The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is an organization founded in 1891 by George Francis Heath. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it was formed to advance the knowledge of numismatics (the study of coins) along educational, historical, and scientific lines, as well as to enhance interest in the hobby.
The ANA has more than 24,000 individual members who receive many benefits, such as discounts, access to website features, and the monthly journal The Numismatist. The ANA's Colorado Springs headquarters houses its administrative offices, library, and money museum. The ANA received a federal charter from the United States Congress in 1912.
A board of governors is in charge of the ANA. Numerous advisory committees help to operate it properly. The ANA has a Young Numismatists program intended to promote interest among youth. The ANA has held annual conventions throughout the nation in most years since 1891, with two per year since 1978. The Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award is bestowed upon the most dedicated members. The ANA also maintains a Numismatic Hall of Fame.
History Dr. George F. Heath of Monroe, Michigan, gained knowledge of world history by studying his collection of coins. The obscurity of his community was an obstacle towards obtaining certain specimens, and made meeting fellow numismatists difficult. In 1888, he printed, published and distributed a four-page leaflet, NUMISMATIST, in which he listed his coin needs, advertised duplicates for sale, and discussed numismatic topics.Money.org | ANA History
The nascent publication found many friends among other isolated collectors. As Heath's subscription list increased, a need for a national organization of numismatists was evident. The February 1891 edition of The Numismatist printed a question, "What is the matter with having an American Numismatic Association?" A follow-up statement was included: "There is nothing like the alliance of kindred pursuits to stimulate growth and interest."
On October 7 and October 8, 1891, five men—Heath, William G. Jerrems, David Harlowe, J.A. Heckelman and John Brydon—holding 26 proxies, met in Chicago with 61 charter members. The result was the founding of the ANA, which has since become the largest non-profit numismatic organization in the world. Heath then introduced the idea of a numismatic convention, where members could make personal contact with other numismatists. The first convention was held in 1891, then annually until 1895, and then in 1901 and 1904. After the 1907 convention in Columbus, Ohio, it was decided to hold annual conventions thereafter.
On June 16, 1908, Dr. Heath suddenly died. Farran Zerbe, then president, assumed the task of editing and publishing The Numismatist, and soon purchased the publication from Heath's heirs. In 1911, W.C.C. Wilson of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, purchased The Numismatist from Zerbe and presented it to the ANA. Since then, the magazine has been owned and published monthly by the ANA.
On May 9, 1912, the ANA attained national prominence as it was granted a Federal Charter signed by President William Howard Taft. In 1962, an amendment to make the Charter permanent and allow for a larger Board was introduced and passed by Congress and signed into law by John F. Kennedy on April 10. The amendment was presented by Congressman Wilbur Mills and Senator John L. McClellan, both of Arkansas.
An ANA national headquarters building fund was established on April 29, 1961. A site in Colorado Springs, Colorado was selected as the headquarter's location and a ground breaking ceremony was held on September 6, 1966. On December 20, the $250,000 building fund goal was reached and the new headquarters was dedicated and officially opened on June 10, 1967.
Headquarters The ANA's administration operates from its Colorado Springs headquarters. The ANA's monthly journal, The Numismatist, is produced here. Many articles are contributed by ANA members. The facility houses the largest circulating numismatic library in the world. Books, educational slide programs and instructional videotapes are loaned to members without charge other than costs to cover postage and insurance. The ANA has many affiliate club members throughout the United States, such as the Beverly Hills Coin Club and the Chicago Coin Club.
ANA headquarters contains the ANA Money Museum, which includes over 250,000 objects encompassing the history of numismatics from the earliest invention of money to modern day.
The Harry W. Bass Collection, a feature of the museum from 2000-2022, featured American gold coins, experimental pattern coins and paper money.Money Museum Money.org The collection includes a complete set of three dollar gold coins, including the unique 1870-S specimen, a complete type set of U.S. gold coin designs from 1834 to 1933, and a collection of pattern coins from the United States Mint. In April 2022, the museum announced that the foundation was auctioning off the collection, with the proceeds going to various Dallas-area charities.
The museum also offers changing exhibits about money in history, art, archeology, banking and economics, and coin collecting. Members may study the items on display and, by prearrangement, can use other museum materials for research purposes.
Membership The ANA has nearly 24,000 individual members. Memberships last one year, three years, five years, or a lifetime. The cost of the latter differs, depending on a member's age and whether the ANA's magazine, The Numismatist, is mailed or read digitally. Membership is classified into five levels: silver, gold, or platinum, with a "life membership" option available for a one-time payment, and a youth option for kids under 18.
Dr. George F. Heath Society In September 2022, the Association announced the launch of the Dr. George F. Heath Society, a donor recognition guild "devoted to supporting the mission of the ANA and its programming needs, while expanding, educating and inspiring the collecting community".
Board of governors The ANA is run by a nine-member board of governors composed of the President, Vice-President, and seven Governors, each elected by ANA members in odd-numbered years. Governor candidates must have been ANA members for at least three years. President and Vice President candidates must have served at least one term as a Governor. Total service on the Board is limited to 10 years.
The incumbent board of governors was elected in 2025. The election results were as follows: NamePositionLocationVotes GarneredMark LightermanPresidentSanford, FLN/AMary Lynn GarrettVice-PresidentLexington, KYN/APhyllis A. RossGovernorSugar Land, TX2,453David G. HeinrichGovernorCleves, OH2,397Donna MoonGovernorOrlando, FL2,397John S. BrushGovernorVirginia Beach, VA2,287Henry MitchellGovernorColorado Springs, CO2,198Kenny SammutGovernorChadds Ford, PA2,074Seth ChandlerGovernorSan Francisco, CA1,988
List of ANA presidents
William G. Jerrems Jr., 1891–1892 George F. Heath, 1892–1894 August G. Heaton, 1894–1899 Joseph Hooper, 1899–1902 Benjamin P. Wright, 1902–1905 Albert Roemer Frey, 1905–1908 Farran Zerbe, 1908–1910 John M. Henderson, 1910–1912 Judson P. Brenner, 1912–1914 Frank G. Duffield, 1914–1915 Henry O. Granberg, 1915–1917 Carl Wurtzbach, 1917–1919 Waldo C. Moore, 1919–1921 Moritz Wormser, 1921–1926 Harry H. Yawger, 1926–1927 Charles Markus, 1927–1930 George J. Bauer, 1930–1932 Alden Scott Boyer, 1932–1933 Nelson T. Thorson, 1933–1935 T. James Clarke, 1935–1937 J. Henri Ripstra, 1937–1939 L.W. Hoffecker, 1939–1941 J. Douglas Ferguson, 1941–1943 Martin F. Kortjohn, 1943–1945 V. Leon Belt, 1945–1947 Loyd B. Gettys, 1947–1949 M. Vernon Sheldon, 1949–1951 Joseph Moss, 1951–1953 J. Hewitt Judd, 1953–1955 Leonel C. Panosh, 1955–1957 Oscar H. Dodson, 1957–1961 C.C. Tim Shroyer, 1961–1963 Paul K. Anderson, 1963–1965 Matt H. Rothert, 1965–1967 Arthur Sipe, 1967–1969 Herbert M. Bergen, 1969–1971 John J. Pittman, 1971–1973 Virginia Culver, 1973–1975 Virgil Hancock, 1975–1977 Grover C. Criswell, Jr., 1977–1979 George D. Hatie, 1979–1981 Adna G. Wilde, Jr., 1981–1983 Q. David Bowers, 1983–1985 Florence M. Schook, 1985–1987 Stephen R. Taylor, 1987–1989 Kenneth L. Hallenbeck, Jr., 1989–1991 Edward C. Rochette, 1991–1993 David L. Ganz, 1993–1995 Kenneth Bressett, 1995–1997 Anthony Swiatek, 1997–1999 H. Robert Campbell, 1999–2001 John Wilson, 2001–2003 Gary E. Lewis, 2003–2005 William Horton, 2005–2007 Barry Stuppler, 2007–2009 Clifford Mishler, 2009–2011 Tom Hallenbeck, 2011–2013 Walter Ostromecki, 2013–2015 Jeff Garrett, 2015–2017 Gary Adkins, 2017–2019 Col. Steven K. Ellsworth, Ret., 2019–2021 Dr. Ralph Ross 2021–2023 Thomas J. Uram 2023–2025 Mark Lighterman 2025-present – Sources:
Advisory committees The ANA is also served by various advisory committees. There are temporary advisory committees for searches, and one formed for forming a Strategic Vision for the board in 2012. There are several more permanent advisory committees.
Young Numismatists The ANA has many programs for Young Numismatists (YNs). There are currently three stages in which YNs can earn free coins by completing the specified activities. The ANA's YN Program is considered the most advanced YN Program in the nation. For K-5, individuals do a program called the "Coin Explorers". This program will allow younger numismatists to complete activities. For grades 6-8, YNs can participate in "Money Study Buddies", which is a 6 step program. Currency Connectors is for grades 9-12 and is by far the most advanced. This path involved 5 different mini-paths each with 4 steps. The major topics around these paths are Early American Copper coins, Ancient coins, Paper currency, Exonumia, and Others. Aside, there is an Advanced YN Program which all ages can participate in and receive great coins. The ANA also runs several other programs including, Coins For A's, allows kids to get free coins, plus a basic-level ANA membership by getting A's in school. The ANA also has a YN Dollars program in which YNs earn YN Dollars for different activities. They can spend these YN Dollars at the ANA Summer Convention at the annual YN auction or monthly auctions. The Young Numismatist of the Year award has been given by the ANA every year since 1968. Many former winners of the award are now prominent numismatic professionals, or have distinguished themselves in other areas. Finally, the ANA hosts an annual literary contest for 3 age groups, elementary-middle school, middle-high school, and 18-25. First place winners will receive $500 in cash, $500 credit to Whitman, and a plaque.
The Young Numismatists of America (YNA) was a worldwide coin organization founded in 1990 at the ANA Summer Seminar. In its early days, the YNA was an attractive way for young numismatists (YNs) to submit articles for publication. However, by late 1996, many of the YNA founders were in college and could no longer help out. The YNA slowly faded away because of lack of interest. In 2001 at the ANA Summer Seminar, the young collectors decided to reform YNA. Within several years, the YNA once again ceased to exist. There has been a renewed interest as of 2025. In March 2025, many YNs, who were members of the ANA, came together for the first club meeting. In June 2025, the revamped club launched their official publication The Young Numismatist.
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