PNG honors Beth Deisher

Eight checks totaling $40,000 were presented by Barry Stuppler, center, from PNG dealers to Beth Deisher, left, and Kathy McFadden, right.

Retired editor of Coin World, Beth Deisher, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award July 31.

The recognition was extended by the Professional Numismatists Guild at its annual awards dinner in Denver.

Newly elected PNG President Barry Stuppler said she was one of the few people in the hobby who is immediately recognized by first name only.
Her tenure at Coin World began in 1985. She retired in 2012.

Deisher was chosen to be editor by Margo Russell, her legendary predecessor.

Deisher came out of retirement earlier this year to lead an anti-counterfeiting drive for the Industry Council for Tangible Assets.

Deisher told the assembled dealers and guests that this is a battle that organized numismatics cannot afford to lose.

She had difficulty walking to the stage when she was called forward to accept the plaque.

Troubles with her spine, she hoped, would soon be corrected by surgery, she said.

But she was undaunted in her determination to fight the scourge of counterfeiting and rallied the assembled dealers with a stirring call to action.

Stuppler presented eight checks from PNG dealers in the amount of $40,000 to help fund this new ICTA initiative.

Deisher joined Kathy McFadden, ICTA’s executive director, in accepting the checks.

Christine Karstedt, executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers, was presented with the Art Kagin Ambassador Award. Shown from left are PNG executive director Robert Brueggeman, Karstedt, Q. David Bowers, and Karstedt’s daughter Melissa.

Christine Karstedt, executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers, was given the Art Kagin Ambassador Award.

The plaque was presented to her by Q. David Bowers.

Bowers reminisced that it was his son, Andrew, and her daughter, Melissa, who became friends in grade school, that brought him and Christine together professionally at the firm that bears his name.

Bill Walker, left, accepted the Sol Kaplan Award from PNG executive director Robert Brueggeman.

The Sol Kaplan Award was given to Bill Walker of Heritage. He had earlier recovered stolen coins for an owner that did not even realize they were missing.

This award was also given to three Missouri law enforcement officials: Sheriff Cory Hutcheson, Chief Deputy Branden E. Caid and Captain Barry Morgan. All are with the Mississippi County Missouri Sheriff’s Department and solved the theft from more than 40 years ago, surprising the collector with the return of many of his stolen coins.

The Kaplan award honors those who have distinguished themselves in fighting numismatic crimes.

The Robert Friedberg Award was given to Pete Smith, Joel J. Orosz and Leonard Augsburger for their reference book, 1792: Birth of a Nation’s Coinage, published by Ivy Press.

John Maben was recognized with the Significant Contribution Award.