Do you think this is a good logo for the ANA?

I understand the intent behind the new logo: use a coin design to more clearly represent the purpose of the organization. However, an obsolete design was chosen, and thus the intent was nullified. I think the "Lamp" was not exactly on the mark either, being borrowed from the University of Michigan (with which the ANA once shared close connections). As an Ohio State grad this always rankled me, but I accepted it since it did look nice in the high-relief medals.

If they were going to use a a "coin" design, why not use something evocative of the reverse of the dimes or quarters in our pockets (obviously, not the state quarters). Then it could at least be recognized as a coin by non-coin people. The Peace Dollar is one of my favorite coins, but it is not widely recognized by non-coin-collectors.

The real problem is that the powers-that-be (or the power-that-is) at the ANA, increasingly vested in one individual, failed to conduct a proper design competition or membership referendum on the logo change. This was a cold business decision, not based on members' desires or comments. The explanations and defense of this action took the form of editorials and responses from the ANA's Executive Director, published in Numismatist. They appear to have been written by a lawyer...Oh, I'm sorry...I guess they were.

De profundis, indeed!

 

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