From The Experts:Sharing the Knowledge

By Frank Van Valen, Numismatist, Cataloguer

I attended my first American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar in 1985 as the recipient of a National Coin Week all-expenses-paid scholarship. A fellow named Q. David Bowers was president of the A.N.A. at the time, and he personally greeted each of us as we arrived one evening that week for a neat lecture on the Shroud of Turin put on by a couple of officers from the nearby Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Who knew that two years later I’d be working for Dave in Wolfeboro, NH as a numismatist?

After 25 years of writing numismatic catalog descriptions in Wolfeboro, as you might expect, some amount of knowledge has rubbed off on me. What I considered my well-rounded numismatic background was at least enough to catch the eye of Ray Merena and land me a job in 1987 at Bowers and Merena Galleries. Hardly a day has gone by in those 25 years since then that I haven’t learned a numismatic tidbit or two or had a chance to put my own knowledge to the test.

In 2001 I was given the opportunity to share my knowledge at the annual A.N.A. Summer Seminar as an instructor. It seems Ken Bressett, editor of the Red Book, had taught a course there with David Lange of NGC, an “all about type coins” sort of class, but had decided not to instruct any longer. John Kraljevich’s mom, Gail Baker, then Education Director at the A.N.A., contacted me in the spring of 2001 and asked if I’d like to fill in for Ken; I accepted her offer immediately!

Beginning that year and nearly every summer since, Dave Lange and I have been presenting our “Collecting United States Type Coins” class to eager groups of numismatists looking to expand their horizons, with a typical class size of eight to 12 students. We cover, in detail, every U.S. type coin from half cents through double eagles, discussing wear patterns, design high points, rarities within each type, and lots more. We encourage students to bring their own type coins—this summer (2011) one of our students brought in a complete U.S. type set from half cents through double eagles, including all the rare issues like the 1808 quarter eagle and more. Impressive to say the least, and a treat for all of us!

Ours is not the only course offered, of course, and you can find anything there from grading and Morgan dollar classes to courses on early American numismatics, paper money, and world issues. The A.N.A. Summer Seminar has been called the “best bargain in numismatics,” and if a week—or two—of numismatic camaraderie and fun sounds enticing to you, then get in touch with the A.N.A. in Colorado Springs—who knows, maybe you’ll be in my class next summer!