Ambassador Awards given by FUN

From left, Tony Swicer (accepting for Ann Bobrofsky), Bryce Doxzon, Mary Sauvain, Mike Fuljenz and Brad Karoleff (accepting for David G. Heinrich).

Five Numismatic Ambassador Awards were given by the Florida United Numismatists Jan. 6 at its convention in Fort Lauderdale.

The award plaques were presented by Numismatic News editor Dave Harper at the Ambassador Breakfast.

This is the second year that FUN has given the awards. It took over the job after Numismatic News stopped after 2014.

The baton was passed seamlessly. Under the auspices of Tony Swicer, current Ambassadors vote annually to choose a new class of Ambassadors. The number selected can vary from year to year.

Recognized this year were Ann Bobrofsky of Battle Creek, Mich.; Bryce F. Doxzon of Baltimore; Mike Fuljenz of Beaumont, Texas; David G. Heinrich of Miamitown, Ohio, and Mary Sauvain of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Because of family responsibilities, neither Brobrofsky nor Heinrich were present. Swicer accepted the plaque for Bobrofsky while Brad Karoleff accepted for Heinrich.

Bobrofsky had been given a “Good For” certificate Nov. 25 at the 60th anniversary dinner of the Michigan State Numismatic Society.

Below are the biographies of this year’s new Ambassadors as seen by the voters:

Ann Bobrofsky –– Battle Creek, Mich.

Ann has been a coin collector for over 38 years. She has served in the Michigan State Numismatic Society in various positions including president and vice-president. She has been on the MSNS convention committee for 38 years, coordinator of pages for 21 years, and MSNS secretary for 8 years. She was appointed to the Michigan State Quarter Commission. She was also the financial chairperson for the ANA’s in Detroit in 1984 &1994. She has assisted with registration at several ANA’s. She is a member of ANA, MSNS, and Battle Creek Coin Club. Recipient of the ANA Presidential Award.

Bryce F. Doxzon – Baltimore, Md.

Bryce has been a medal collector for 39 years. He is very involved in Maryland numismatics, serving as MSNA secretary for 21 years. He has served as president of MTAMS, Baltimore CC & Catonsville CC. He has been an exhibitor and judge at ANA conventions, including being exhibits chairman for the 2003 & 2008 ANA’s. He has been a speaker at several clubs. He designed the 2008 TAMS Assemblage medal and the Baltimore Coin Club’s 75th anniversary medal. He is the publicity/ advertising chairman for MSNA and Baltimore Ares Numismatic Coalition. Member of 8 numismatic organizations including ANA. He recently received the Glenn Smedley Award from the ANA.

Michael Fuljenz – Beaumont, Texas

Mike has provided both financial and volunteer assistance to the ANA YN programs at the summer seminar and is a sponsor of YN activities at the Houston Money Show. He continues to support educational seminars by the Numismatic Crime Information Center at the ANA & FUN conventions. He helped lobby for the Collectible Coin Protection Act. At the state level, he has helped stop legislation that would hurt the hobby. He has taught more than 20 classes on counterfeit detection and grading, including at the ANA summer seminar. He has received numerous NLG awards for his writing, ANA Medal of Merit, PNG Significant Contribution Award, NLG Clemy Award & Book of the Year Award. Member of 10 numismatic organizations including, ANA, FUN, PNG, ICTA.

David G. Heinrich – Miamitown, Ohio

Dave is the vice president of CSNS, editor of WIN journal, President & editor of Cincinnati Numismatic Society. He won the ANA Outstanding Adult Advisor Award and he handles the YN program at the CSNS show every year. He co-teaches the coin photography class at the ANA summer seminar. Both his daughters collect coins and have won exhibit awards. He is a tireless worker for numismatics.

Mary Sauvain – Colorado Springs, Colo.

Specializing in U.S. colonial coins and paper money, she began her career as a professional numismatist with Kagin’s in 1979. Her expertise in coin authentication led her to the American Numismatic Association Certification Service in 1984, where she worked as an authenticator/grader until 1990. After leaving ANACS she founded her own company, Mary Sauvain Numismatic Services Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO. In 1991 she was one of three founders of Women In Numismatics and served as WIN’s second president in 1992. She has shared her knowledge by teaching seminars and courses in counterfeit detection and coin grading as well as writing columns on the subject for The Numismatist and Coin World. She was the author of “The Counterfeit Detector” Series II and III published by ANACS. She also assisted in preparing courses for the ANA’s Numismatic Diploma program. Mary is a life member of the National Silver Dollar Roundtable and has served on the NSDR Board of Governors. She was honored by the NSDR as its Woman of the Year. She is a contributor to A Guide Book of United States Coins and holds memberships in many state, regional, and national numismatic organizations.