The American Numismatic Association (ANA) today announced that its 2021 Summer Seminar, scheduled for June and July this year, has been cancelled. The primary reason for the cancellation is the overwhelming cost of hosting the event as the normal location was not available to the Association due to COVID-19 restrictions. Several members also expressed concerns about traveling during the ongoing pandemic that has now claimed over 400,000 lives in the United States.
The ANA will be hosting free-of-charge educational opportunities in lieu of the seminars.
The Summer Seminar series becomes the latest in an ever growing list of seminars, conventions, and shows that have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Here is the full Press Release from the ANA.
The American Numismatic Association (ANA) announced that the 2021 Summer Seminar, scheduled for June 19-24 (Session 1) and June 26-July 1 (Session 2), has been officially cancelled.
Traditionally held on the Colorado College campus adjacent to ANA headquarters, Summer Seminar is a once-a-year opportunity for numismatic learning and camaraderie that offers hundreds of collectors from around the world a varied selection of week-long courses designed for discovery and continued study.
Colorado College notified the ANA in late 2020 that it would not be hosting events on its campus in 2021 because of COVID-19. The Association looked at an alternative location in Colorado Springs, but the $128,000 deficit that would be incurred to host the event there was rejected by the ANA Board of Governors. The University of Denver (DU) campus also was considered, but previous Summer Seminar students and instructors indicated that without access to the Association’s museum and library, Summer Seminar would not be as engaging. Additionally, many previous participants noted they were uncomfortable traveling during the pandemic.
ANA Executive Director Kim Kiick indicated that the Association will offer free virtual courses through its eLearning Academy during the 2021 Summer Seminar dates of June 19-July 1. Although the online classes will not replicate the Summer Seminar event, it will give participants a taste of the popular program. Topics will appeal to a broad range of collectors – from beginners to advanced numismatists. Details will be available in the weeks ahead. COVID-19 also caused the cancellation of the 2020 Summer Seminar, the event’s first cancellation in its 50-plus-year history. Scholarships that were awarded for the 2020 Summer Seminar will be honored for the 2022 event.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its 28,000-plus members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs, as well as its museum, library, publications and conventions. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit www.money.org.