Misplaced Pages

#404595

73-546: The inaugural issue was a four-page leaflet originally published in 1888 by collector Dr. George F. Heath in Monroe, Michigan, as The American Numismatist, in which he listed coins he wanted to purchase, advertised duplicates for sale, and discussed various topics. The name was changed to The Numismatist soon after. The name was purchased by the American Numismatic Association many years later when

146-753: A "long price" for the periodical. In 1915, the Panama–Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco to both celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and mark San Francisco's emergence from the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. Zerbe was appointed head of the fair's numismatic department, overseeing the sale of the coins and medals the U.S. Mint issued to commemorate the exposition. In January 1915, Congress had authorized five coins, including round and octagonal $ 50 pieces . Zerbe also displayed his Money of

219-645: A Governor. Total service on the Board is limited to 10 years. The incumbent board of governors was elected in 2023. The election results were as follows: – Sources: The ANA is also served by various advisory committees. There are temporary advisory committees for searches, and one formed for forming a Strategic Vision for the board in 2012. There are several more permanent advisory committees. The ANA has many programs for Young Numismatists (YNs). There are currently three programs in which YNs can earn free coins by completing coin-related activities. These programs are

292-630: A collection of pattern coins from the United States Mint. In April 2022, the museum announced that the foundation was auctioning off the collection, with the proceeds going to various Dallas-area charities. The museum also offers changing exhibits about money in history, art, archeology, banking and economics, and coin collecting. Members may study the items on display and, by prearrangement, can use other museum materials for research purposes. The ANA has nearly 24,000 individual members. Memberships last one year, three years, five years, or

365-481: A digital subscription while platinum members receive a print subscription. In October 2019, Barnes & Noble announced that The Numismatist would be sold at over 600 stores nation-wide to increase circulation. American Numismatic Association The American Numismatic Association ( ANA ) is an organization founded in 1891 by George Francis Heath. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado , it

438-565: A dignified form of advertising. New York numismatic scholar Albert Frey had been elected ANA president at the St. Louis convention in 1904. After serving three years, with Zerbe as first vice president, Frey declined to run again in 1907, and Zerbe was elected president at that year's convention in Columbus, effective in January 1908, with Henri Buck as first vice president. Zerbe pledged to build

511-592: A donor recognition guild "devoted to supporting the mission of the ANA and its programming needs, while expanding, educating and inspiring the collecting community". The ANA is run by a nine-member board of governors composed of the President, Vice-President, and seven Governors, each elected by ANA members in odd-numbered years. Governor candidates must have been ANA members for at least three years. President and Vice President candidates must have served at least one term as

584-499: A federal charter from the United States Congress in 1912. A board of governors is in charge of the ANA. Numerous advisory committees help to operate it properly. The ANA has a Young Numismatists program intended to promote interest among youth. The ANA has held annual conventions throughout the nation in most years since 1891, with two per year since 1978. The Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award

657-621: A few scholarships to defer some costs for a few students. Locations for the ANA Conventions. The Chester L. Kraause Distinguished Service Award, (formerly the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award) is the highest honor conferred by the ANA. It is given in recognition of numerous years of outstanding, dedicated service to numismatics. The criteria for the nominee should be that the individual is considered someone who has rendered numerous years of outstanding service to

730-411: A ground breaking ceremony was held on September 6, 1966. On December 20, the $ 250,000 building fund goal was reached and the new headquarters was dedicated and officially opened on June 10, 1967. The ANA's administration operates from its Colorado Springs headquarters. The ANA's monthly journal, The Numismatist , is produced here. Many articles are contributed by ANA members. The facility houses

803-532: A lifetime. The cost of the latter differs, depending on a member's age and whether the ANA's magazine, The Numismatist , is mailed or read digitally. Membership is classified into five levels: silver, gold, or platinum, with a "life membership" option available for a one-time payment, and a youth option for kids under 18. In September 2022, the Association announced the launch of the Dr. George F. Heath Society,

SECTION 10

#1732794343405

876-479: A messenger for an express company , and Bridget Mary Zerbe ( née  McAvoy ). The Zerbe family was relatively comfortable, and Joseph (who dropped his first name while young) was educated in the public schools . Farran Zerbe served as a newspaper delivery boy for the Tyrone Daily Herald from 1880 to 1889. By many accounts, including as told by Zerbe in his later years, his interest in coins

949-524: A meteoric rise in the numismatic world. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt had signed legislation authorizing 250,000 gold one-dollar pieces to be struck by the Bureau of the Mint and paid over to organizers of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis as part of the government subsidy for the fair. The legislation was ambiguous enough to allow for multiple designs for the gold dollar, and Zerbe

1022-490: A money museum, with Zerbe as curator, in 1929. Under the agreement, he was allowed to add to the collection, or take any part of it on loan for exhibit elsewhere. He remained curator until his retirement in 1939, after which he was curator emeritus. The Chase Manhattan Bank Money Museum remained open until 1977, after which many of the pieces were donated to the National Numismatic Collection at

1095-576: A need for a national organization of numismatists was evident. The February 1891 edition of The Numismatist printed a question, "What is the matter with having an American Numismatic Association?" A follow-up statement was included: "There is nothing like the alliance of kindred pursuits to stimulate growth and interest." On October 7 and October 8, 1891, five men—Heath, William G. Jerrems, David Harlowe, J.A. Heckelman and John Brydon—holding 26 proxies, met in Chicago with 61 charter members. The result

1168-534: A variety of vendors, did not believe his coins were official government products. Treasury officials agreed to allow him space for a salesperson at the Mint's exhibit, and the lower-denominations coins were sold there, with orders taken for the $ 50 pieces. Soon, though, Zerbe stopped selling the gold dollar there, and the rest of the fair's run was marked by conflict between him and Treasury representatives. The full legal allocation for each denomination had been struck, but though Zerbe continued selling coins by mail after

1241-645: Is bestowed upon the most dedicated members. The ANA also maintains a Numismatic Hall of Fame. Dr. George F. Heath of Monroe, Michigan , gained knowledge of world history by studying his collection of coins. The obscurity of his community was an obstacle towards obtaining certain specimens, and made meeting fellow numismatists difficult. In 1888, he printed, published and distributed a four-page leaflet, NUMISMATIST, in which he listed his coin needs, advertised duplicates for sale, and discussed numismatic topics. The nascent publication found many friends among other isolated collectors. As Heath's subscription list increased,

1314-716: The Farran Zerbe Memorial Award , has been awarded by the organization on an annual basis, though in 2021 the ANA Board of Governors voted to remove his name from the honor after that year's presentation. His other contributions to numismatics include the founding of the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society in San Francisco in 1915. Joseph Farran Zerbe was born on April 16, 1871, in Tyrone, Pennsylvania . His parents were James Albert,

1387-606: The Smithsonian Institution . Zerbe had been married to, and divorced from, Bessie Garner Knox in the 1910s; he married again, to Julia Gertrude Mahoney, in 1932. He continued to be honored by the numismatic community. In 1931, the PCNS struck a special medal honoring Zerbe as its founder, while the following year, the Chase Bank gave a special luncheon honoring Zerbe's fifty years in coin collecting. In 1944, he

1460-464: The U.S. Mint for the World's Fairs, as well as the fact that some of the coins sank in value after the fairs closed, earned him a reputation among some numismatists as a huckster . Zerbe rose rapidly in the ANA, elected vice president in 1904 and subsequently president in 1907. His tenure as president proved controversial, as he purchased the privately owned journal of the ANA, The Numismatist , from

1533-555: The 1909 ANA convention in Montreal , where Zerbe was not a candidate for re-election, but backed Henderson, with the Elder faction proposing Frank C. Higgins of New York. Zerbe weaponized The Numismatist for the election, refusing to allow Higgins or Elder to be mentioned favorably in its pages, and representing their positions in a negative fashion. According to Bowers, Although details are not clear, it seems evident that Zerbe caused

SECTION 20

#1732794343405

1606-528: The ANA Board of Governors, at the request of nearly 20 Zerbe Award winners, voted to remove his name from the award after that year's presentation. The press release cited inflated claims made by Zerbe in connection with the 1904 gold dollar, and irregularities in connection with the purchase of The Numismatist and with Zerbe's involvement in the 1909 election. Zerbe was elected to the Numismatic Hall of Fame in 1969. Alexander stated that "as long as

1679-506: The ANA as well as the field of numismatics. An additional qualification is that the nominee should be a former Medal of Merit and Glenn Smedley Memorial Award recipient. The award is limited only to members of the ANA. To enshrine the most important numismatists of all time, the ANA established the Numismatic Hall of Fame at its Colorado Springs headquarters in 1964. The Hall's constitution and bylaws were drafted that year, and

1752-403: The ANA convention in Chicago , President Waldo C. Moore called on Moritz Wormser, Chairman of the Board, to read a paper from Zerbe. In his paper, Zerbe asked for a general circulation commemorative silver dollar, with the object of the coin to display America's desire for peace. Zerbe's writing stated: "Our example as a democracy ... was a mighty moral force that won battles without number in

1825-449: The ANA exists, Farran Zerbe will continue to live". According to Lupia, Zerbe had "pure genius ... as a clever businessman and numismatic aficionado to lure people into, not merely his show, but into the love of numismatics". Bowers noted, "Whether Zerbe was an idol with feet of clay whose indiscretions of 1908–09 should be overlooked is a matter of debate." Dodson wrote that Zerbe, despite his limited education, "accomplished more than

1898-715: The ANA in membership and prestige, setting a membership goal of 3,000 —at this time, the ANA had fewer than 500 members. Although he fell short of this, 364 people joined the ANA during Zerbe's two-year tenure, many sponsored by Zerbe himself. On June 16, 1908, Dr. George F. Heath, founder of the ANA and proprietor of The Numismatist , suddenly died. Zerbe hastened to Heath's home in Monroe, Michigan , and found Heath's files to be disorganized, with no articles pending publication. Nevertheless, he purchased The Numismatist from Heath's widow and undertook to publish it himself. Combined with his presidency, this gave him near-total control over

1971-544: The ANA membership rolls to be padded by adding new members, men not at all interested in coins, simply to gain their votes for Henderson in the 1909 election. At the annual convention, held that year in Montreal, Zerbe had 400 proxies in hand for his pet candidate, Henderson, while Frank Higgins had just a few dozen. Higgins gamely threw in the towel and suggested that the convention unanimously elect Henderson, which it did. With Henderson as president, Zerbe continued to control

2044-436: The ANA. Zerbe continued the news embargo against Elder, who responded by printing his own publications. After leaving office at the end of 1909, Zerbe tired of publishing The Numismatist , which did not make much of a profit, and in 1911 sold it to Montreal collector William Walter Coulthard Wilson, who donated it to the ANA. Zerbe apparently profited handsomely on the transaction, receiving what ANA archival papers described as

2117-478: The Charter permanent and allow for a larger Board was introduced and passed by Congress and signed into law by John F. Kennedy on April 10. The amendment was presented by Congressman Wilbur Mills and Senator John L. McClellan , both of Arkansas . An ANA national headquarters building fund was established on April 29, 1961. A site in Colorado Springs, Colorado was selected as the headquarter's location and

2190-710: The Early American Copper Project, the David R. Cervin Ancient Coin Project, and The Dollar Project. Another program, Coins For A's, allows kids to get free coins, plus a basic-level ANA membership by getting A's in school. The ANA also has a YN Dollars program in which YNs earn YN Dollars for different activities. They can spend these YN Dollars at the ANA Summer Convention at the annual YN auction. The Young Numismatist of

2263-551: The Mint at the Portland exposition. Zerbe's activities at Portland yielded him a profit of about $ 16,000 (equivalent to $ 543,000 in 2023). Having completed his duties at Portland, on April 1, 1906, Zerbe boarded a coastal steamer for San Francisco. He conducted numismatic research and visited collectors, seeking information on topics such as the private issues of gold coins during the California Gold Rush , and

The Numismatist - Misplaced Pages Continue

2336-668: The Summer. The Fall shows in 2011 and 2012 also used the National Money Show brand. The annual ANA Summer Seminar is an assortment of classes held in Colorado Springs mid-summer (generally the last week of June and first week of July). Most classes are one week long but some weeks have half-week classes available. Classes are taught by numismatic experts. Students are of all ages and divided between collectors and numismatic professionals. There are special programs for Young Numismatists. The ANA and many local coin clubs sponsor

2409-481: The Western United States, and describes itself as fostering a strong tradition of research and literary publication. After the San Francisco fair, Zerbe returned to the road and exhibitions of Money of the World. In 1919, he published a definitive catalog of Lesher Referendum Dollars, privately struck silver currency from Colorado. This so impressed Mehl that he reprinted it without permission, though

2482-433: The World exhibit and was present there almost continuously from the fair's February 1915 opening until its December closing. The Numismatist later printed an estimate that a third of the fair's 18   million visitors came to see Zerbe's exhibit, of which half a million heard the informal talks he gave, discussing the 50-centime piece he displayed and which he said had launched his interest in coin collecting. Initially,

2555-637: The YNA founders were in college and could no longer help out. The YNA slowly faded away because of lack of interest. In 2001 at the ANA Summer Seminar, the young collectors decided to reform YNA. Within several years, the YNA once again ceased to exist. The ANA has held conventions annually most years since 1891, and expanded to two annual shows in 1978. The ANA offered a third show in 2011 and 2012, but announced on May 4, 2012 that it will not continue this in 2013. The features of these conventions include

2628-508: The Year award has been given by the ANA every year since 1968. Many former winners of the award are now prominent numismatic professionals, or have distinguished themselves in other areas. The Young Numismatists of America (YNA) was a worldwide coin organization founded in 1990 at the ANA Summer Seminar. In its early days, the YNA was an attractive way for young numismatists (YNs) to submit articles for publication. However, by late 1996, many of

2701-500: The annually-appointed commission made up of government officials and members of the public that checked to see that the gold and silver coinage met the required specifications. Zerbe by then had enemies in the numismatic world, led by Thomas L. Elder, a New York dealer who considered him a charlatan and issued satirical medals accusing him of profiteering off the Louisiana Purchase dollars. The factional fight culminated at

2774-413: The banks, who saw an increase of deposits, and Zerbe, who not only got whatever the bank paid him, but had the opportunity to purchase old coins brought to him by members of the public. The exhibits also featured lectures by Zerbe, as well as leaflets about coins that contained favorable articles about banks, and which were imprinted with the bank's name. The exhibits, Zerbe convinced bank officials, were

2847-518: The coins and medals put on sale by the U.S. government, including the two varieties of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar . Under authorizing legislation for early commemorative coins such as the issues that Zerbe distributed, the entire mintage was conveyed to the authorized commission, who made whatever profit it could by selling them at a premium to the public. Zerbe, in addition to exhibiting his own coins at

2920-408: The design of the $ 50 coin was not beautiful enough, and that different ones should have been used for the round and octagonal pieces; he did not blame the sculptor, Robert Aitken , who he wrote had done as well as possible given the need to produce the coins quickly. In the same year, Zerbe founded the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society (PCNS) in San Francisco. It is the oldest numismatic organization in

2993-471: The end of his involvement with the corner store in Tyrone. Thereafter, his life would be devoted to collectibles, especially coins. A prolific writer, Zerbe published his first article in the ANA's journal, The Numismatist , in 1902; titled "Slugs and Stellas", it discussed certain rare U.S. gold coins , and was the first of more than 100 pieces he would write for that publication between 1902 and 1945. In

The Numismatist - Misplaced Pages Continue

3066-717: The event. In October 1906, Zerbe was the guest speaker at the first convention of the Ohio Numismatic Society in Columbus . In 1907, Zerbe mounted an exhibit at the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia , and unsuccessfully proposed a $ 2 silver coin to be issued for that fair. Beginning in 1907, and continuing for more than two decades, Zerbe made arrangements with banks to exhibit parts of his collection in their lobbies. This benefitted both

3139-543: The fair closed on December 4, sales dropped through 1916. Zerbe bought some of the surplus coins at face value, and the rest were returned to the Mint for redemption and melting. Zerbe was present at the San Francisco Mint on June 15, 1915, for the first ceremonial striking of the octagonal $ 50 piece, and operated the press, striking the 19th piece. He wrote in a 1918 article in The Numismatist that

3212-460: The fair, promoted the gold dollars. Pricing them at $ 3 (equivalent to $ 102 in 2023), an amount he stated was justified because regular-issue gold dollars commanded a premium, he also sold them mounted in spoons, jewelry and other items. He submitted articles to The Numismatist , both under his own name and anonymously, seeking to interest coin collectors in the dollars. Instead, few were sold, and he offended some coin collectors who concluded he

3285-422: The first inductees enshrined in 1969 and the next group in 1970, with subsequent honorees inducted every two years thereafter. The Hall was the brainchild of Jack W. Ogilvie, a Hollywood film writer and editor who served as ANA historian from 1950 to 1970. Prior to each induction year, nominations are accepted from the membership. After review by a five-member Hall of Fame council, the names and qualifications of

3358-413: The first years of the 20th century, Zerbe began to show his traveling exhibit, "Money of the World". Numismatic writer David T. Alexander described Zerbe as "an energetic, self-promoting figure whose overall demeanor suggested a carny grifter rather than a distinguished numismatist". Some collectors lent items for the exhibit and could not get them back, though this was given little publicity as Zerbe began

3431-423: The go. The Numismatist includes feature articles and columns focusing on a wide range of topics. In addition to notes from the organization's president and the editor, letters to the editor, values for select coin series, and obituaries to honor recently deceased members, each volume includes: All members of the Association receive the magazine as part of their membership benefits: silver and gold members receive

3504-548: The hearts and in the minds of those who ultimately proved that they had the power to topple thrones". Others also called for a peace coin, and the Peace dollar was first struck in late 1921. In 1928 and 1929, Zerbe served as chair of the Board of Governors of the ANA. In 1928, Zerbe sold his collection and library to the Chase National Bank , which had exhibited Money of the World two years earlier. The bank opened

3577-447: The heirs of its founder in 1908, a transaction that some believed should have been on behalf of the association. A factional fight followed; Zerbe won, with his chosen successor elected. He continued to exhibit his collection at banks until selling it in 1928 to the Chase National Bank , and then served as its curator until his 1939 retirement. In 1969, he was posthumously inducted into the Numismatic Hall of Fame . The ANA's highest honor,

3650-404: The history of numismatics from the earliest invention of money to modern day. The Harry W. Bass Collection, a feature of the museum from 2000-2022, featured American gold coins, experimental pattern coins and paper money. The collection includes a complete set of three dollar gold coins, including the unique 1870-S specimen, a complete type set of U.S. gold coin designs from 1834 to 1933, and

3723-718: The largest circulating numismatic library in the world. Books, educational slide programs and instructional videotapes are loaned to members without charge other than costs to cover postage and insurance. The ANA has many affiliate club members throughout the United States, such as the Beverly Hills Coin Club and the Chicago Coin Club. ANA headquarters contains the ANA Money Museum, which includes over 250,000 objects encompassing

SECTION 50

#1732794343405

3796-504: The magazine premiered a redesign in October 2023. In November 2023, the Association launched an online publication, The Reading Room , described as "tailor-made for the tech generation". This new publication covers breaking industry news, features exclusive articles not featured in the magazine, publishes fan-favorite columns from The Numismatist two weeks before the digital edition is published, and features audio versions of articles on

3869-676: The nominees are passed on to a 25-member elector panel. Candidates receiving 13 or more votes are inducted; those receiving six to 12 votes are reconsidered in the next election. Members of the council, the ANA board of governors, and ANA appointed officers and staff are ineligible to serve as electors. The nominees are considered in alternating annual cycles. "Historic Era" nominees (deceased more than 25 years prior to induction) are considered in odd numbered years, and "Modern Era" nominees (living or deceased less than 25 years) are considered in even-numbered years. Farran Zerbe Joseph Farran Zerbe (April 16, 1871 – December 25, 1949)

3942-510: The offering of a large bourse room, along with exhibits, educational programs, junior member activities, auctions, and meetings of affiliated specialty organizations. The National Money Show and the ANA World's Fair of Money are the brands for shows that have been held on an Annual Basis by the ANA. The National Money Show is traditionally held in the Spring while the World's Fair is held in

4015-488: The only government products Zerbe had to vend at his Money of the World exhibit were a souvenir medal, struck by a press operating at the Mint's exhibit, and prints produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing , also on-site. Sales of the medal were slow, and Zerbe did not have coins to sell until at least May 8. Zerbe found the coins hard to sell; many potential purchasers, faced with a plethora of medals, reproductions of Gold Rush-era pioneer gold coins, and other wares from

4088-440: The organization began to print a monthly publication for the benefit of its members. In December 2015, the ANA announced it had digitized every issue of the magazine. In April 2020, longtime editor Barbara J. Gregory retired after 32 years as editor-in-chief and 39 years on the staff. She was succeeded in the position by Caleb Noel, who, at age 29, became the youngest editor-in-chief in the magazine's history. Under his leadership,

4161-574: The organization. There were complaints that Zerbe should have purchased The Numismatist for the ANA, not for himself. At the 1908 ANA convention in Philadelphia, Zerbe secured re-election, with John Henderson as first vice president, and got the membership to approve a dues increase to improve The Numismatist , moving its place of publication from Monroe to Philadelphia and hiring three assistant editors. In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Zerbe to serve on that year's Assay Commission ,

4234-447: The pamphlet Nut Shell Facts on Coins, Stamps and Paper Money , which sold for 25 cents (equivalent to $ 9 in 2023). In July 1900, Zerbe joined the American Numismatic Association (ANA), as member no. 197. Numismatist O.H. Dodson noted, "Zerbe's inquiring mind and zest for numismatic lore were quickly noted", resulting in his 1904 election as an officer of the society. In September 1900, he declared bankruptcy, which probably marked

4307-593: The preparations to begin coinage at the new Denver Mint , and found the New Orleans Mint temporarily not striking coins. Armed with letters of recommendation from St. Louis fair officials, Zerbe next secured a position as chief numismatist to the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland, Oregon . In 1904, Congress had authorized the issuance of gold dollars to mark the Exposition , which Zerbe

4380-464: The price level. In spite of these difficulties, when the 1904 ANA convention was held at the fair in St. Louis, Zerbe was elected first vice president of the organization; according to a 1961 article on Zerbe, this was because of his eloquence in addressing the convention. When he was not busy with his duties at the fair or as an ANA officer, Zerbe traveled extensively, visiting collectors and conducting research; in 1905, he wrote in The Numismatist of

4453-470: The proprietor of a corner store in Tyrone, which sold a large variety of goods under the name "Zerbe Cycle Co." He also had involvement in other matters in Tyrone, running a news service under his own name from 1889 to 1890 and serving as editor of a local paper during the absence of the incumbent. He also sold collectible postage stamps, running a separate store. In 1899, under the name "Coin Zerbe", he published

SECTION 60

#1732794343405

4526-476: The task of editing and publishing The Numismatist , and soon purchased the publication from Heath's heirs. In 1911, W.C.C. Wilson of Montreal , Quebec, Canada, purchased The Numismatist from Zerbe and presented it to the ANA. Since then, the magazine has been owned and published monthly by the ANA. On May 9, 1912, the ANA attained national prominence as it was granted a Federal Charter signed by President William Howard Taft . In 1962, an amendment to make

4599-402: The time he was 20, he was running a corner store in Tyrone, alongside involvement in other businesses. He joined the ANA in 1900, and thereafter made his living from coins. Accumulating a major collection of numismatic items, he exhibited them at the fairs and at local banks throughout the U.S. for over 20 years beginning in 1907. The high prices he charged for the commemorative coins issued by

4672-526: The two men came to an amicable settlement. In 1926, a special issue of The Numismatist was published with Zerbe's detailed catalog of "Bryan money", pieces commemorating or satirizing the 1896 presidential campaign of William Jennings Bryan . Zerbe continued to publish articles for The Numismatist and other publications. In 1923, he was appointed for a second time to the Assay Commission, by President Warren G. Harding . On August 25, 1920, at

4745-432: Was among those who urged that this be done, saying it would boost sales. Other Zerbe proposals, such as a massive gold coin with a face value of $ 1 billion to be exhibited at the fair, were not adopted and reinforced views of Zerbe as a huckster. Nevertheless, at the recommendation of influential fellow coin-collecting enthusiasts, Zerbe secured the position of chief numismatist to the St. Louis fair, responsible for selling

4818-504: Was an American coin collector and dealer who was the president of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in 1908 and 1909. He served as chief numismatist (person responsible for selling government coins) at the World's Fairs in St. Louis (1904) , Portland (1905) , and San Francisco (1915) . Zerbe was born in Tyrone, Pennsylvania , in 1871, and became interested in coins as a child. By

4891-462: Was awakened when as an 11-year-old, a customer paid him with a silver French 50-centime piece, and the bank refused to accept it. Numismatist John P. Lupia III deemed this story more likely to be a lure to draw audiences (especially those who came to view his traveling exhibit of coins) into his story, and that it is more likely that the story Zerbe told in 1903 is true, that he became a collector of coins at age 9 in 1880. By 1889, Zerbe had become

4964-464: Was formed to advance the knowledge of numismatics (the study of coins ) along educational, historical, and scientific lines, as well as to enhance interest in the hobby. The ANA has more than 24,000 individual members who receive many benefits, such as discounts, access to website features, and the monthly journal The Numismatist . The ANA's Colorado Springs headquarters houses its administrative offices, library, and money museum. The ANA received

5037-520: Was making misleading claims and putting the numismatic community in disrepute. Only 35,000 of the 250,000 coins were sold, many after the fair closed at just above face value to Texas coin dealer B. Max Mehl . More were taken by Zerbe himself, selling them for years afterwards at his Money of the World exhibit; according to Q. David Bowers , the price drops on the secondary market—from $ 3 down to $ 2 or even lower—"brought discredit upon Farran Zerbe", since he had assured purchasers that he would help maintain

5110-614: Was named an Honorary Life Member of the ANA, and the following year was made historian of the organization, a post in which he served until his death. Zerbe died on December 25, 1949, in New York City, after an illness of over two months. He was survived by his second wife Julia, and by two brothers. In 1951, the ANA renamed its Annual Award, its highest honor, the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award . Only ANA members were eligible for this award "given in recognition of numerous years of outstanding, dedicated service to numismatics". In 2021,

5183-466: Was present during the San Francisco earthquake on April 18. Zerbe was uninjured, though furniture in the apartment where he was staying moved about and plaster and other items fell to the floor. Before he departed for Los Angeles to conduct more research, Zerbe aided those affected by the earthquake, and spent ten days gathering data and photographs for a contemplated (but never published) book on

5256-440: Was tasked with marketing. Having learned from his experience in St. Louis, he asked $ 2 for these, or $ 10 for six. Some of these were dated 1904 and others 1905 and Zerbe tried to induce excitement by falsely claiming the 1904 issue was almost sold out, raising the price to $ 2.50. He was not successful, and two-thirds of the combined mintage of just over 60,000 gold dollars was returned to the Mint for melting. He also sold medals from

5329-518: Was the founding of the ANA, which has since become the largest non-profit numismatic organization in the world. Heath then introduced the idea of a numismatic convention, where members could make personal contact with other numismatists. The first convention was held in 1891, then annually until 1895, and then in 1901 and 1904. After the 1907 convention in Columbus, Ohio, it was decided to hold annual conventions thereafter. On June 16, 1908, Dr. Heath suddenly died. Farran Zerbe , then president, assumed

#404595