Summer Seminar is a once-a-year opportunity that offers collectors a varied selection of week-long courses designed for discovery or continued study. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 event. But you can still get a taste of the program by sampling one or more FREE condensed courses from the new ANA eLearning Academy:

Click the link go directly to the ANA registration page to sign up for any of the courses you wish. https://info.money.org/elearning

I will be one of the course presenters – Engaging Young Collectors Now and in the Years to Come. I welcome you to sign up for that one.

Engaging Young Collectors Now and in Years to Come

There is no one-size-fits-all approach for getting kids or adults interested in numismatics.  With that in mind, this presentation will provide several approaches on how to draw friends and relatives of all ages into our hobby.Join us for this one-hour Coin Chat with four young collectors and rising stars in the world of numismatics.

Panelists include ANA Young Numismatists Kellen Hoard, Kenny Sammut, Garrett Ziss and Abby Zechman. 

When: June 29, 2020 | 12:30-1:30 PM MDT

Grading 101

Explore the philosophy behind learning how to grade with this 2-hour eLearning Essentials course. Review the characteristics of the four basic metals used in minting coins in the United States.  Instruction will consist of a lecture, a PowerPoint presentation, and question and answer periods.  ANA grading standards will be stressed. Gain the confidence needed to accurately assess potential coins for your collection. Instructor: Rod Gillis Education Director, American Numismatic Association

When: June 30, 2020 | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM MDT

CAC and its “Green Beans”

The story behind the emergence of CAC as a driving force in numismatics today, and how CAC has helped point coin collectors and investors toward their acquisition of coins that are “solid for the grade” or better.
Instructor: Bob Bair, avid collector and coin dealer with specialization in the history of US Coinage

When: July 1, 2020 | 1:00-2:00 PM MDT

Detection of Counterfeit and Altered Coins

Learn the often-subtle differences between genuine, counterfeit, and altered coins. Topics will include counterfeit-coin production, types of counterfeit dies and castings, date and mintmark alterations, specific gravity testing, and Chinese-made counterfeits.  Instructors: Brian Silliman, professional numismatist, Brian Silliman Rare Coins, and former NGC grader/conserver and ANA authenticator/conserver; and Jim Robinson, professional numismatist, APMEX When: July 2, 2020 | 12:00-2:00 PM MDT

Italian Numismatics: Insights Through Modern History

This session will cover Italian numismatics, offering some intriguing starting points for coin collectors, amateurs, and scholars. Through the lens of history and research, the instructor will assess a series of peculiar Italian coinages, mostly relevant to Sicily between the 16th and 19th centuries, and the Kingdom of Italy (1861-46). The instructor will demonstrate how Italian numismatics can offer much information on historical backgrounds, kings, and dictators from the Spanish rulers in Sicily to Mussolini. Instructor: Antonino ‘Nino’ Crisà, numismatist, historian, and archaeologist, currently Marie Curie Skłodowska Research Fellow at Ghent University (Belgium).  When: July 3, 2020 | 10:00-11:00 AM MDT

Introduction to Early U.S. Paper Currency: 1765 to 1865

This class is designed for beginning to intermediate students and will divide U.S. paper money into three periods: the end of the colonial period and the Revolution; the obsolete period; and the Civil War, with the introduction of federal issues up to 1865. Examples from the ANA’s holdings (including parts of the Bebee collection) will be shown to illustrate the fascinating and important role of paper currency in the early economic development of the United States as well as how such notes can provide a window into the history of the period.  Instructors: Richard L. Horst, paper-currency specialist; and Douglas Mudd, museum director, and curator, Edward C. Rochette Money Museum When: July 6, 2020 | 12:00-2:00 PM MDT

Understanding the Art of Rare Coin Submissions

Submitting coins for third party certification is not as simple as it appears.  Grading fees are substantial, and without the correct knowledge, a great deal of time and money can be wasted.  We will also discuss what coins can come back as no-grades, which cause many collectors grief and disappointment.  The entire process of rare coin submissions will be discussed. Instructor: Jeff Garrett, President of Mid-American Rare Coin Gallery, Inc.; Past President ANA When: July 6, 2020 | 2:30-4:30 PM MDT

The Modern Minting Process: Errors and Varieties

Explore the minting process and learn how each procedure can lead to the possible creation of collectible errors and varieties. Topics include identification and description, the art of cherrypicking, and various types of damage that may be confused for errors. This will only be a short overview of the full version of the class held each year during our annual Summer Seminar Please note that while the regular class fulfills the “Modern Minting Process/U.S. Minting Errors and Varieties” course requirement for the ANA Numismatic Diploma Program, this brief version of the class does not fulfill this requirement.           Instructor: Sam Gelberd, ANA numismatic educator and avid collector When: July 7, 2020 | 12:00-2:00 PM MDT

Collecting and Investing in Morgan Dollars: A Comprehensive Approach

This course will provide a professional overview of collecting and investing in Morgan silver dollars. Students will learn the subtle nuances of dates and mintmarks, grading, varieties, die states, roofline, and deep-mirror prooflike coins. Whether you are a beginner, dealer, or seasoned Morgan collector, the knowledge gained from this class will serve you well as you collect and invest in the most popular series in numismatics. Instructors: John Baumgart, owner, Variety Slabbing Service, Past President of the Society of Silver Dollar Collectors; and Michael S. Fey, Ph.D., president of Rare Coin Investments (RCI), and co-author, Top 100 Morgan Dollars and co-founder and Past President of the new Society of Silver Dollar Collectors (SSDC) When: July 8, 2020 | 12:00-2:00 PM MDT

Mexican Voices in Metal and Paper

This course examines the general perspective of coins, some medals, and paper money that compose Mexican Numismatics, covering the period from 1492 to 1925. The highlights of this topic are the coinage of  Charles and Johanna (1536 – 1571), cobs (1572 – 1733), and klippes (1733 – 1734), on the oddly shaped coinage. We will glance at the Pillar series (1732 – 1771), busts (1772 – 1810), and War of Independence (1810 – 1822) reviewing the issues made by the Emergency Mints outside of Mexico City. Once Mexico gained its independence from Spain we will touch on Iturbide’s coinage and some of the 14 Republican Mints (1822 – 1905). During the French Invasion, coins on behalf of Maximilian were made as the Emperor of Mexico (1863 – 1867), followed by the Republican issues (1867 – 1905). The establishment of the banking system appeared in 1864 and with that the first issues of paper money walked on the streets of Mexico City, extending to the rest of the Republic (1864 – 1915). In 1905 a Monetary Reform occurred and the coin design changed some. By 1913 the first issues of the Mexican Revolución appeared in coins and paper money, ending in 1917 altogether. We will stop this meteoric review with the establishment of the Banco de México, the equivalent of the Federal Reserve, in 1925. Instructor: Ricardo de Leon Tallavas, author and Mexican coinage expert When: July 9, 2020 | 1:00-3:00 PM MDT

Creating a Great Club Newsletter

This presentation will discuss the development of a newsletter publication people will want to read! It will briefly address newsletter objectives, the use of layout, font, and colors to better meet your objectives. Photo use and placement will be discussed, as well as selection of software used for publishing, photo editing, and PDF editing.

Instructor: Phil Vitale, President, Albuquerque Coin Club; Editor of the award-winning Pocket Change newsletterWhen: July 10, 2020 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM MDT

Explore more great FREE courses coming soon!

Introduction to Paper Money Production and Counterfeit Detection

This class will cover printing technologies used by security printers and the more likely technologies used by counterfeiters.

Instructor: Joe Boling, co-author, World War II Remembered: History in your Hands, a Numismatic Study

When: Jul 18, 2020 | 12:00-2:00 PM MDT

When the Die is Wrong: Wrong Die Varieties That Can be Found and Collected

We will be talking about coins that were struck with dies that should have been used on a different coin. Think Proofs, circulations, different years, and denominations (like mules). From Flying Eagle cents to Bullion Silver eagles we will go over more than 50 different coins in this fascinating subset of variety collecting. Some of these coins can carry a price tag worth far more than a normal coin. All attendees will have the opportunity to receive a PDF file of the coins that we talk about. Instructor: John H. Miller Jr., variety expert for more than 20 years

When: Jul 28, 2020 | 12:00-2:00 PM MDT

Click the link go directly to the ANA registration page to sign up for any of the courses you wish. https://info.money.org/elearning