is interested in organizing a
response or participating in such a response, please
contact me at pete@coindeals.com.”

[As Pete mentions, both Coin World and Numismatic News
have each devoted a lot of print of late to the ANA and the
nature of Cipoletti's leadership. David Ganz' column in
Numismatic News has explored the unfortunate ramifications
of having the same person serve the organization as both legal
counsel and Executive Director.  It will be interesting to see how
the situation unfolds.  Controversies abound in the history of
the ANA, with the one involving literature dealer Frank Katen
likely being one of the most notable for bibliophiles.  –Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum