The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org) has announced that they are awarding two scholarships this year, instead of one, for two young numismatists to attend the American Numismatic Association’s 2023 Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"In recognition of the recent passing of long-time PNG member John N. Rowe III, another member-dealer who wants to remain anonymous has graciously funded a scholarship in John’s name. So, we are awarding ANA Summer Seminar scholarships to two YNs this year," explained PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
Eva Pate, 18, of San Antonio, Texas, and Hunter Hicks, 19, of Falls Church, Virginia, are the winners of the annual essay competition for the scholarships. Pate is a Business major sophomore at the University of Texas at San Antonio, while Hicks is majoring in Economics and Environmental Engineering as a freshman at Stanford University.
Hicks, a former member of the Falls Church Historical Commission Board, started collecting coins at the age of ten, when he came across a stack of 1943 zinc-coated steel cents at an antique store. He explains he tries to collect "in ways that match how coins would have once been appreciated, such as filling up a 1916 cash register."
Hicks wrote in his essay: "With coins being such an important part of who I am, I see myself as somewhat of an ambassador of the hobby. Most of my friends have never met someone who collects coins and what I can tell them about the hobby will likely be their first and lasting impression of it."
"Most adults I talk about the hobby with know it exists, but often haven’t thought about it in 30+ years. Therefore, whenever I converse about it, whether when buying an inherited collection or just to explain why I love it, I want to make sure I am expressing the excitement and integrity of the hobby," he explained.
Pate, on the other hand, began collecting coins two years ago, after attending a local coin show with a friend.
"My first-ever coins, however, were actually Mexican coins my grandfather gave me. He had dos pesos, 8 reales, 50 centavos de Cuauhtémoc, and other Mexican silver he accumulated from his time in Mexico. Some of the coins he passed down were actually fake or cleaned, so I learned how to spot problem coins really early on. Because of this, I find It imperative that the numismatic world — specifically grading companies — keep up with the technology being used to ‘Doctor’ coins in order to prevent their entry into the market/holders," she stated.
"After being introduced to numismatics my senior year in high school I immediately became hooked. In a short amount of time, I had accumulated a wide arrangement of medals, coins, bars, and anything else that piqued my interest. I’ve had exponential growth in a short amount of time, and I hope to keep expanding my knowledge while making great memories and friends along the way," she stated in her essay.
Pate enjoys collecting toned Lincoln cents and is putting together a collection she calls "Shades of Cool."
"I’ve become passionate about ‘gatekeeping’ and protecting the numismatic community from people who want to scam collectors or harm coins. I hope to one day participate in numismatic research and contribute to solutions that can detect problem coins before they are put in holders," said Pate.
The PNG scholarships will cover airfare, tuition for one of the two 2023 Summer Seminar session, meals, and five nights of dormitory accommodations on the campus of Colorado College, where the ANA headquarters is located. The ANA Summer Seminar consists of two six-day sessions, from June 17 to 22, and from June 24 to 29, 2023, where participants ranging from teenagers to seniors can take classes on specific coin and paper money collecting topics or the hobby’s technical and business aspects.
Additional information about the ANA Summer Seminar can be found on the ANA website at www.money.org/summer-seminar/register.
The PNG 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 in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise.
For additional information about PNG or the young numismatists scholarship program, visit online at www.PNGdealers.org or call (951) 587-8300.
University of Texas and Stanford. My heart bleeds for these poor underprivileged kids. 18 and 19 and already buying out estate sales and inheritances. I wonder which one was the 2nd winner? They talked about the girl 2nd so my guess is she was the minority diversity pick. Stands to reason white male won using his privilege. So her dad gave her fake coins. That’s awesome, maybe he moved up and is selling those knock off Morgan coins. It’s good to see people improve. Makes ya wonder how many of those biden border jumpers are bringing fake coins and bars… Read more »
D&C, The University of Texas is my alma mater (BA,1986). The UT System is a 4-year public university with campuses throughout the state. UT Austin is the “mothership” with a larger endowment than Harvard, Yale & Princeton combined! It also owns more gold than many small countries! A small example of its alumni gifts includes the entire art collection of the late actress Farrah Fawcett that she donated to UT, which includes one portrait of her by artist Andy Warhol worth $1 million alone! With approximately 53,000 students, it is basically a city by itself inside the city of Austin… Read more »
Very interesting, Seth. How about a shout out for the Big D (Dallas) and the Little D (Denton), with Denton also known as “Little Austin.”
Dr. Pepper. Mr MD
Dr. Pepper soda was created in Waco, Texas.
You are welcome!
NumisdudeTX
Hi Rich,
I lived & worked in Dallas for 6 months…nice to visit, but just didn’t feel right for some reason… never been to Denton.
NumisdudeTX
I just moved from the Waco, Austin, Copperas cove area to Florida. Got to be in Austin for bike week, went to a couple stars games (not the pro Dallas team). Miss the bats flying under the bridge. Been to Alamo. And lived in Texas for about a decade. And if you go to Walmart and see Texas women, yes everything bigger in Texas. I like the bbq near ikea, salt lick. Moved because of the great valentines freeze and abbot and company raped Texans with $9 per kw price. And then held emergency meeting to help, which resulted in… Read more »
D&C,
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is an arsehole & our Texas Attorney General is also an arsehole! Both are Republicans. That is the bad part about living in Texas now…
Bats like you mentioned…the largest population of Mexican free-tailed bats live in the huge cave & under bridge in Austin – leading to not many mosquitos or other insect pests they feed on each night. And their guano is best fertilizer!
NumisdudeTX
Holy Tintinnabulation! … Austin, TX, the “bat capital of the United States.”
And their guano is priceless. So Cruz and abbot and company are so bat chit crazy it’s almost priceless
D&C,
And they both think their crap doesn’t stink!
NumisdudeTX
There is even a road in Austin named Bat Caves Road!
“To the bat cave Robin…” LOL
NumisdudeTX
Sounds to me like California is calling you Seth! It’s pretty much a demo run state and from what people tell me it’s like living in heaven.
I’m not bitter. I just think that there are more people put there that could use this experience. Did they get a scholarship? Maybe. Did parents buy a building and name it after them so their kids could get in? Maybe. Most probable, parents are doing really well and are paying for them to attend. Which is why I asked how much this trip would cost out of pocket. I used my gi bill. But due to disabilities the degrees do me no good. I got into UT of Austin. Felt pretty good earning a slot at the 40s age… Read more »
Ah the days of youth. I remember when my dad introduced me to coin collecting in 1967. Whitman coin folders for half cents and half dimes. What an opportunity!
OGP for me too. I was also thinking not too long ago how my silver coins sure are starting to take up space. If I would have started collecting gold coins instead of silver I would have been able to afford only a small fraction of the quantity of coins I have now and it would be easier to dispose of my collection someday. No tarnish to worry about, either.
The ANA Summer Seminar is a great opportunity for young collectors like Eva, Hunter and other youths to learn about the great hobby we all love. We should thank PNG and others in providing the scholarships.