More than one way to strike gold

Where’s my gold coin?

A better question is, where is yours?

The American Numismatic Association is sponsoring a writing contest for members to celebrate National Coin Week.

This year’s observance of numismatics is scheduled for the week of April 15-21.

That’s coming up fast.

A writing contest is right up my alley.

I would not be sitting in my editor’s chair had I not won a Coins Magazine writing contest in 1971.

Then, the prize for me was a subscription and a framed copy of the article.

The ANA's gold tenth-ounce Eagle is a much more valuable prize, especially if the winner also embarks on a four-decade long career as a result of the win.

Maximum length is 350 words, which if you have read my blog regularly, is something that I do here every business day.

So count me as a fan of this competition.

The ANA says this is a “contest where members write about how numismatics creates unity. Topics can be historical/research based, or personal experiences about people coming together through coin club meetings, conventions, Summer Seminar, etc.”

ANA would also like images.

The top winners, as well as entries that are well done, the ANA plans to post on its National Coin Week blog.

Besides the gold coin, there are other prizes.

For the second place winner, there is a proof World War I Centennial silver dollar and a 2018 silver proof set.

Third place will earn a 2018 silver proof set.

The ANA says there will be other prizes, including regular 2018 proof sets.

So even if you don’t snare the top prize, it looks like an entry can earn something.

If you are like me, it isn't the prize that matters.

Sure, I enjoyed the subscription, but there was nothing like the feeling of seeing my name in a byline for the first time.

I will never forget that.

Someone will win that 2018 gold coin (details here). I hope it is a reader of this blog.

The one thing I know for sure is it will not be me. I must earn gold coins some other way.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog for the third time in 2017 . He is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."

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