2020 Ambassadors Honored

Five numismatic standouts were celebrated for their contributions to the hobby when they received honors as Numismatic Ambassadors. The awards were bestowed during the Ambassador Breakfast held Jan. 10 in conjunction with the Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando, Fla.

2020 Ambassadors are:

David Crenshaw: Chief Operating Officer of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets

Scott E. Douglas: Numismatic author and speaker and officer of several numismatic organizations

Patrick A. Heller: Liberty Coin Service Communications Officer and former owner

Kim Kiick: Executive Director of the American Numismatic Association

David Menchell: Exhibitor, exhibit judge, American Numismatic AssociationSeminar instructor and officer of multiple numismatic organizations

The group joins approximately 400 others who have been honored for their dedication to the hobby and industry since the award program’s inception in 1974.

Dave Harper, longtime editor of Numismatic News, now retired, served as emcee for this year’s event.

“Individuals with long memories will know that this award was created by Clifford Mishler at Numismatic News in 1974,” Harper wrote in a December 2018 NN article. “It was intended to honor the many volunteers who make organized numismatics tick. Mishler felt that many of these individuals did not get the recognition their efforts deserve.”

The awards were hosted by Numismatic News until 2014, when then-owner F+W Media decided the program was no longer cost-effective. Enter FUN.

“The hobby stalwarts at the FUN organization believed this award was something that should not be allowed to die,” Harper explained. “They stepped forward and volunteered to continue giving out Numismatic Ambassador Awards.”

FUN continues to carry on the Ambassador tradition and explains on its website that honors go to “... unsung heroes at the grassroots level of coin collecting, as well as nationally known numismatists.

“The award is a service award for those numismatists who have given countless hours of service to their local, regional, or national organization.”

Another 2020 Ambassador connection to this magazine is award-winner Patrick A. Heller. His weekly industry updates are posted on NumismaticNews.com and run regularly in the print magazine.

“Pat was not only an owner of Liberty Coin Service (LCS) for 33 years, he also devoted a significant time as a volunteer to further the numismatic hobby and industry,” said Tom Coulson, LCS CEO and current owner. “He has worked with Scouts and 4-H; made presentations in more than 100 school classrooms; served as an officer or on committees for multiple numismatic organizations; served as a numismatic exhibit judge; has given speeches to senior citizens, service organizations, churches, coin clubs and investment conferences across the country; authored more than 1,000 articles and newsletters; produced almost 1,000 radio commentaries; and has helped gained sales tax exemptions on retail sales of rare coins and precious metals in Michigan and 16 other states.”

Liberty Coin Service of Lansing, Mich., was founded in 1971 and is Michigan’s largest rare coin and precious metals dealership.

“[The 2020 Ambassador event] was especially enjoyable that others with whom I have shared numismatic times were also involved,” said Heller. “For instance, Dave Harper was the emcee, where he recruited me to start writing for Numismatic News online back in 2007. Then, David Crenshaw and Kim Kiick were fellow honorees, where I have worked with each of them for many years in my volunteer activities.”

Anyone can nominate a Numismatic Ambassador. To nominate someone for the 2021 awards, download the form at www.funtopics.com/Ambassador.html or by contacting Tony Swicer at swicer@comcast.net or at P.O. Box 5823, Lake Worth, FL 33466.