The Farran Zerbe Award will be given to Donn Pearlman Aug. 14 at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Ill.
It is the highest honor the ANA can give.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected for this award. Thank you to Col. Joseph Boling for nominating me, and thank you to the ANA board for selecting me,” Pearlman stated.
Pearlman enjoyed a 30-year career as a radio and television broadcaster, including 25 years with CBS in his hometown of Chicago.
For the past two decades he has been a public relations executive in Chicago and Las Vegas, and since 2006 has been president of Donn Pearlman & Associates Public Relations. He resides in Las Vegas.
Pearlman created a publicity stunt to help promote the 2003 ANA World’s Fair of Money that resulted in finding the missing Walton specimen of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel in Baltimore.
A reunion of the four known nickels had been planned at the Baltimore show and a reward was offered for the fifth, which the heirs of George Walton, the last known owner, subsequently brought to the show.
“When the Walton nickel was brought to the 2003 ANA convention in Baltimore and authenticated, I thought I probably should retire because there was no way I could ever top that achievement of helping to solve a 41-year-old numismatic mystery. I’m glad I decided to continue working,” Pearlman said with a laugh.
The Walton family heirs subsequently loaned the nickel to the ANA’s Edward C. Rochette Money Museum where it remained on display until the family sold it in 2013.
Pearlman served two terms as an ANA governor (1989-1993). Since 1997 he has assisted the ANA in promoting ANA conventions.
This article was originally printed in Numismatic News.
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