ANA names Harry Forman 2000 Numismatist of the Year
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) confers its 2000 “Numismatist of the Year” award in recognition of overall devotion and dedication to the ANA and the numismatic hobby.
This year’s recipient is Philadelphia dealer Harry Forman – a man who has shared his expertise and generosity with hobbyists and speculators alike.
Forman, who became a professional dealer at the age of 35, opened the Madison Mint in 1972. The operation dealt in transportation-oriented silver art bars noted for their intricate detail and proof-like surfaces. Two years later, he joined Don Taxay in the firm of Forman, Taxay and Associates. Currently, with partner Ruth Bauer, he operates Forman & Bauer, Inc.
Forman is author of How You Can Make Big Profits Investing in Coins and its sequel, You Can Keep on Making Big Profits Investing in Coins. In response to the popularity of these books and in keeping with his dedication to the hobby, Forman offered free listings of additional predictions to anyone who would contribute at least $1 to the Lewis M. Reagan Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports numismatic education.
Expanding upon his earlier, published works, Forman analyzed American numismatics, showing its past earnings and potential for future profits. In addition to his own literary contributions, he also published Chuck O’Donnell’s book on small-size paper currency, The Handbook of Modern U.S. Paper Money, and financed and assisted Taxay in the writing and sale of Comprehensive Catalog of United States Coins.
In the 1960s, Forman was selected by Arthur Kagin to serve on a panel of numismatic lecturers at Roosevelt University; in 1981 he was a guest lecturer at Adelphi University’s Institute of Numismatic and Philatelic Studies.Forman has been instrumental in the success and sustained growth of the ANA and its collections. He was the Association’s first “grand patron,” generously donating $25,000 for the expansion of ANA’s Colorado Springs headquarters in 1982.
In addition, Forman helped arrange for donation to the ANA Money Museum of the Harry D. Heaps collection of early money orders; and a historic coining press that had been used at the Denver Mint just before the turn of the century.
Past president of the United Coin Collectors Alliance and Collectors of Mint Errors, Forman also claims membership in the Professional Numismatists Guild and the American Association of Appraisers. Forman was an ANA Presidential Award recipient in 1998 and received the Association’s Glenn Smedley Memorial Award the following year.
In bestowing this award, the American Numismatic Association expresses the sincere appreciation of its members to Harry Forman, Numismatist of the Year.
Originally Release Date: August 12, 2000
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9872
Email: pr@money.org