Bieda elected to Senate

This article was originally printed in the latest issue of Numismatic News.
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Steven Bieda, whose name has been mentioned as a possible future director of the U.S. Mint was elected to the Michigan State Senate in the 9th District on Nov. 2.

He previously had served in the Michigan House of Representatives 2003-2009 where he had worked on the successful legislation to provide for the tax-exemption on numismatic coins and bullion.

Working with hobby officials, he also proposed consumer protection legislation to protect buyers of questionable numismatic items.

Bieda is an active collector and exhibitor. He was given a Numismatic News Numismatic Ambassador Award this past summer. He currently is serving as legal council for Central States Numismatic Society, and has formerly held elected board positions with the Michigan State Numismatic Society as well as serving as legal counsel for MSNS.

Bieda has written a number of articles for The Numismatist, the American Numismatic Association monthly journal.

He has been a frequent op-ed contributor to various numismatic periodicals and has had a number of articles published for local and regional coin clubs.

Bieda was a contributor to two books authored by Q. David Bowers and published by Whitman Publishing in 2006; A Guide Book of Washington & State Quarters, and The Inside Story of the State Quarters.

He was co-chair of the “Felix Schlag Memorial Committee” which he formed to successfully raise funds for a granite marker at the grave site of Felix Schlag, designer of the 1938 Jefferson nickel in Owosso, Mich., and is currently completing fund raising to erect a historical marker for Schlag in Owosso.

Bieda designed the reverse of the 1992 Olympic half dollar. He initiated legislation for the 2004 Thomas Edison commemorative dollar coin and worked with the Governor of Michigan on the selection and design of the Michigan state quarter.

He has also designed a number of medals, including two medals authorized by the Michigan Capitol Committee to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the State Capitol, and a 2009 medal commemorating the architect of the Michigan, Texas and Colorado State Capitols, Elijah Myers.

Bieda is a graduate of Wayne State University, and holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Wayne State University, Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law, and an LLM in Tax Law from Wayne State University Law School. In addition, he has formal art training from several art schools including Cranbrook Academy.