DIANE PIRET, 1947-2015

Diane Piret, former ICTA (Industry Council for Tangible Assets) Industry Affairs Director, passed away April 15, 2015. Diane had a 50 year career in our hobby starting in the rare coin and precious metal business and continuing as an industry representative working to protect against federal and state laws and regulations harmful to all involved in numismatics.

Diane was a highly respected numismatic industry expert on compliance with the financial reporting aspects of the U.S.A. Patriot Act and she was extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of numismatics and numismatists. She was a valued resource for numismatic organizations working to prevent onerous state and federal registration and reporting laws and regulations. Likewise she helped numismatic groups attempting to keep laws, such as sales tax exemption, appropriate and realistic. Diane received numerous awards throughout her career, including, the Professional Numismatists Guild’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, the American Numismatic Association’s 2014 Elvira Clain-Stefanelli Memorial Award for Achievement in Numismatics, and the National Silver Dollar Round Table’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award.

As ICTA Industry Affairs Director, Diane worked with many organizations in our hobby and with the collector community on a variety of issues related to participating in numismatics. Diane helped the numismatic community convince the TSA to establish rules that permit private screenings of your valued collectibles (so others don’t see what you’re carrying - reducing the risk of a potential robbery) when flying to exhibit, buy or sell your collection. Likewise, Diane helped numismatists convince the FAA to modify rules to allow carrying-on two items of luggage (instead of risking checking and losing your luggage).

Cindy Wibker, FUN Director and Convention Coordinator, commented “She was one of the first people I met and wholeheartedly trusted when I inherited the convention coordinator's job with FUN in 1993. For many years she was my "go to" person when I had specific questions about the hobby that she knew something about - and she knew a lot about most everything in the hobby. In addition to being a wealth of information, Diane was a "people person" and was very talented in handling any personality that crossed her path.”

Beth Deisher, retired Editor of Coin World, recalled Diane’s efforts in helping the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild, the American Numismatic Association, and other respected numismatic organizations regarding cultural property issues. Beth commented that Diane had an impressive understanding of the impact of legal terminology in legislation and used her skill to research pertinent laws, helping to guide the numismatic groups through the legal hurdles involved in proposing changes to laws, helping draft the proposed changes to laws and regulations, and testifying before many legislative committees on various bills.

I didn’t know Diane very well but saw her at many shows. She was always helpful, pleasant, and very knowledgeable. Diane, born in New York, was a Southern belle in the best sense of that term and was devoted to her adopted state of Louisiana – especially New Orleans. She will be greatly missed by the numismatic community.

For more information, see:
Hobby loses one of its finest (www.ictaonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120:hobby-loses-one-of-its-finest&catid=26:news&Itemid=128)

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