Owner Comments:
ANA MEDAL APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Small Silver Variety — Brilliant Gem
Pedigreed: #014 (14th Set Minted of 150; Noted on Original Display Case & Edge of Medal) - “Don Young Collection”
*Brilliant gem example of this rare issue in antiqued silver. Several light contact marks and abrasions justify the grade of 65. — Just 3 examples have been graded by NGC; this being the 3rd finest; whereas an MS-69 example is at the top of the population report.*
ANA MEDAL BACKGROUND:
Celebrates the ANA's 105th Convention which was held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado from August 14-17, 1996 and hosted by the Colorado-Wyoming Numismatic Association.
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Both the bronze and silver issues in this collection were previously in the renowned Don Young Collection; adding to their rarity. The set was minted by Carl Wolf & Co. and serial numbered 014 of 150 produced. Noted on original box the medals were issued in, as well as engraved on the edges of each. An extremely low number, as expected from examples previously having been in such a famous collection.
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“Don Young was a previous president of TAMS (Token and Medal Society), and specialized in ANA badges, medal sets, and an amazing collection of 25th, 50th, and 60th year anniversary medals, appreciation medals, and award medals. Awards presented to Vernon Sheldon, Abe Kosoff, and Robert Hendershott are among the more prominent names represented as well as gold presidential medals for J. Henri Ripstra, Virginia Culver, George D. Hatie, and Vernon Sheldon.
1915 ANA Badge Dodson 1958 Gold Badge
The highlight of Don's ANA exonumia is the complete ANA badge collection with all the early examples in pristine, as new condition. The one example in less than ideal condition are two examples of the 1915 San Francisco badge, a piece missing in virtually every major collection. One of the two 1915 badges is an unknown Reception Committee badge. The name bar and medal are somewhat corroded and the ribbon is separate from the pin bar, but it is intact and easily repaired.” — Credited Source: The E-Sylum: Volume 19, Number 47, November 20, 2016, Article 15
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Not only do the medals depict a miner, prospector, and the Denver Mint on the obverse of the medals (all of which are historical to Colorado), but the reverse showcases the Colorado Columbine flower and Blue Spruce tree which are the state’s official flower and tree, respectively.
DESIGNER: Ann Kircher Dye
CATALOG NUMBER: ANA-96.CM56a
RARITY: 150 (Sets Issued)
(NGC POP = 1; 2 Finer - NGC Total Pop = 3): [08/2022]
**Just 3 examples graded by NGC**
ANA MEDAL DESCRIPTION:
(Minted by Carl Wolf & Company, .999 Silver, 38.1mm, Round, Plain/Lettered Edge)
OBVERSE: Miner and prospector standing at left; Denver Mint in background; August 14–17 / 1996 at lower left; all within a circle; 105th ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION • DENVER, COLORADO around periphery.
REVERSE: Columbine and blue spruce boughs in foreground; Rocky Mountains in background; all within a circle; • AMERICAN • NUMISMATIC • ASSOCIATION around periphery.
EDGE: 014/150
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
(1996 ANA CONVENTION - DENVER, COLORADO):
Oddly, very little information exists and is available regarding the 1996 ANA Convention held in Denver, Colorado with the exception of the dates, location, and host. The one source I have been able to locate is the original General Pamphlet titled “Official Program: 105th American Numismatic Association Convention 1996 : Denver, Colorado” (Publisher: [Boulder, Colorado : American Numismatic Association, 1996] — Description: 116 p.; 22 x 10 cm. — Other title: World's Fair of Money). There is only one copy available which can be checked out of the ANS (American Numismatic Society) Library in New York, NY. A virtual copy is not available to the public.
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(Colorado Columbine Flower):
“The Colorado blue columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to the Rocky Mountains, USA. Aquilegia coerulea is the state flower of Colorado.” — Credited Source: "State Flower". State of Colorado.
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“In a statewide contest, the schoolchildren of Colorado chose the columbine as the state flower. State law makes it the duty of Colorado citizens to protect the state flower from needless destruction or waste, and prohibits uprooting the flower on public lands. The law also limits the gathering or picking of the flower on public lands to 25 stems, buds, or blossoms per day. The state flower was adopted on April 14, 1899, by an act of the General Assembly.” — Credited Source: Colorado General Assembly
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(Colorado Blue Spruce Tree):
“The Colorado blue spruce is a species of spruce tree. It is native to North America, and is found in USDA growing zones 1 through 7. It is found naturally in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. It has been widely introduced elsewhere and is used as an ornamental tree in many places far beyond its native range. The blue spruce has blue-green colored needles and is a coniferous tree. The blue spruce is the state tree of Colorado.” — Credited Source: "State Trees & State Flowers". United States National Arboretum. June 11, 2009.
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“Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). First discovered on Pikes Peak in 1862 by the noted botanist Dr. C.C. Parry, the Colorado blue spruce is known for its symmetrical form and beautiful silver-blue color. Colorado schoolchildren voted on Arbor Day in 1892 to name the blue spruce as the state tree. It was not until March 7, 1939, that it was officially declared the state tree by an act of the General Assembly.” — Credited Source: The Colorado General Assembly