ANA, 12 Auction Houses Launch Membership Drive

(Colorado Springs, Colorado) - An unprecedented membership recruitment program has been established between the American Numismatic Association and leading numismatic auction houses. The auction firms will pay for the first year's membership for any non-ANA member who purchases $1,000 or more in the auction of a participating company.

Founded in 1891, the nonprofit ANA currently has 32,000 members. Given the current interest in numismatics, the ANA and participating auction companies believe that this effort can help bring collectors together to better enjoy the hobby. Announcement of the new program was made during the association's National Money Show in Portland, Oregon, March 26 - 28.

"This is a win-win for everyone. The ANA gains wider recognition and additional members, the new members can take advantage of the association's educational resources, and the auction houses help build the hobby and receive a star for each 50 members they recruit," said Christopher Cipoletti, ANA Executive Director.

The ANA's star system is used to help determine dealers' table locations at the association's annual conventions. Stars are awarded for donations, advertising in Numismatist magazine, convention participation and other endeavors on behalf of the association. Participating auction houses also will receive recognition in ANA promotional materials and Numismatist magazine.

"ANA Governor, Donald Kagin, was instrumental in making this unprecedented recruitment project happen. He started working on this last year and brought everyone together," said Cipoletti.

The auction firms participating in the membership program (in alphabetical order) are:
American Numismatic Rarities
Bowers and Merena Auctions
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.
Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Lyn F. Knight Auctions
Ponterio & Associates
R.M. Smythe
Scotsman
Stack's
Superior Galleries
Teletrade Auctions

New ANA members recruited under this program will be responsible for paying their own membership dues after their first year.

For additional information about membership and members' services, contact the American Numismatic Association, Membership Dept., 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Phone: (800) 514-2646. E-mail: member@money.org. Web: www.money.org.