Numismatists Of Wisconsin
 

NOW Convention Medals

[By Jeff Reichenberger #1933]


NOW convention medal traditional obverse

If you have visited the NOW table at any of the local shows in recent years, you may have noticed a collection of NOW Convention medals on display. These medals were traditionally struck in limited numbers as souvenirs for convention attendees. They were struck using several different metal alloys and all are the approximate size of a silver dollar, 38mm. Additionally, 'special' strikes were produced for show organizers and host club members. These 'special' strikes were made over host silver dollars (Morgan, Peace, and Canadian), some of these still show the host coin beneath the overstrike.

Lately, I've had the pleasure of conversing with many show-goers who have taken an interest in these medals. The present article is an attempt to summarize some information pertaining to them based on the examples we have in the NOW archives.

Numismatists of Wisconsin was established as a state club in 1960. The first convention was held in the spring of 1961 and planned to continue annually as long as the club grew – and it grew fast and steadily. NOW NEWS was first published in April of 1963 and reported that plans were well underway for the big three-day convention to be held in Racine and hosted by the Racine Numismatic Society who were to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

The NOW Officers and Board of Governors (A Who’s-Who of Wisconsin numismatists; Chet Krause, R. S. Yeoman, Gene Johnson, Ron Calkins, and Tom Fruit to name a few) voted to produce a convention medal, with hopeful intention to make it a yearly tradition. Thus, the NOW Convention Medals were born.

Each year the medals were to be designed with a prominent NOW design on the obverse and with something pertinent to the host club on the reverse. Host clubs were to procure designs through membership contests or by soliciting graphic artists or medalists. Once designs were agreed upon, a mint or engraving company was hired to produce the medals.

The convention medals were struck consecutively from 1963 through 1976. Then, having struck an over-abundance of medals in 1976, the NOW board, along with the sponsoring local clubs, decided to use the remaining ’76 medals and simply counterstamp them for both the 1977 and 1978 conventions.

The traditional grandeur of the convention settled into the more business-like, one-day affair that it is today, and the enthusiasm for producing a show medal became a financial and practical impediment for both NOW and the sponsoring clubs.

The following are images of the NOW medal reverses along with information gleaned from the NOW NEWS archives, some of which I paraphrased. (The obverse design changed only slightly in 1969 – shown on the 1969 entry below. The original obverse is pictured at the top of this article.) The only mintage numbers available are those for the 1976 issue and for the events that took place in the 2000’s.

1963

-NOW NEWS Vol. 1, No. 3, 1963

“The NOW convention medal shows an outline of Wisconsin with a Badger superimposed. (Obverse designed by NOW president Ralph Parker.) The reverse side shows a lighthouse in Racine that was torn down in 1961. Silver medals (struck on a silver dollar) were given to all the past and honored presidents of the Racine club and the Numismatists of Wisconsin.”

Struck in: Oroide (brass gilt), Oxidized alloy (pictured) – hereafter referred to as ‘Pewter’. Silver (dollar overstrike). Mintage: Unknown

1964

-NOW NEWS Vol. 2, No. 1, 1964

“NOW and the Madison Coin Club plan to have a medal struck for the convention. It will show an outline of the state conjoined with a rendering of the Wisconsin State Capitol, with a star locating the capitol city, Madison. Under the state outline appears the date 1932 representing the year the Madison Coin Club was founded, making it the oldest club in the state.”

Struck in: Oroide (pictured), Pewter, Silver (dollar overstrike). Mintage: Unknown


Can you see the host coin?

1965

-NOW NEWS Vol. 3, No. 1, 1965

“A contest was held by the Nicolet Coin Club of Green Bay to select a design for the 1965 Convention Medal of NOW.

The winner of the contest was Mark Detert, who designed the medal bearing the seal of the city of Green Bay; ‘Green Bay – Gateway to the Great Waterway’ around an ocean ship and surrounded by ‘Nicolet Coin Club 1965’. Mark won a $25 award and will receive one of the silver medals.”

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter, Silver overstrike (pictured). Mintage: Unknown

1966

-NOW NEWS Vol.4, No.1, No.2, 1966

“Five judges have selected an Indian design for the 1966 NOW medal. Various quantities are struck of these medals in Oroide, Oxidized alloy, and Silver. The oroide medals will be given to NOW convention visitors as they register at the show.”

“The Indian portrayed is Chief La Crosse, taken from the large statue that stands in Waterfront Park facing the Mississippi River. Orlane Kittle of Winona, MN submitted the winning entry in the club contest. The NOW side of the medal was designed by past president Ralph Parker and was first used at the Racine show four years ago.”

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter (pictured), Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1967

-NOW NEWS Vol. 5, No.1, 1967

The Official seal of Milwaukee… “has been selected by the Milwaukee Numismatic Society for their side of the 1967 NOW Convention Medal. …the medal shows a harbor view, rising sun, small boat, and light house in the center; surrounded by a courthouse, locomotive, church, and paddle-wheeler.”

Struck in: Copper* (pictured), Pewter, Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown *Only issue known to be struck in Copper.

Above left is a photo from NOW NEWS Vol. 4, No. 1, 1966 showing a large plastic holder that was produced by Bill Spencer (NOW and Racine Numismatic Society member) in 1966. Bill worked in plastics at the time and said he produced “about ten” of these. The photo at right is one of the original ‘ten’ recently obtained and photographed by Bob Chambers (NOW member and current Nicolet Coin Club president.)

Note that the photo at right shows the fifth medal in the series (Milwaukee 1967) in place, and that the La Crosse medal was moved outside the silhouette of Wisconsin. On the left photo taken at the 1966 convention, the La Crosse piece was placed on top about where La Crosse would be.


1968

-NOW NEWS Vol. 6, No. 2, 1968

“Annual Medal – commemorating the club’s 30th anniversary as well as the 1968 state convention will be available. Designer of the medal is Don Frost. A club contest was held, the theme of the winning design is: ‘Racine – Belle City of the Lakes’. A factory building superimposed over two meshing gears are featured in the design to typify industry which is the mainstay of Racine.”

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter (pictured), Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1969

-NOW NEWS Vol. 7, No. 2, 1969

“Attendants at the big NOW show in Madison this year may note that ‘something’ has happened to the old familiar ‘Badger NOW Medal’. It seems that the original dies used to strike the annual medal developed some age symptoms in the form of large cracks and had to be replaced for this year’s Madison strikings. Medal expert Gale Highsmith – a NOW board member – slightly altered the dies, reducing the relief, to increase the longevity of the die. A contest to create a new design to replace the ‘Badger’ obverse drew some excellent entries, but sentiment prevailed, and the Board of Governors retained the current design. The reverse of the 1969 Madison NOW medal depicts the seal of the state of Wisconsin.”

Struck in: Oroide (pictured), Pewter, Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

<< In 1969 the obverse design was re-worked because the original die was breaking down.

Note the slightly different lettering, badger, state outline, and positioning on the new obverse. Compare to the photo of the original obverse at the top of this article.

1970

-NOW NEWS Vol. 8, No. 2, 1970

“The historically significant 1970 NOW medal was designed by Green Bay club (Nicolet Coin Club) member Paul Boex. If you are unable to attend Green Bay NOW 1970, you can procure your medal from Gerald Johnson. The price is $1.00 plus a stamped envelope.”

The figures are Father Claude Allouez, who established St. Francis Xavier Mission, 1671; Nicolas Perrot, leader of Fort St. Francis, 1684, and first Governor of Northwest Territory; and an Outagamie Indian who held the Fox River and the surrounding country against French domination in the 18th century.

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter (pictured), Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1971

-NOW NEWS Vol. 9, No. 2, 1971

“An attractive rendering of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox ‘Babe’ is the central theme of this year’s NOW convention medal. Eighteen designs were submitted to NOW president Jim Medd and NOW secretary Mike Segersin who made Wesley Wittig of Wausau the winner with his ‘Paul Bunyan Land’ design.”

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter (pictured), Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1972

-NOW NEWS Vol. 10, No. 2, 1972

“Wisconsin’s architectural genius Frank Lloyd Wright will be sure to be recognized in bronze and silver when the 1972 NOW Medals are put on sale June 10 and 11 at the Park Motor Inn convention site in Madison. Wright’s most beautiful and famous Madison landmark, ‘Unitarian Meeting House’ will be the subject of the reverse design of this year’s medal. The original building, built in 1949, was designed by Wright and a later educational wing designed by his successors, The Taliesin Associated Architects”.

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter (pictured), Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1973

-NOW NEWS Vol. 11, No. 2, 1973

“A beautifully designed medal will commemorate the 1973 State NOW convention to be held in Racine…The design is the work of RNS president Don Frost. His own word describes the medal: The view depicted looks to the east showing the sunrise over Lake Michigan. The sun’s rays emanating and terminating at the border, seem to emblaze the inscription across the sky, thereby indicating the dawn of a new era for RNS, and perhaps another eventful 35 years. The lighthouse, of course, stands as a beacon to light man’s safe voyage across life’s troubled waters.”

Struck in: Polished silver alloy (pictured), Oroide, Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1974

-NOW NEWS Vol. 12, No. 2, 1974

“The seal of the City of Waukesha, which is the 1974 NOW medal reverse, taken from a Waukesha Library medal issued in 1901 for the purpose of raising money to build a new library in Waukesha.

-Excerpt from Common Counsel Minutes of the City of Waukesha, dated March 3, 1896:

RESOLVED, That the Seal of the City shall consist of a metallic disc, two inches in diameter, containing within an ornamental border the following device and legend, to wit: The device of an Indian girl dipping water with a gourd from a flowing spring. Above the device in a line parallel with the border words, ‘Seal of the City of Waukesha’ in the exergue in a curved line the word ‘Wisconsin’.”

Struck in: Oroide (pictured), Pewter, Silver overstrike (pictured). Mintage: Unknown

The 1974 silver overstrike example in the NOW archive very dramatically exhibits the host coin image through the overstrike. The Canadian dollar silhouette of Queen Elizabeth, canoe, and legend are obvious and - pardon the pun - striking.

1975

-NOW NEWS Vol. 13, No. 1, 1975

“This will be the reverse design for the 1975 NOW convention medal. [Stylized monograms of MNS and NOW] A slight change will be made in the lettering to ensure uniform balance. This design is the work of Mr. Doug Watson, of Waupaca, WI.”

Struck in: Oroide, Pewter (pictured), Silver overstrike. Mintage: Unknown

1976

NOW joined forces with the Brown County Historical Society to design the 1976 medal for the convention to be held in Madison. Breaking from the traditional obverse design to recognize the Nation’s Bicentennial. The reverse depicts Wisconsin’s oldest standing residence, ‘The Tank Cottage’ built in 1776.

-NOW NEWS Vol. 14, No. 3, 1976

“Green Bay’s historic ‘Tank Cottage’ is the subject of the official, limited edition, Wisconsin medallic salute to the nation’s 200th birthday. The issue is being jointly sponsored by the Brown County Historical Society and the Numismatists of Wisconsin. [This also breaks from the tradition of partnering with a host club to produce the medals.]

Wisconsin’s oldest standing residence, the Tank Cottage was built on the banks of the Fox River within the boundaries of Green Bay in 1776 by French-Canadian voyageur Joseph Roy.”

“The medal depicts the historic ‘Tank Cottage’ on the reverse and the seals of the sponsoring organizations, the Brown County Historical Society, and the Numismatists of Wisconsin on the obverse.”

Struck at the Franklin Mint in Proof Sterling Silver, Proof Bronze, and Production Bronze (pictured)

Mintage: Proof Sterling Silver, 1896; Proof Bronze, 1455; Production Bronze, 500.

1977

Big decisions concerning the convention medal were made by the NOW Board of Governors in 1977. It seems an abundance of medals were left over from the 1976 show, so it was determined that counterstamping those existing 1976 medals was the best course of action. The 1977 counterstamped medal was produced with mixed results, technically, aesthetically, and financially.

Fortunately, the 1977 medal committee kept copious records of the endeavor which we collectors can now appreciate.

-NOW NEWS Vol. 15, No. 2, 1977

“A special limited issue convention medal counterstamp was produced by the Numismatists of Wisconsin to commemorate its 17th annual convention held April 30 – May 1, 1977. Hosted by the Nicolet Coin Club, the show was held at the Brown County Arena in Green Bay, where a special [screw] press was set up on the convention floor to strike the counterstamps.”

“The official counterstamp, the first ever authorized by the organization, was struck on a remaining supply of the special Bicentennial medal struck under the group’s auspices in 1976. [In addition to those attending the show] A limited number of the counterstamped medals are being made available to interested collectors who were unable to attend the Green Bay convention.”

It is rather difficult to make out, but the counterstamp reads:

[ 17th ANNUAL NOW CONVENTION / Green Bay / Nicolet Coin Club / Host / April 30, May 1, 1977 ]

-within an outline of the state of Wisconsin.


Clifford Mishler commences
counterstamping with
the old coin press. Ca.1977

“Upon entering the bourse area, the first table to encounter was that promoting NOW along with a screw type coin press which was manned by our past president Cliff Mishler. State convention medals were being struck with a 1977 counterstamp being done with the old press.”

-NOW NEWS Vol. 15, No. 3, 1977

“In addition to the counterstamps produced on Tank Cottage medals during the Green Bay convention, a number of interesting strikes of the counterstamp were made on other numismatic specimens. These were produced on a maximum one-for-one basis for individuals who purchased specimens of the official counterstamp; i.e., it was required that one official medal counterstamp be purchased for each ‘special’ produced. The most interesting of these [special] pieces was a 1976 gold South African Krugerrand struck to the order of Kurt Krueger.”

At right is the South African Krugerrand that was struck for Kurt Krueger in 1977. It was acquired by William Burd in recent years, who inquired about the origins of the counterstamp, which we were able to identify for him. Bill generously offered to supply the image for this article. The photos were taken by Joe Rizdy.

-More from NOW NEWS Vol. 15, No. 3, 1977

1978

-NOW NEWS Vol. 16, No. 2, 1978

“A special limited issue convention medal counterstamp was made by the Numismatists of Wisconsin to commemorate its 18th Annual convention, held May 6-8, 1978, at the Eau Claire Civic Center. A special screw press was set up on the floor to strike the unique counterstamps.

The historic-theme counterstamp features a likeness of the famous eagle mascot ‘Old Abe’ of the 8th Regiment, Wisconsin’s best known outfit of the Civil War. This is the second year that the Numismatists of Wisconsin has commemorated its annual convention with an official counterstamp.”

The 1978 NOW convention was hosted by the Chippewa Valley Coin Club.

It is very hard to view the 1978 counterstamp. I was unable to discern the full stamp from the specimens in the NOW archives. You can make out ‘1978 / EAU CLAIRE / MAY 6-7. You can see the ‘FAM’ of FAMOUS, and the ‘AGLE’ of EAGLE, and portions of the eagle’s wing, but nothing more. A challenge for NOW members might be to find a complete, clear, 1978 counterstamp.

And so, the completion of the 1978 counterstamped medal ended the run of 16 consecutive years of NOW convention medals. In the 1979 NOW NEWS archive, there isn’t even a mention of a possible medal, or correspondence pertaining to discontinuing the tradition. It seems to have just stopped without explanation. Perhaps financial, technical, and practical considerations hampered the idea, or maybe, just plain lack of interest doomed the program. Whatever the reason, we can at least be grateful for 16 issues produced and the opportunity to collect them.

Fortunately, this is NOT the end of the NOW show medal saga. There are others! We jump to the year 2000, which started an irregular chain of special medals produced for a series of two-day shows in Iola, and one ANA show in Milwaukee.

2000

-NOW NEWS Vol. 38, No. 2, 2000

“By 1:00pm on Saturday, the staff operating the coin show registration table had dispensed the entire supply of 400 bronze examples of a special commemorative medal which had been produced as mementos of NOW’s 40th year milestone.”

The obverse of the 2000 show medal has the traditional NOW design within a center ring surrounded by the words: 1960 / 40th ANNIVERSARY EVENT / A RETURN TO OUR IOLA ROOTS / MAY 19-20 / 2000. The reverse is adorned with the Krause Publications logo. The NOW 40th Anniversary show was hosted by Krause Publications and held at the Iola Old Car Show activity center.

Struck in: Bronze and Proof Silver Bullion (pictured). Mintage: Bronze, 400; Silver, 40

2002

-NOW NEWS Vol. 40, No. 2, 2002

“A special commemorative medal was struck in conjunction with the NOW 42nd anniversary hosted by Krause Publications in Iola, May 17-18. The medal also commemorates the 50th year anniversary of the founding of Krause Publications, which dates from 1952 when the first issue of Numismatic News was published.”

The 2002 obverse carries the seal of the Numismatists of Wisconsin, along with the appropriate inscriptions relating to the event. The reverse features the Krause 50th anniversary logo.

The NOW 42nd Anniversary event was also held at the Iola Old Car Show activity center.

Struck in: Bronze (pictured) and Proof Silver Bullion. Mintage: Bronze, 450; Silver, 42

2005

-NOW NEWS Vol. 43, No. 2, 2005

“A pair of numismatic issues were produced in commemoration of the NOW 45th anniversary event hosted in Iola – The medal represents a resurrection of an annual tradition observed in the organization’s early years, but only infrequently invoked over the past two decades. Similar commemoratives were prepared for the 2000 and 2002 events also hosted in Iola. The obverse features NOW’s official emblem, accompanied by pertinent wording. The reverse of this year’s offering records the names of the hosts for the weekend; Chet Krause, Clifford Mishler, and Joel Edler.”

“Bronze examples of this commemorative were given to the first 450 registrants. A limited edition of 45 pieces were struck in pure silver…”

Struck in: Bronze and Proof Silver Bullion (pictured). Mintage: Bronze, 450; Silver, 45

2007

-NOW NEWS Vol. 45, No. 4, 2007

“The Numismatists of Wisconsin produced a special commemorative medal issue tied to its participation as a co-host of the 116th Anniversary of the American Numismatic Association convention in Milwaukee that presented a salute to Chester L. Krause. In addition to being the driving force behind the founding of NOW in 1960, Krause served as honorary chairman of the 2007 ANA convention. Krause’s portrait is featured on the reverse of the medal, while the obverse is a rendering of the official NOW emblem surrounded by the appropriate wording.”

“This medal was struck in bronze and silver versions and one unique specimen struck in pure gold that was presented to Chet. The issue is limited to 250 bronze examples, and 47 silver examples.”

Stuck in: Bronze (pictured), Proof Silver Bullion, Gold. Mintage: Bronze, 250; Silver, 47; Gold, 1.

2008

-NOW NEWS Vol. 46, No. 2, 2008

“A commemorative medal was again produced as a limited-edition souvenir of the 48th Anniversary of NOW hosted in Iola… This issue was limited to 480 specimens struck in a bright bronze finish and 48 struck on one-ounce pure silver planchets.”

The obverse depicts the traditional NOW emblem along with appropriate wording pertaining to the 48th Anniversary. The reverse names the hosts; Chet Krause, Clifford Mishler, and Joel Edler like the 2005 version.

Struck in: Bronze (pictured) and Proof Silver Bullion. Mintage: Bronze, 480; Silver, 48

2010

-NOW NEWS Vol. 48, No. 2, 2010

“NOW 50th Anniversary Medal. This year’s commemorative features a unique adaptation of the official NOW emblem on the obverse, based on a design evolved by Bruce Benoit and Clifford Mishler. The reverse features a portrait of Chester L. Krause, the NOW founding member who was assigned membership number one. The portrait is the same rendering as was used on the 2007 commemorative issue, and was sculpted by Thomas D. Rogers, Sr., a former sculptor and engraver at the United States Mint, whose credits include several commemorative and bullion coin designs, along with the reverse of the Sacagawea dollar (2000-2008).”

“The NOW 50th Anniversary medal was struck by the SilverTowne Mint. [500 were struck in bronze and 50 struck in pure silver]. A single example of the medal was also struck in fine gold and presented to Chet Krause in recognition of his leadership role in the establishment of the Numismatists of Wisconsin.”

Like 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2008, the 2010 NOW/Iola show was held at the Iola Old Car Show activity center.

Struck in: Bronze (pictured), Proof Silver Bullion, and Gold.
Mintage: Bronze, 500; silver, 50; Gold, 1

The tradition, history, and legacy of the NOW convention medals, the NOW/Iola special events medals, and the NOW/ANA medal make a wonderfully collectible pursuit for any NOW member or numismatist in general. These medals are attractive, were struck in limited numbers, and represent Wisconsin history and the history of the Numismatists of Wisconsin covering 60+ years.

Special Thanks to Cliff Mishler for providing memories and guidance in preparing this article. Also, much thanks to Bill Spencer, Bill Burd, and Bob Chambers for sharing information.


For a lucky few, there are some of these later-year NOW/Iola event medals still available. They will be sold on a first come first served basis:

2000 40th Anniversary – Silver - 40 struck – 3 available
2002 42nd Anniversary – Silver - 42 struck – 3 available
2005 45th Anniversary – Silver - 45 struck – 9 available
2008 48th Anniversary – Silver - 48 struck – 3 available
2010 50th Anniversary – Silver - 50 struck – 6 available

Price $35 each
________________________

2008 and 2010 Bronze. 2007 NOW/ANA Milwaukee Bronze. Also available.

Price $10 each
________________________

Make payments payable to: Numismatists of Wisconsin
Submit order to: Clifford Mishler, P.O. Box 316, Iola, WI 54945



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