ANA ANNOUNCES 2013 LITERARY AWARDS WINNERS

The ANA’s 2013 literary awards — recognizing articles published in the 2012 volume of the ANA’s official magazine, The Numismatist — were presented on Aug. 15 at the ANA World’s Fair of MoneySM in Rosemont, Ill.The Numismatist was first published by ANA founder and inaugural editor Dr. George F. Heath in 1888 and this year celebrates its 125th anniversary.

The Heath Literary Award, introduced in 1949, acknowledges outstanding articles published in the preceding year. First place went to Q. David Bowers for his March 2012 article, “Era of Secrecy,” which focused on the U.S. Mint’s practice of striking special coins for collectors in the late 1800s. Bowers received $250, a silver medal and a certificate. Bowers generously donated his $250 prize money to the ANA’s Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library.

Nancy Oliver and Richard Kelly, co-authors of the magazine’s monthly “Numismatic Chronicles” column, took second place ($100, a bronze medal, and a certificate) for their article “On the Wrong Track” (September 2012), describing a daring 1877 train robbery in which the perpetrators got away with thousands of double eagles. Bibliophile David F. Fanning received third place (a bronze medal and a certificate) for “Top 10 American Numismatic Books of the 19th Century” (February 2012), which exemplified how classic references continue to inform today’s collectors.

The Wayte and Olga Raymond ­Memorial Literary Award, endowed by the late John J. Ford Jr., is presented for articles inThe Numismatistthat display original and comprehensive research in U.S. numismatics. Mark Fox for “In Search of Machin’s Mill’s” (December 2012) received first-place honors ($400 and a certificate), and David E. Schenkman was awarded second place ($200 and a certificate) for “The Numismatic Legacy of S.D. Childs” (October 2012).

Funded by an anonymous donor, the Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies was presented to two authors. First place ($50 and a certificate) went to P. Scott Rubin for “New Jersey Currency of 1776” (July 2012), which considered Revolution-era notes and a historic hoard. Gerome Walton received second-place honors (certificate) for “Nebraska’s Smallest National Bank Town” (August 2012), in which he explained how surviving $10 and $20 notes tell the story of tiny St. James, Nebraska.

Additional coverage of awards can be found in the September issue ofThe Numismatist–page 74.

The Heath Literary Award

• First place – Q. David Bowers, “Era of Secrecy” (March 2012), ($250, silver medal and certificate)
• Second place – Nancy Oliver and Richard Kelly, “On the Wrong Track” (September 2012), ($100, bronze medal, certificate)
• Third place – Bibliophile David F. Fanning, “Top 10 American Numismatic Books of the 19th Century” (February 2012), (bronze medal, certificate)

The Wayte and Olga Raymond ­Memorial Literary Award

• First place – Mark Fox, “In Search of Machin’s Mills” (December 2012), ($400, certificate)
• Second place – David E. Schenkman, “The Numismatic Legacy of S.D. Childs” (October 2012), ($200, certificate)

The Catherine Sheehan Literary Award for U.S. Paper Money Studies

• First place – P. Scott Rubin, “New Jersey Currency of 1776” (July 2012), ($50, certificate)
• Second place – Gerome Walton, “Nebraska’s Smallest National Bank Town” (August 2012), (certificate)