ANA HONORS DEISHER AND FIVAZ

Two long-time collectors were celebrated during the Pittsburgh World's Fair of Money®, August 25-29, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their contributions to the numismatic community have made waves over the years, earning them recognition during the 135th Anniversary Banquet on Friday, August 28.

The Elvira Clain-Stefanelli Memorial Award for Achievement in Numismatics is presented annually to a woman who has made significant contributions to numismatics through her research, leadership, and/or mentorship, and who has demonstrated a longtime commitment to the betterment of numismatics. This year's recipient is Beth Deisher.

Serving in several editorial roles at Coin World from 1981 to 2012, Deisher has advocated for the hobby and numismatic education. She was the founding editor of several subsidiary publications for Coin World, and she has received more than 200 awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild for her writing and editorial work. She testified before five Congressional committees on numismatic issues, and she served on two commissions to recommend designs for Ohio's state quarter and bicentennial medal.

The author of several numismatic references, Deisher helped organize the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (now the non-profit Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation). She also assisted in developing Customs and Border Protection's numismatic protocols and coordinated numismatic specialists' efforts to prevent the importation and sale of counterfeit money. She received the Burnett Anderson Memorial Award in 2006 and the Farran Zerbe Award for Distinguished Service in 2010. She was inducted into the ANA's Hall of Fame in 2013.

Bill Fivaz, recipient of the ANA's 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, has influenced countless collectors and researchers through his teaching, leadership, scholarship, mentorship, and service. A collector for 75 years and an ANA life member since 1959, Fivaz has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in numismatics.

Best known as the coauthor of the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties, Fivaz helped popularize the study of U.S. die varieties and mint errors. His published works, articles, videos, and educational materials have become essential references.

Equally important is his extraordinary dedication to education. Fivaz taught ANA Summer Seminar classes for more than 20 years and is one of the most popular and respected educators in the field. He is well known for his humor and ability to make complex topics accessible and exciting. As Q. David Bowers observed, "When Bill Fivaz does anything, he does it with enthusiasm, correctly, and in a way that everyone appreciates."

Fivaz has been a tireless mentor and supporter of young numismatists, funding scholarships, supporting YN programs, and encouraging discovery and learning. His induction in to the ANA Hall of Fame in 2002 recognized that his lifetime contributions have left a lasting and invaluable mark on American numismatics.

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