Commems Collection Medals: 1991 ANA Centennial Medals

The non-profit American Numismatic Association ( ANA) was founded in 1891 by Dr. George F. Heath in Chicago, Illinois. It is an organization dedicated to education and the study of numismatics (coins, currency, medals, tokens, etc.). Fittingly, the ANA held its 100th Anniversary Convention in Chicago.

From its humble beginnings, it has grown to be the largest numismatic collectors' organization in the United States with a membership of nearly 28,000. The ANA headquarters is in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Several world mints created commemorative coins/medals/tokens to celebrate the centennial of the organization. I have several in my collection and thought I would post them here on CCF.

I'll kick things off with the silver medal struck by the Monnaie de Paris (the Paris Mint). On its obverse, the medal replicates the obverse of the US Diplomatic Medal created by Augustin Dupre and struck by the Paris Mint in 1792. (Dupre is well-known to US collectors as the artist responsible for the Libertas America medal). Two large gold medals were struck, as were six bronze specimens. Today, four of the six bronze medals are known, but neither of the gold medals is believed to still exist. The vast majority of the Diplomatic Service medals available to today's collectors are restrikes made by the US Mint beginning in 1876.

The US GReat Seal found on the original medal's reverse is replaced on the 1991 medal by commemorative inscriptions.

The medal is struck on a 0.900 fine silver planchet, is 37 mm in diameter and weighs 22.2 grams, It had a stated maximum mintage of 5,000; I'm not sure how many were actually struck/sold.

1991 Paris Mint ANA Centennial Medal



More on the way!