Below are photos of a token attendees received at the banquet for ANA Summer Seminar Session I. The tokens are fresh off the dies of the Badger Mint which is operated by Joe Paoness and George Cuhaj. The tokens are hand-made and are composed of pewter. The obverse reads, 'AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION / 2010 SUMMER SEMINAR'. The reverse reads, 'FLORENCE SCHOOK SCHOOL OF NUMISMATICS'. Joe and George set up an operating mini-mint at Summer Seminar so students can observe or gets hands-on experience in rolling of coin stock, making blanks and striking coins using a screw press and a hammer. Next week I am taking a course entitled, 'Modern Minting Methods: Errors and Varieties'. I am also taking George and Joe's mini-seminar entitled, 'Minting Mayhem' where students use the equipment in the mini-mint to strike their own error coins. That should be fun and very educational.
I know that Joe & George did the tokens last year. I believe that was their first year. They have given out other things in years past but nothing like this. I hope Joe & George continue to make the tokens in future years. You have to pay to attend the banquet. The tokens are free to those who attend the banquet. The tokens are left on the tables so everyone gets one. All the more reason to attend the banquet.
cool...really cool. I'm actually considering trying to find an old screw type press, buying it and making tokens/medals. I don't think it would make me money but it would get me off the internet and doing something a bit more constructive from 10pm to 2am. Now, does anybody know of one for sale, cheap...or better...very cheap?