2026 National Money Show Exhibit Award Winners
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) has announced the winners of the 2026 National Money Show® exhibit awards, recognizing excellence in numismatic research, presentation, and storytelling.
Officials revealed the results during the Exhibits Awards Presentation & Reception on Saturday, February 28, at the Savannah Convention. In total, 26 competitive exhibit awards were presented, highlighting the depth and diversity of today’s numismatic scholarship.
Best-of-Show Honors Go to Michael Kodysz
Leading the competition, Michael Kodysz earned the prestigious Steven J. D’Ippolito Award for Excellence in Numismatic Exhibiting (Best of Show). His winning exhibit, “Zeppelins and the Great War: A Medallic History of German Military Airships in World War I,” stood out for its originality and historical depth.
Meanwhile, Michael Shutterly secured second place with “National Personifications in Numismatics.” Simcha Kuritzky followed in third place for “The Isle of Man Cat Bullion Coins.”
Notably, Kuritzky’s exhibit also captured the Radford Stearns Memorial People’s Choice Award, reflecting strong support from convention attendees.
National Coin Week Competition Highlights Educational Exhibits
This year’s National Coin Week theme, “Striking Independence: 250 Years of American Numismatics,” inspired a special category designed for educational outreach. Because these exhibits must be suitable for libraries and schools, participants worked within a strict $250 value limit.
Joshua Tate claimed first place with “The Liberty Bell in U.S. Numismatic Design.” As a result, he will receive a full scholarship to a future ANA Summer Seminar, funded by John Albanese.
Richard Jozefiak earned both second and third place honors for:
- “Collecting for Free: The Shell Company’s Presidential Medals Set”
- “Creating the Madison County Coin Club 10th Anniversary/100th Meeting Three Medal Set”
Strong Participation Across Competitive Classes
In total, 20 exhibits from 13 exhibitors competed across multiple categories. The ANA awarded Radford Stearns Memorial Awards for Achievement in Exhibiting in six primary classes, along with an emeritus category.
Class 1: History and Politics
First: Simcha Kuritzky — “A Zionist So-Called Dollar”
Second: Kathryn Rosinia — “Remembering the Bicentennial: American Bicentennial Coinage”
Third: Kenneth Swab — “Thomas Macdonough – Naval Hero of the War of 1812”
Class 2: Economics
First: Charles Tate — “Inflationary Currency of Israel, 1980-1985”
Second: Michael Shutterly — “24 Centuries of the Denarius”
Third: Simcha Kuritzky — “Israel’s Two-Decade Long Road to Standardized Gold Coinage”
Class 3: Geography
First: Michael Kodysz — “A Young Wife’s Tale: The Rise and Tragic Fall of the Roman Empress Plautilla”
Second: Richard Jozefiak — “Collecting for Free: The Shell Company’s Presidential Medals Set”
Third: Vira Hora — “From Struggle to Symbol: Women Leaders Immortalized on Indian Coins”
Class 4: Common Elements
First: Simcha Kuritzky — “The Isle of Man Cat Bullion Coins”
Second: George Anderson — “The Seven Sisters of the United States Mint”
Third: Vira Hora — “Life is Like a Box of Chocolates: The Journey of Penny Machines at Bubba Gump”
Class 5: The Arts
First: Michael Shutterly — “National Personifications in Numismatics”
Second: Michael Kodysz — “Boar Hunt! Exploration of Meaning on a Group of Roman Coins Depicting Hunted Wild Boars”
Third: Joshua Bell — “The Liberty Bell in U.S. Numismatic Design”
Class 6: Science
First: Michael Kodysz — “Zeppelins and the Great War”
Second: Brett Irick — “Early Republic of Mexico Hand-on-Book Half Escudo Gold Coins, 1825–1870”
Third: Jeffrey Rosinia — “Striking Independence: 250 Years of American Numismatics – The 1876 Centennial Medal”
Class 7: Emeritus
First: Helen-Louise Boling — “The Spirit of a City: The New York City Medal”
Second: No exhibits
Third: No exhibits
ANA Phases Out Supplemental Bullion Awards
In addition to medals, winners received valuable numismatic prizes. These included American Gold Eagles and Silver Eagles across multiple categories.
However, the ANA confirmed that this marks the final convention to include supplemental bullion awards. Rising bullion prices have made the program unsustainable.
Looking Ahead: 2026 World’s Fair of Money
The ANA is already preparing for its next major event, the ANA World’s Fair of Money, scheduled for August 24–29, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Collectors interested in exhibiting should note the application deadline of June 1, 2026. For more information, contact the ANA at 719-482-9849, email [email protected]
, or visit money.org/convention-exhibits.
Would love to attend an event like this.. very cool..