SUNDMAN LECTURES: COINS REFLECT CULTURE

Coins are more than just currency—they're tiny time capsules that tell the story of the world. From hairstyles on ancient Roman coins to pop culture tributes on today's commemoratives, money has long mirrored the styles, values, and moments that shape our lives. During the American Numismatic Association's (ANA) World's Fair of Money®, taking place August 19-23 in Oklahoma City, experts will explore how coins, medals, and tokens reflect the culture of the times during the Sundman Lecture Symposium. This year's theme is "Culture's Mirror; How Coins Reflect Popular Culture."

The Symposium will be held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center on Wednesday, August 20, from 10 am to 4:15 pm. This year's speakers and their lectures include:

10 a.m. – Bob Bair: Reflections Upon U.S. Popular Culture, Heritage, and History, As Influenced by Numismatics: A Look at Some of the Events, Individuals, and Coins Which Have Shaped Our Popular Culture

U.S. coins reflect the nation's evolving popular culture, history, and values—making them a unique part of our national heritage. This presentation explores how 19th- and early 20th-century coinage both shaped and mirrored American culture, highlighting ideals like Liberty and the Rule of Law. Influenced by key events such as westward expansion and the Civil War, artists like St. Gaudens, the Frasers, and Weinman created designs that captured the spirit of their time—leaving a lasting impression on the coins Americans used, saved, and admired.

11:15 a.m. – Michael T. Shutterly: Viewing Culture Through the Lens of Numismatics

This talk will look at what the study of numismatic objects can tell us about the cultures that use those objects, and about the cultural environment in which those objects are used. From the moment of creation, a numismatic object serves as a historical artifact reflecting the society and the culture in which it is created. The designers, engravers, and other artists and artisans who create these objects are themselves both the creators and the products of the cultures in which they work, and it is through their artistic vision that cultural values take tangible form. By examining numismatic objects, we can learn a great deal about what cultural values and trends were important – or not – in a given society, and we can trace the development of the underlying cultural trends.

12:15 p.m. Sundman Luncheon (fee and pre-registration required)

2 p.m. – Steve Roach: The Public Reception of the 1921 Peace Dollar and Popular Culture

Anthony de Francisci is known to collectors as the designer of the Peace dollar (1921-1935) and his famed dollar was just a small part of an active sculptor's studio. Working directly from the artist's personal scrapbooks, which include media mentions from the popular publications of the day, this presentation will explore the public reception of his Peace dollar, contemporary popular culture references to the new silver dollar, the narrative of his wife who served as the model, and how this simple project fit into the larger context of his professional life as a working sculptor in the 1920s. Further, this talk will consider the concept of how this one coin – which represented a single relatively small project – has an outsized impact on his reputation.

3:15 p.m. – Russ Bega: The Art of American Coinage: Reflecting Values from 1792 to Today

Coins are more than just a medium of exchange – they are miniature works of art that embody the values, beliefs, and ideals of the societies that create them. In this talk, explore how U.S. coinage, from 1792 to today, tells the evolving story of American identity. Trace the changing depictions of Liberty and how her image reflects shifting ideals of beauty and culture. This talk will examine the symbolic meanings of her trappings, the contradictions of anti-slavery imagery on coins before the Civil War, and the complex representation of American Indians. Through these small objects, uncover how coins have both shaped and mirrored the nation's cultural and political history.

To register for the Sundman Lecture series, visit WorldsFairOfMoney.com. For questions about presentations or more information, contact Doug Mudd at mudd@money.org.

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