Minting moments, honoring legends
July 1, 2026
A room full of coin enthusiasts raised their glasses in a heartfelt toast on June 24, 2026, as Minted Assets hosted the First Strike Ceremony for the 2026 ANA convention coin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — a moment that honored not only the host city but two beloved figures in the numismatic community: the coin’s designer Joel Iskowitz and Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists President Patrick McBride.
Chang Bullock, President of Minted Assets, opened the ceremony by reflecting on the series’ origins, which stretch back to a fateful evening at the FUN Show three years ago. “A few of us” gathered at the Rosen, where over gin and tonics, a dream took shape. Bullock had long envisioned a show coin more distinctly American in character — something that told a story and resonated with the largest American coin show in the world. That night, with ANA Executive Director Thomas Uram’s enthusiasm and support, the series was born.
From Coin World