Here is a short list of all the services the ANA provides: Money Museum: Several rare coins are here that are amazing: 1804 Dollar, 1913 Liberty Nickel, Brasher Doubloon, Harry W. Bass collection, and a TON more. They also have rotating exhibits. See it here: https://www.money.org/money-museum YN Programs: YN Auction, Literary Awards, Coins For A's, Ancient Coin Project, Early American Copper Project, College Collership, etc. See it here: https://www.money.org/young-numismatists Library: Over 100,000 different materials, and most of them are available for checkout!! There are also DVDs and other media. https://www.money.org/library Events: Summer Seminar (Coin Camp), National Money Show, World's Fair of Money, Money Talks, ANA Roadshow, National Coin Week, and more. https://www.money.org/events Magazine: The Numismatist magazine, first published in 1888, with a huge variety of topics. https://www.money.org/the-numismatist money.org: Provides a ton of info, tools, blogs, user activities, etc. Club and Dealer directory: They have a LOT in their database. I highly suggest joining the ANA.
And I here tell that they're 'digitizing' all of the back issues of the Numismatist. Heck of a wealth of information there.......
I am also a member. You can also get your collection insured through them via Hugh Wood at a reasonable price
I am not a member, but have considered it several times. I collect military money and ancients and I don't know how much I would get out of it. Sure the Numismatist would be interesting to read (I still like to read about other coins and maybe ancients are covered) and the Hugh Wood insurance is very tempting.
I am a member, and I live about 35 miles from Colorado Springs (ANA headquarters). So it's great that I can use the library without paying postage, and visit the money museum any time I want. The library makes membership worth it, even if you don't live close.
Oh, I forgot, an ANA membership is cheaper than buying a submission account through NGC, but you get submission privileges by virtue of being an ANA member. So, for a small fee, you get the library, money museum, and NGC submission privileges. Worth it.
I see where you are going on this, there are many good ole boys leading this, and the ANA needs a direction to get the youth more engaged. The ANA leadership needs to work with more educators to get some ideas to elevate youth involvement,
Remember, the library is free to use, except you pay postage. It's worth it. I guarantee your public library doesn't have a numismatic section like the ANA library.
Member for over 20 years. Summer Seminar instructor for 2. Lending library is easy to use and the digital Numismatist archives is pretty darn awesome.