NumismaTalks Webinar Archive
Explore. Study. Connect.
Expand your numismatic knowledge with our archive of NumismaTalks webinars led by top industry experts. Dive into hour-long presentations on a wide variety of collecting interests, all available for you to watch at your own pace. Whether you’re looking to revisit a favorite topic or catch up on past sessions, these recorded webinars offer a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding and passion for numismatics.
And be sure to join us twice a month – on the second and fourth Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. MT – for more live webinars on all things numismatic. These free hour-long presentations are sure to appeal to a wide variety of collecting interests.
Silver Coinage of the Tetrarchy: All Hail the Argenteus!
Instructor: Kirk Van Brunt
Diocletian is famous for many accomplishments, one of which was the creation of the Tetrarchy. Another was the resurrection of high quality silver coins in the form of the Argenteus. Why? What was the emperor thinking? This presentation explores this question and examines the history and purpose behind the coin. The Argenteus was not only a surprising pivot back to the silver coinage of old, but it signaled an interesting shift in the art and portraiture on Roman coins. For the collector, though, the Argenteus presents a confusing array of types, mints, and rarities. This presentation will attempt to bring some order to the chaos and hopefully ignite renewed appreciation and respect for this often underappreciated coin.
Rome’s First Silver Coin
Instructor: David Vagi
The date and mint of Rome’s first silver coin have been debated by scholars for centuries. In this talk, David Vagi presents compelling evidence in favor of an early date for this important and historical coinage.
Coins of the Hasmonean Kings
Instructor: David Hendin
This illustrated talk will feature the coins of the Hasmonean rulers. The Hasmonean Dynasty began in Judaea with the sons of Mattathias the Hasmonean revolting against Seleucid rule (167-160 BCE). One of his sons was Judah (nicknamed ‘the Maccabee’ [the hammer). The Hasmoneans struck an extensive series of bronze coins beginning with John Hyrcanus I beginning around 132 BCE and ending with Mattathias Antigonus whose lost his kingdom to Herod I in 27 BCE, three years after Herod was named King in Rome.
Cherrypicking Rare Coins
Instructor: Dennis Tucker
Rare and valuable die varieties are waiting to be “cherrypicked”—found by sharp-eyed collectors and bought for regular-coin prices. Explore today’s cherrypicking scene with special emphasis on half dimes, dimes, and quarter dollars, early 1800s to date: Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Liberty Seated and Barber coinage, and more.
Jenny Penny’s Cents: A Historical View of the Lincoln Cent
Instructor: Janise Barrasso
This presentation will focus on the many aspects of the Lincoln cent series and the numerous changes it has seen over the past 100 years. We will review many subtopics, including the Lincoln cent’s history, design, and composition changes, as well as key rarities. Some interesting related idioms and expressions will also be discussed. Come and enjoy this deep dive into Lincoln cents!
Politics, Ego & Tragedy – A Bold Tale of Political Intrigue
Instructor: Doug Mudd
Learn how coins can illustrate the history of one of greatest periods of history as the Roman Republic collapsed into chaos and Civil War during the mid-1st Century BC.
Avoiding Numismatic Nightmares: Estate and Tax Strategies for Your Collection
Instructor: Jeffrey Pritchard
This presentation addresses financial and family implications, as well as potential strategies, in transitioning away from acquiring coins, and towards their eventual distribution, in a wise and tax-efficient manner.
Welcome to the New eLearning Academy
Instructor: Christian Strayhorn
Discover the exciting world of coin collecting! The education department of the ANA (American Numismatic Association) has the vision to welcome all learners by providing dynamic, engaging, relevant, and organized learning opportunities for the life-long love of numismatics. We want students of ALL ages, backgrounds, and interests to be a part of the amazing world of numismatics. Join this seminar to learn more about the exciting changes and future offerings.
Golden Portraits of Byzantiium: Every Picture Tells a Story
Instructor: Michael T. Shutterly
The portraits on the coins of the Byzantine Empire often tell us little or nothing about the physical appearance of the Emperors and Empresses who are portrayed on the coins, but they can tell us a great deal about the Empire itself and the circumstances of the time when the coins were minted. Let’s look at the stories these pictures can tell.
Civil War Decorations of the Union and Confederacy
Instructor: Jesse Kraft
The American Civil War was a travesty for everyone involved. When put into such situations, individuals are sometimes forced to perform acts of heroism that they never thought possible. Occasionally, those acts are recognized and rewarded with a medal. While Civil War soldiers were not decorated nearly as often as those of later wars, the few that were awarded are of extreme importance and are physical relics of the heroism by those faced with the unthinkable brutalities of war.
Works of Art: Large Sized Silver Certificates
Instructor: Phil Vitale
The large size notes produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) in the late 1800s exemplified excellence in engraving. This is especially demonstrated in the Silver Certificates produced from 1878 to 1899 which many have deemed the most beautiful notes produced by the BEP. This presentation traces the historical background of these notes and their evolution. We take a look the individual designs and the engravers that created them. There will be a short discussion on the value of these notes. Finally, I’ll talk about my collection and what’s next on my radar.
Scouts BSA “Virtual” CCMB Workshop Template
Instructor: Walt Ostromecki
Yes, scouts can earn the BSA Coin Collecting Merit Badge via a proven virtual workshop program developed and used during the pandemic by WLACC Counselor Walt Ostromecki. The virtual program which runs roughly four hours, allows scouts including LONE, RURAL AND SPECIAL NEEDS ones to complete all the requirements at once or at their leisure…especially ‘THE THEORY’ of Grading for requirement #3.
Women at the Periphery? Local Women on Roman Provincial Coinage
Instructor: Lucia Carbone
How relevant were benefactors and benefactresses to the production of civic coinage in the Roman Empire? In other words, did cities in the Roman Empire depend upon private funding to produce their coinage? After addressing the attestations of private financing of coinage in epigraphic, literary and numismatic sources, this lecture will focus on the presence of local women on the civic coinage issued in the Roman provinces.
Why We Want This Stuff? Eight Views on the Psychology of Collecting
Instructor: David Schwager
We love coins. But why? Researchers on the psychology of collecting, give explanations involving factors from evolution to connection to mastery. You will see yourself in at least one of these views on why we collect.
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.
Colonial Currency; German East Africa
Instructor: Douglas Mudd
German East Africa is fascinating because of its location in one of the last regions of the African continent to be explored – the old phrase “Heart of Africa” referred to central Africa and east Africa equally for many decades – and its exploration was the stuff of legends. The search for the source of the Nile, Henry Morton Stanley, David Livingstone, Richard Burton, John Speke, Samuel Baker – all played a part in developing Doug’s interest in the region. When he discovered the numismatic background of what was to become Tanzania, his interest peaked yet again.
Gobrecht’s Ladies – Seated Liberty Coinage: Past, Present and Future
Instructor: Russ Bega
Liberty Seated coinage is fascinating yet often misunderstood and overlooked. In this lecture we will delve into the design history of the series including the inspiration of the Britannia motif, the symbolism of the goddess of liberty and her accoutrements using examples from ancient coinage and art. We will then pivot to the design history including the life of Christian Gobrecht and his rivalries in the mint. Finally, an overview of the series including rarities, oddities and collecting strategies.
Israel Commemorative Coins by Series
Instructor: Simcha Kuritzky
Israel has issued over 600 commemorative coin types, so collecting them can seem daunting. Breaking them down by series makes it easier to collect, either by specializing in certain series or creating a type set across all series. However, few catalogs organize the coins this way.
Selected Romance Tales Within Numismatic Lore
Instructor: Walt Ostromecki
This presentation will discuss the often unusual and unbelievable juicy tales, lore, anecdotes, etc. printed in newspaper articles based solely on an individual’s personal reflection/recollection and/or an unfact checked eye witness story of an event. Furthermore, some are darn right just plain made-up! The presentation was generated from Mr. Edward C. Rochette’s book: ‘The Romance of Coin Collecting’, published in 1991.
Introduction to Greek Coinage: Money, Civic Pride & Mass Communication
Instructor: Douglas Mudd
Greek coinage is the ancestor of the western coinage tradition, influencing our ideas of what coins should like, how they should be used and even the imagery used on them to this day. Learn about the origins of Greek coinage, how to identify and read them and where they were produced in this wide-ranging overview of 800 years of numismatic history.
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.
American Slavery & the Liberty Cap
Instructor: Jeff Pritchard
The Liberty Cap has been an enduring image on U.S. coinage since the 1790s and appears on some of our most popularly collected US coins. Originally the symbol of manumission (slaveholders freeing slaves) this presentation examines three historical numismatic vignettes in which the intersection of the Liberty Cap with American slavery is poignant, thought provoking, and at times tragically ironic.
Exploring the Panic of 1893
Instructor: Bob Bair
This talk examines the Panic of 1893 and its impact on today’s US coin collector.
Roosevelt Dive
Instructor: Jenise Borraso
Did you know that Roosevelt was a staunch supporter of the March of Dimes? Did you know that the March of Dimes raised money to find a cure for polio…and that President Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio at 39 years of age? If not or you’d like to learn more about the historical beginnings and design of the Roosevelt Dime , then tune in……there’s more than meets the eye with this seemingly plain current circulating coin.
The Numismatic Circus: B. Max Mehl and Farran Zerbe
Instructor: Russ Bega
B. Max Mehl and Farran Zerbe were two of the biggest and in some cases most controversial figures in 20th century numismatics. The intrigue and artifacts they left behind are truly a rich story fit for P. T. Barnum and his famous circus.
Sovereign Money, Past, Present and Future
Instructor: Douglas Mudd
This talk is an exploration of the history and origins of money as a form of mass media – a conveyor of meaning – and how it expresses the messages issuing authorities intend and what they tell us about the authorities. To do so, it is necessary to develop an understanding of the symbolism and written shorthand used to convey messages on coinage over time.
Paper Money Oddities
Instructor: Joseph Boling
This presentation covers a variety of errors and environmental issues that can affect paper money, such as ink starvation errors, offset errors, other printing defects associated with the several steps in creating US notes, and color changelings.
The History of the Jefferson Nickel
Instructor: Jenise Borraso
Explore the History and Design changes of the Jefferson Nickel….from its inception in 1938 to the wartime years ranging from 1942-1946. Learn about the 2004 special reverse designs, the recrafted 2005 Obverse profile and the current changes to the 2006 obverse and reverse. Let’s travel this historical journey together learning about what makes this current circulating coin so special.
Sample Slabs
Instructor: David Schwager
Want a free sample? Grading services give away examples of their work at major shows to promote their products, reward customers, recognize achievements, and more. In the last 10 years, sample slabs moved from a nearly unknown specialty to the edge of the numismatic mainstream. If you have any interest in sample or grading services, or want to learn to cherrypick samples hiding in plain sight this presentation is for you.