On Oct. 28 Don Carlucci of Cheswick, Pa., became the latest recipient of the Numismatic Ambassador Award sponsored by Numismatic News. The recognition was presented at the annual awards banquet during the convention of the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists in Pittsburgh by former Krause Publications president Clifford Mishler.

An active and avid collector for more than 50 years, Carlucci was recognized for his longtime dedication to the welfare of the PAN organization and the organized hobby across the state of Pennsylvania. A past president of PAN, having served two terms, he was pivotally responsible for the organization?s survival and growth from just another club in western Pennsylvania to an organization with statewide focus. Today he serves the organization in the capacity of board chairman.

Carlucci received his recognition in the presence of a quintet of prior Pennsylvania recipients; Tom Sebring (1991), Jerry Kochel and John Eshbach (both 1992), Sam Deep (1998) and Wayne Homren (2002). Also in the audience was Ray Dillard from Michigan, a 1993 recipient.

?Don is the hardest working volunteer in the state,? his nominator had indicated in submitting his name for consideration. ?For 20 years, he has been the first to arrive and the last to leave at every PAN show. He is actively involved with the storage, loading, transit and unloading cases and lights for the show setup and tear-down.

Carlucci is also an active National Coin Week participant, created the Coins for A?s program in Pennsylvania and is actively involved in the conduct of the Coins 4 Kids activity during the annual PAN conventions and the annual Indiana (Pa.) Coin Club shows. He served as medal committee chairman for the 1989 and 2004 American Numismatic Association conventions in Pittsburgh, and in 1998 was the recipient of an ANA Presidential Award recognition.

A frequent presenter of exhibits and talks before numismatic, public service and student groups, Carlucci served on the Pennsylvania 50 States Quarter design committee. Holding active memberships in a broad spectrum of numismatic organizations across the state, he has also served as an unofficial liaison between the state?s organized hobby and the U.S. Mint and its coinage design artisans.

In presenting the Numismatic Ambassador Award to Carlucci, Mishler emphasized, ?Don is particularly deserving of this recognition, not alone for what he has contributed to the hobby in the past, but in recognition that he has every intention of continuing to contribute outstanding service and support for many years to come.