Dr. Donald Kagin Named PNG’s 2026 Kosoff Founders Award Recipient

(Schaumburg, Illinois) April 23, 2026 – The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) has selected Donald Kagin, Ph.D., as the 2026 recipient of the nonprofit organization’s highest honor, the Abe Kosoff Founders Award.

The announcement was made at the PNG’s annual awards dinner following the April 22, 2026, PNG Dealer Day at the Central States Numismatic Society (www.CSNS.org) convention in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois.

Kagin is President of Kagin’s, Inc. of Belvedere Tiburon, California, author of the reference book Private & Pioneer Gold Coins of the United States 1786-1862, and other numismatic works. He has been a PNG member since 1994 and is also a former Vice President of the American Numismatic Association.

The Kosoff Award is presented to a PNG member-dealer who has demonstrated steadfast dedication to the numismatic community and made a significant contribution to the Guild or the numismatic fraternity. The award is named after PNG’s Founding President, who spearheaded the 1953 launch of the organization.

The PNG’s 2026 Harvey G. Stack Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Richard Kenneth (“Kenny”) Duncan, Sr., founder of U.S. Coins and Jewelry in Houston, Texas. The award is presented to a numismatist for his/her extraordinary devotion to numismatics and who, over their lifetime, has significantly contributed to the hobby or profession. 

The winner of the Robert Friedberg Award, presented to an author in recognition of an outstanding book or other literary work, is Thomas DeLorey, author of the reference book, The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922, published by Whitman.

Former PNG President Jeff Garrett, founder of Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries in Lexington, Kentucky, received the Significant Contribution Award for exceptional, beneficial efforts over the years on behalf of PNG, the profession, and the hobby.

Walt Ankerman, of Carlsbad Village Coins in Carlsbad, California, was named the recipient of the Art Kagin Ambassador Award for his distinguished service as an advocate of numismatic goodwill.

The Sol Kaplan Award, which recognizes efforts and contributions in combatting crimes against the numismatic community, was awarded jointly to four people and a nonprofit organization for investigating and recovering rare banknotes valued at more than $1 million. The notes were reported lost or stolen from a registered mail shipment in August 2025.

The 2026 Kaplan Award recipients are Robert Hart of All Florida Coin & Stamp in Jacksonville, Florida; Peter Treglia of Stack’s Bowers Galleries in Costa Mesa, California; Dave Orshowitz of Roswell Gold, Silver & Coins in Roswell, Georgia; and Inspector Chris Nastawa of the Jacksonville, Florida, office of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.

The Kaplan Award was also presented, in conjunction with the banknote theft case, to the Numismatic Crime Information Center, founded by former Texas Police Chief Doug Davis, which coordinated and facilitated information sharing in the case.

“This case exemplifies the vital importance of collaboration between the numismatic community and law enforcement. The actions taken by all involved reflect the highest standards of professionalism and serve as a model for effective response to crimes involving rare and valuable numismatic material,” stated PNG Executive Director John Feigenbaum.

The nexGen Future Numismatist Award, honoring an outstanding young man or woman who wants to become a professional numismatist, was awarded to Jacob Gonzalez, 20, of Weslaco, Texas. A recent criminal justice and legal studies graduate of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, he was also selected as one of this year’s PNG nexGen scholarship recipients to attend a week-long session of the ANA Summer Seminar classes in Colorado.

The first recipient of a new PNG award category, COINfluencer of the Year, is Christian Hartch, founder of Treasure Town. A Princeton University economics graduate, he started a YouTube channel to provide entertainment and education on numismatics, collectibles, and history. The channel now has over 220,000 subscribers.

The Professional Numismatists Guild is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the top rare coin and paper money dealers in the United States and four other countries. PNG member-dealers must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics (www.PNGdealers.org/ethics) in buying and selling numismatic merchandise. 

For additional information about PNG, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call (951) 587-8300.