FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2000
CONTACT: Stephen L. Bobbitt

SUMMER SEMINAR CLASS TO PREPARE STEAM PRESS DISPLAY

An exhibit of coins and medals struck on the United States Mint's first steam press will be prepared by students in the American Numismatic Association's (ANA) Summer Seminar class "Preparing a Competitive Exhibit."

The press, which first began operations in 1836 and recently was donated to the ANA by the Franklin Institute Science Museum, is being refurbished and will be on display at the ANA World's Fair of Money 2000 in Philadelphia, August 9-13. The Summer Seminar class exhibit will be displayed at the show and at the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"This is the second year we have offered this course at the Summer Seminar, and it provides an excellent way to learn how to mount an award-winning, competitive exhibit," says ANA Education Director Gail Baker.

Students will draw from the extensive collection of Gene Hynds, an exhibitor and ANA National Volunteer who has one of the foremost collections of medals produced on the press after the Mint sold it in 1875. Philadelphia die-sinker George B. Soley bought the machine to strike commemorative medals and tokens at a variety of local and national events.

Even though the ANA Summer Seminar 2000, with all its related activities and tours, was expanded to two weeks this year (July 1-14), registration is brisk and many classes already are filling up, according to Baker. For example, three classes in Session II (July 7-14) are full: "The Coinage of the Twelve Caesars," "Advanced U.S. Coin Grading" and "Grading U.S. Coins." The latter is also full in Session I (July 1-7).

Seminar courses cover a wide variety of subject matter. Topics for study in Session I range from Early American coppers to detection of counterfeit United States paper money; from coins of the British Isles to mini-classes (six and three hours) on coin photography. Session II courses delve into Byzantine coinage, the history of Colorado, and many more intriguing areas of interest.

Classes are conducted at The Colorado College, adjacent to ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tuition, room and board (double occupancy in dormitory) for a one-week session is just $479 for ANA members ($579 for non-members). Off-campus housing also is available. Optional tours have been arranged during and between sessions.

For further information or to register for a Seminar class, contact the ANA Education Department, 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3279; telephone 719/632-2646; fax 719/634-4085; E-mail education@money.org.