Medals & Exonumia Video Archive
Discover the World of Medals & Exonumia
Delve into our video collection focused on medals, tokens, and non-coin collectibles. Learn from expert presentations covering the artistry, history, and collecting techniques that make these items so unique. Whether you’re a new enthusiast or a seasoned collector, find your next passion beyond traditional coinage.
Lewis & Clark: A Lasting Numismatic Legacy
Instructor: Phil Vitale
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 doubled the size of our young country; however, the boundaries of this territory and what it contained were somewhat unknown. President Jefferson chartered the “Corps of Discovery”, led by Lewis & Clark, to explore the region, establish an American presence, establish trade with the native tribes, and document the flora and fauna that were previously unknown. Although relatively unheralded in the 1800s, the centennial and bicentennial anniversaries of the momentous undertaking spawned numerous examples of numismatic heralding as well as tokens. This presentation provides a historical background examples of numismatic interest.
Lincoln: The Challenge
Instructor: Doug Mudd
Who was Lincoln? This presentation discusses Lincoln as seen through his numismatic portraits over time – from original photographs to medals, coins, and paper currency – who was he and how has his image been used over the last 150 years?
Women in Numismatics
Instructor: Mary Lannin
Sculptors and engravers, mint directors and civil servants, rulers and goddesses….women have been an integral part of the history of money. Although we are familiar with women as the subject of coins, who have we overlooked? Join us for a National Coin Week talk about famous and infamous women from 300 BC to the 21 st century.
Siege Stories: Tales of Courage & Defiance
Instructor: Lawrence C. Korchnak, Ph.D.
Part of the ANA’s eLearning Academy. Siege warfare has generated a fascinating area of numismatics. With it comes its share of heroes, heroines and villains. Dr. Korchnak will use coins, medals and tokens to bring these characters to life with excerpts from his soon-to-be-published work on siege coins, OBSIDIONAL COINS OF THE WORLD, 1453-1902.
Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger and the Numismatic Legacy of His Tokens
Instructor: Brad Seidel
In 1837 Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger petitioned Congress to use his “German Silver” alloy for coinage. He struck and circulated 1- and 3-cent pieces dated 1837 to bolster his case, but Congress declined. However, 20 years later, legislators “borrowed” his ideas when the Flying Eagle cent was introduced. Feuchtwanger can be considered the father of the small cent and pioneered the use of nickel in coinage.
Collecting Civil War Tokens: 100 Years Since Hetrich/Guttag
Instructor: Jesse Kraft
A century since the landmark 1924 Hetrich-Guttag publication on Civil War tokens, this series is still as popular as ever. This presentation will offer a brief history of these enigmatic pieces, as well as look at the evolution of how they have been collected over the years.
The Story of a Challenge Coin and the Red Bull “Stratos Project”
Instructor: James Phillips
The lecture is about the the “Stratos Project” and the challenge coins produced during the phases of the project. the Stratos Project was an endeavor by a company called Sage/Cheshire and sponsored by the Red Bull energy drink corporation to break the world record for highest freefall parachute jump. Sage/Cheshire produced a set of challenge coins for each test jump and when I was presented one, as a gift, I developed this lecture with photos about previous records, attempts, and mishaps from information that is subtly noted on the coins. I currently own 3 of the 4 coins that were produced along with photographic images of the 4th. A short video of the record setting jump is also included.
A Brief Overview of Hobo Nickels
Instructor: Bob Bair
America held its breath, as the Civil War’s final outcome was shaped from July 1-3, 1863, in the environs of the tiny Pennsylvania farm town of Gettysburg. A large legacy of coins, medals, and exonumic memorabilia followed through the years, in memory and honor of that event and all those who shaped it.
Big, Bold and Beautiful Royal Arch Mason Pennies and the ANA
Instructor: Tom Carson
Starting around 1890, when a Mason achieved the rank of Fourth Degree, their Royal Arch Mason Chapter presented them with an earned “Mark Penny”. This Mark Penny usually detailed Chapter information and provided space for the individual to engrave their personal “Mark”. These pennies were highly cherished and often kept on the person as pocket pieces and buried with the owner. Many of these tokens started out as fairly drab affairs without much numismatic interest. Dr. B.P. Wright, the ANA’s fifth president (1902-1905), started a movement to incorporate more detailed visual imagery chapter symbology in the pennies.
Olympic Games; History & Numismatics
Instructor: Doug Mudd
The numismatics of the Olympic Games from the ancient original games to the modern rebirth – focused on the coins and the medals issued to commemorate the excitement and hope inspired by the Olympic ideal.
The Shippingport Ferry Token
Instructor: Lawrence Korchnak
Next to the first commercial nuclear power station in the world is a small town that had a ferry. The town still stands and the power plant is still in operation; however, the ferry is gone. The story of the Shippingport Ferry is an interesting one inasmuch as it issued a single token and operated for over 100 years only to have succumbed to fate and the inevitable march of progress.
A Brief Overview of Hobo Nickels
Instructor: Abigail Zechman
An introduction to the history of Hobo Nickels including what they are and why they were made. I will also discuss both the old and the modern tools used to create these pieces of art. And, of course, I will answer the popular question, “Isn’t that illegal?”
Women in Military Numismatics
Instructor: Fred Schwan
This presentation will be centered primarily on the two world wars. Topics of discussion include trench art coins, “short snorters,” World War II medals awarded exclusively to women, mothers’ crosses, World War II decorations featuring portraits of women, American Red Cross chits, and war bonds purchased by women in Japanese-American internment camps. This presentation, featuring many numismatic and historic images, is the culmination of 50 years of research published and unpublished sources.
Backstories
Instructor: Lawrence Korchnak
Numismatic notes on selected coins, currency, and exonumia from Benvenuto Cellini’s Renaissance to Chinese strikebreakers in mid 19th century US.
The World of Elongated Coins
Instructor: Richard Jozefiak
Today’s modern elongated cents (also known as pressed pennies, squashed cents, rolled cents, and many other names), can trace their history to innovation at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. The first recorded documentation of coins (both U.S. and World) being “rolled” with a press with a design on the roller to produce a new type of souvenir, was done at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Over two dozen elongated design types are known to have been “rolled” at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
The American Arts Medallion Series (1980 – 1984) “Success or Failure”
Instructor: Mark Wieclaw
In this presentation, we will discuss how and why the series came about, along with the ten artists featured on the medallions. Also, the purchasing process and the future aftermath. Those in attendance will then be able to decide whether the series was a success or failure.
Elongated Coins: A Mirror into the US’s & World History
Instructor: Oded Paz
In this presentation, Oded will show how elongated coins’ designs are a mirror of the current events that took place in the USA and the world from 1893 to today. Elongated coins are a favorite souvenir of places and historical events. It all started with the 1893 elongated coins that were first made at the Chicago Worlds’ Fair, through many other worlds’ fairs, national, international, and local events.