ANA AWARDS NUMISMATISTS FOR HOBBY DEDICATION

Every year, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) recognizes members who go above and beyond with their service and dedication to numismatics. The following awards, presented at the World's Fair of Money®, will be allocated during the Member Awards & Donor Celebration, Thursday, August 27 from 3-4:30 p.m. in Ballroom B of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

The ANA's Medal of Merit honors individuals who have dedicated years of service to the Association and have worked to promote the hobby. This year's recipients are Mike Ellis, Steve Feltner, and David Menchell.

Longtime Summer Seminar instructor Mike Ellis has proven his dedication to numismatics through his many contributions as a teacher. During his 21 years of attendance at the ANA's Summer Seminar, he has taught 26 full seminars and three mini-seminars on topics such as minting technology, errors and varieties, and coin grading. Additionally Ellis has taught three traveling seminars at ANA conventions and special events. He assisted in writing two editions of the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties and Q. David Bowers's A Guide Book of Half Cents and Large Cents, and he has written columns for numerous numismatic publications.

He received an honorary Doctor of Numismatics degree from the Florence Schook School of Numismatics and was inducted into the CONECA Hall of Fame in 2009.

Steve Feltner has made many contributions to numismatics in his efforts to inspire collectors young and old. After working as a coin grader for Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), he cofounded a coin company based in Sacramento, California. He later returned to PCGS, where he currently serves as grading team leader and director of numismatic education and outreach. He taught "Intermediate Grading of U.S. Coins" at the Summer Seminar for eight consecutive years and is a Witter Coin University instructor. The recipient of the ANA's Young Numismatist of the Year award in 2004, he was included on Coin World's 100 Most Influential People in Numismatics list in 2022 and 2024.

A certified exhibit judge for 25 years, Dr. David Menchell is committed to numismatic education. He regularly shares his knowledge by delivering lectures on medals to organizations across the country, and he has published articles in both The Numismatist and the Medal Collectors of America's publication, MCA Advisory. He is a founding member of both the Colonial Coin Collector's Club (1993) and the MCA (1998), and he has served as a regional vice president for the former organization since 2002. A seven-time Summer Seminar instructor, he donates the medals from his classes to the ANA's Edward C. Rochette Money Museum, with his contributions totaling about 650 pieces.

The Adna G. Wilde Memorial Award for Exemplary Service honors ANA members who have demonstrated years of enthusiastic service in volunteering time, expertise, and resources that contribute to the ANA's growth and success and have furthered the Association's educational mission. This year, the ANA recognizes Barbara Gregory, Keith Moon, and Dennis Tucker with this honor.

Barbara Gregory served as editor-in-chief of The Numismatist for 32 years. During her tenure, she initiated payment for contributing authors and columnists, implemented desktop publishing (the first numismatic publication to do so), and restructured the YN Literary Awards program. A mentor to many authors, Gregory has received numerous accolades for her work and was inducted into the Numismatic Hall of Fame in 2021. She now serves as editor of The Centinel, official publication of the Central States Numismatic Society.

With a numismatic career spanning decades, Keith Moon has advanced numismatic education, mentored collectors, and strengthened the hobby. A senior grading finalizer at Numismatic Guaranty Company, he has also worked for Professional Coin Grading Service and ANACS. He is a dedicated educator, serving as an instructor at the ANA's Summer Seminar and Witter Coin University. Moon also co-launched Numismatic Rarities Exchange (NREX) to foster community and knowledge among collectors and dealers.

Author Dennis Tucker worked as publisher at Whitman Publishing from 2004 to 2024, overseeing the release of over 300 titles. He served two terms on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2024, and he has instructed at the ANA's Summer Seminar. His many articles, as well as his reference American Gold and Silver: U.S. Mint Collector and Investor Coins and Medals, Bicentennial to Date, have provided the numismatic community with invaluable information.

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 members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs, to include its museum, library, publications, conventions and webinars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit money.org.

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