ANA 90TH ANNIVERSARY, NEW ORLEANS, BY PAUL VINCZE, 1981

HISTORY: The American Numismatic Association (ANA) was founded in 1891 by Dr. George F. Heath in Chicago, IL. The renowned Hungarian-born sculptor Paul Vincze (1907–1994) was commissioned to design the official medal for the 90^th anniversary of ANA. In 1986, Vincze was inducted into the Jewish-American Hall of Fame. On their website, they note that Vincze’s distinctive classical modelling technique is easily recognizable and that some of the finest commemoratives of our time come from his studio.

OBVERSE: “KNOWLEDGE THROUGH NUMISMATICS” frames the top quadrant of this medal, with “ANA” beneath at top center. An older scholar, sitting on a column capital and resting his left hand on a large leather-bound volume, examines a coin offered by a young treasure hunter, who is holding a cache of coins while propping up a shovel in his left hand. Beneath their feet are the years “1891” and “1981,” with “90” in the center. The signature of “P. VINCZE” is placed to the left of the shovel.

REVERSE: “AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION 90^TH ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION” and “NEW ORLEANS LA” ring the medal’s outer band. Within the inner band is a triangle of three circled vignettes. The upper circle illustrates the signing of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Clockwise to the right is the famous St. Louis Cathedral of New Orleans, and to the left a depiction of a side-wheel steamboat, chugging up the Mississippi River, with a two-man river barge in the foreground heading downstream. In the center is a small disk with an Aladdin’s lamp. At the bottom of the inner ring is the signature “P. VINCZE.”