ANA HONORS EXCELLENCE IN NUMISMATIC ART AND WRITING

During the 2026 American Numismatic Association's (ANA) World's Fair of Money, hosted in Pittsburgh, members who have contributed to the hobby in profound ways were recognized. The Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture and the Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing were presented during the 135th Anniversary Awards Banquet.

The ANA's Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture is an annual honor given to an artist whose lifetime work in the field rises above all others. The 2026 recipient is Latvian sculptor and graphic designer Janis Strupulis, who has helped shape Latvia's national identity through his currency art. Born in 1949, Strupulis graduated from the Art Academy of Latvia in 1973. He is a member of several artistic organizations, including the Artists' Union of Latvia and FIDEM, and serves as president of the Latvian Arts Medal Club.

Strupulis is best known for designing modern Latvian coins, including the 1999 bimetallic 2-lat coin and several 1-lat coin designs from 1999 and 2001. His work also includes medals, drawings, and commemorative plaques honoring historical figures in Riga. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous international honors, including the Baltic Triennial Medal Art Prize and the Dante Biennale Gold Medal.

The Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing is presented annually to a researcher, author, or journalist in recognition of their body of work. David Hill is the 2026 recipient.

The New York native has served as the librarian for the American Numismatic Society (ANS) since 2014, following two decades of experience as an archivist and librarian for various organizations. A prolific author, Hill has penned countless articles for the society's quarterly periodical, ANS Magazine, using primary-source materials from the ANS archives.

"My subjects seem to present themselves, practically insisting on being written about," says Hill. "My job involves dipping into all the rare and wonderful historical materials I'm fortunate to be surrounded by."

He devotes hours of intense research to crafting captivating stories with engaging characters and interesting facts. "My long-term goal has always been to leave something behind that is well documented, so that other people can use and build upon the information I've uncovered."

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