Joseph Paonessa Awarded 2021 Glen Smedley Memorial Award
Joe Paonessa attended the 2007 ANA Summer Seminar on a Gilroy Roberts Art of Engraving scholarship (a two-year program) and has been a Summer Seminar instructor since 2009. He built the ANA's mini-mint press and engraved the dies used to strike souvenir tokens for Edward C. Rochette Money Museum visitors.
A modern hobo-nickel carver, Paonessa teaches the art and history of carving and donates pieces to be sold at Young Numismatist auctions. The Original Hobo Nickel Society recognized his work by offering him an honorary life membership in 2019, the same year the ANA accorded him an honorary Doctor of Numismatics degree.
The Glenn Smedley Memorial Award was created in memory of Glenn B. Smedley, a collector's collector, to recognize individuals who have devoted their efforts to the betterment of the ANA.
The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered nonprofit educational
organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related
items. The ANA helps its 25,500 members and the public discover and explore the
world of money through its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well
as its museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information,
call 719-632-2646 or go to
www.money.org.
