Exhibit Award Winners Announced for 2026 National Money Show®
Top exhibitors took center stage at the 2026 Savannah National Money Show, as the ANA honored standout displays and announced the end of its long-running bullion award tradition.
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) presented 26 competitive exhibit awards at the 2026 Savannah National Money Show. Winners were announced at the Exhibits Awards Presentation & Reception on Saturday, February 28.
Michael Kodysz received the Steven J. D'Ippolito Award for Excellence in Numismatic Exhibiting (best of show) for his exhibit "Zeppelins and the Great War: A Medallic History of German Military Airships in World War I." The second-place D'Ippolito Award was presented to Michael Shutterly for "National Personifications in Numismatics." Third place was awarded to Simcha Kuritzky for his exhibit "The Isle of Man Cat Bullion Coins."
The Radford Stearns Memorial Award for People's Choice, determined by votes from convention attendees, was presented to Simcha Kuritzky for "The Isle of Man Cat Bullion Coins."
The theme for National Coin Week this year is "Striking Independence: 250 Years of American Numismatics." National Coin Week exhibits are intended to be suitable for display in libraries and schools, so there is a $250 limit on the value of the materials in this competition. The National Coin Week Award was
presented to Joshua Tate for his exhibit "The Liberty Bell in U.S. Numismatic Design." He will receive a full scholarship to a future ANA Summer Seminar, an award endowed by John Albanese. Second place in this category was awarded to Richard Jozefiak for "Collecting for Free: The Shell Company's Presidential Medals Set." Third place was also earned by Jozefiak for "Creating the Madison County Coin Club 10th Anniversary/100th Meeting Three Medal Set."
Radford Stearns Memorial Awards for Achievement in Exhibiting were also presented in six classes. This year, 20 competitive exhibits were displayed in the collector exhibits area by 13 exhibitors. Class winners are as follows:
Class 1: History and Politics (historical or political events)
- First place: Simcha Kuritzky, "A Zionist So-Called Dollar."
- Second place: Kathryn Rosinia, "Remembering the Bicentennial: American Bicentennial Coinage."
- Third place: Kenneth Swab, "Thomas Macdonough – Naval Hero of the War of 1812."
Class 2: Economics (monetary and financial systems or economic events, such as panics and inflations)
- First place: Charles Tate, "Inflationary Currency of Israel, 1980-1985."
- Second place: Michael Shutterly, "24 Centuries of the Denarius."
- Third place: Simcha Kuritzky, "Israel's Two-Decade Long Road to Standardized Gold Coinage."
Class 3: Geography (natural or cultural assets, the distribution of populations, or exploration)
- First place: Michael Kodysz, "A Young Wife's Tale: The Rise and Tragic Fall of the Roman Empress Plautilla."
- Second place: Richard Jozefiak, "Collecting for Free: The Shell Company's Presidential Medals Set."
- Third place: Vira Hora, "From Struggle to Symbol: Women Leaders Immortalized on Indian Coins."
Class 4: Common Elements (material linked by common themes and designs, such as Queen Elizabeth II, elephants, bridges, or world fairs)
- First place: Simcha Kuritzky, "The Isle of Man Cat Bullion Coins."
- Second place: George Anderson, "The Seven Sisters of the United States Mint."
- Third place: Vira Hora, "Life is Like a Box of Chocolates: The Journey of Penny Machines at Bubba Gump."
Class 5: The Arts (any aspect of fine or applied arts)
- First place: Michael Shutterly, "National Personifications in Numismatics."
- Second place: Michael Kodysz, "Boar Hunt! Exploration of Meaning on a Group of Roman Coins Depicting Hunted Wild Boars."
- Third place: Joshua Bell, "The Liberty Bell in U.S. Numismatic Design."
Class 6: Science (theoretical or applied science, including the technology of manufacturing numismatic items)
- First place: Michael Kodysz, "Zeppelins and the Great War: A Medallic History of German Military Airships in World War I."
- Second place: Brett Irick, "Early Republic of Mexico Hand-on-Book Half Escudo G old Coins 1825-1870."
- Third place: Jeffrey Rosinia, "Striking Independence: 250 Years of American Numismatics – The 1876 Centennial Medal."
Class 7: Emeritus (exhibits by individuals not otherwise eligible to exhibit competitively, or exhibits that have won best-of-show or have twice won in class competition at the National Money Show. The winner of this class does not advance to best-of-show judging, and the supplemental bullion awards are not made).
- First place: Helen-Louise Boling, "The Spirit of A City: The New York City Medal."
- Second place: no exhibits
- Third place: no exhibits
In addition to the D'Ippolito and Stearns medals that winning exhibits receive, there are the following numismatic prizes:
- Class Awards: First place, 1/10-ounce American Eagle; second place, proof American Silver Eagle; third place, bullion American Silver Eagle.
- National Coin Week Awards: First place, Summer Seminar scholarship; second place, proof American Silver Eagle; third place, bullion American Silver Eagle.
Best-of-Show Awards: First place, 1/2-ounce American Eagle; second place, 1/4-ounce American Eagle; third place, 1/10 American Eagle.
This is the last convention that will have these supplemental awards; ANA can no longer chase bullion prices to provide them.
The application deadline for exhibiting at the 2026 ANA World's Fair of Money®, which will be held August 24-29 in Pittsburgh, is June 1. For an application form or more information, phone 719-482-9849; email exhibits@money.org; or visit money.org/convention-exhibits.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs, including its museum, library, publications, conventions, and webinars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit money.org.
