ARTHUR AND PRUE FITTS TO BE HONORED WITH FARRAN ZERBE AWARD
AWARD TO BE PRESENTED AUG. 10 AT THE ANA BANQUET
Arthur and Prudence “Prue” Fitts, of Wolfeboro, N.H., are the 2012 recipients of the American Numismatic Association’s Farran Zerbe Memorial Award. The Association’s most prestigious award is given in recognition of numerous years of outstanding, dedicated service to numismatics.
The Fittses will be presented with the award at the World’s Fair of MoneySM during the ANA banquet from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at the downtown Philadelphia Marriott.
In 20 years of marriage, the husband-and-wife duo have forged a unique partnership with similar backgrounds in history, classics and art-all components for an ideal foundation in numismatics. Both are accomplished numismatists who have made significant contributions to the hobby.
“We share our interests in collecting wherever we are or go. Our libraries overlap slightly, but are valuable to both. We pore over auction catalogs – even sit together and discuss our bids – and enjoy each other’s new arrivals,” Arthur said.
“On a winter’s evening, it is coins and their history that are our favorite topics,” Prue added.
The Fittses are long-time ANA Summer Seminar instructors, presenters of convention lectures, and staunch supporters of the ANA and the hobby.
A noted expert on English coins, British medals and other series, Arthur worked as the ANA’s museum curator, assistant executive director and convention director from 1974-78.
He served as an ANA governor (2001-2005), as moderator of the Maynard Sundman/Littleton Coin Company Lecture Series (2008-11), and as an exhibit judge and a mentor for the ANA Numismatic Correspondence Course. Today, he is a regular columnist (“Medieval Coins”) and contributing editor for The Numismatist.
Arthur is a three-time recipient of the ANA Presidential Award (1994, 1998, 2009), and has received the Medal of Merit (1998), Glenn Smedley Memorial Award (2000), Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), Exemplary Service Award (2006) and the Adna G. Wilde Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence (2010).
He was an appointee on the United States Assay Commission in 1975. He has served as executive secretary of the Old-Time Assay Commissioners since 2003, and is a former president (1982-95) and secretary (1978-81, 1995-99) of the Boston Numismatic Society.
Prue is one of the best-known writers and researchers in the field of Byzantine numismatics. Her new book, The Beginner’s Guide to Identifying Byzantine Coins, is scheduled for release later this year.
Prue has served as an ANA governor (2005-07), as general chairman of the Boston Convention (2010), and chairman of the ANA Library committee (2007-09). She was president of Women in Numismatics (2003-09); director of the New England Numismatic Association (2005-09); and was instrumental in founding the Association of Dedicated Byzantine Collectors, which she has led since 2001. Prue won the Glenn Smedley Memorial Award in 2002 and Presidential Awards in 2004 and 2009.
See the August issue of The Numismatist for a feature story on the Fittses and their many numismatic achievements by author Q. David Bowers.
Tickets to the ANA Banquet are $90 can be purchased by calling 719-482-9849 or ordered online.
The World’s Fair of Money is the nation’s premier money show. The event features more than 1,000 numismatic dealers with the best inventory anywhere; the ANA Museum Showcase exhibiting some of the world’s most valuable and beautiful coins and paper money; a Mint Promenade with mints from around the world; the Collector Exhibits area; a major auction by Stack’s Bowers Galleries; educational presentations and seminars; and special events including the ANA’s annual awards banquet.
Originally Release Date: July 11, 2012
ANA Contacts: Phone: 719-482-9871
Email: pr@money.org