ANA Honors William Dewey for Lifetime Achievement
The American Numismatic Association conferred its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to organized numismatics to William S. Dewey. The late collector’s family accepted the honor on his behalf at the World’s Fair of Money in Denver, August 19.
Dewey was recognized on the occasion of his 100th birthday, December 5, 2005 as the association’s senior life member.
Dewey, who joined the ANA in 1933 and became its 52nd life member in 1939, served as the ANA librarian and curator in the 1930s, when he lived in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He is a direct descendent of Adm. George Dewey and a retired engineer.
Dewey has been a dedicated numismatist since 1932 when, at age 27, he began weeding Lincoln cents out of his daily pocket change.
He collected medals and tokens of Adm. Dewey, as well as Ocean County, N.J., related tokens, medals and paper money. He wrote and published “Early Manchester and William Torrey,” a book that explores the sawmills, railroads, steamboats and people of early Manchester, N.J.
Dewey also co-founded the Westchester County (N.Y.) Coin Club in 1934, and is also a life member of the Ocean County (N.J.) Coin Club. He received the ANA 50-year award in 1983 and its 60-year award in 1993.
The American Numismatic Association is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. With nearly 33,000 members, the Association serves the academic community, collectors and the general public with an interest in numismatics. The ANA helps all people discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of programs including its education and outreach, museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars.
For more information about the ANA, contact us at 719.632.2646 or visit us online at www.MONEY.org.
Originally Release Date: August 19, 2006
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9864
Email: beeton@money.org