American Numismatic Association Bestows Highest Award to Jim Halperin, Adds Modern Numismatists to Hall of Fame

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is presenting its Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award and Hall of Fame honors to those who have left indelible marks within the numismatic community. The recipients will be recognized during the 134th Anniversary Banquet at the World's Fair of Money® in Oklahoma City, August 19-23. 

Owner and co-chairman of Heritage Auctions Jim Halperin is the 2025 recipient of the ANA's highest honor, the Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award. Driven by curiosity and creativity, he was born with a business acumen that is evident in his many successful endeavors throughout his life.

It started with lemonade stands and comic book dealing at age 11, and by the time he was in college, he had formed a rare-stamp and coin business. By his third semester at Harvard, Halperin realized the demand for coins would be far greater if dealers used the same grading standard for both buying and selling, so he left school to establish New England Rare Coin Galleries. In 1982 he merged the business with his friend Steve Ivy's company to create Heritage Auctions.

During the last three decades of the 20th century, Halperin was widely considered the most successful coin dealer in America, far outselling every other numismatic dealer. His innovative ideas fed Heritage Auctions a rich diet—the company is now the most popular online auction house in the world, with total sales exceeding $1.86 billion last year. A highly respected numismatist and philanthropist, Halperin has also been a stalwart supporter of the ANA for many years.

To recognize the most important collectors, scholars, and hobby professionals of all time, the American Numismatic Association maintains the Numismatic Hall of Fame (HOF) at its Colorado Springs headquarters. ANA historian Jack W. Ogilvie proposed the Hall of Fame in the mid-1960s. By 1969 bylaws were drafted, and the HOF inducted its first honorees. Honorees are now added annually, based on Modern Era and Historic Era criteria. In 2025 beloved researcher David W. Lange (1958-2023) and ANA Past President Kenneth Hallenbeck (1931-present) join the HOF's ranks.

David W. Lange was a highly respected researcher, prolific author, and longtime director of numismatic research for Numismatic Guaranty Company. Over a 50-year span, Lange published nearly 1,000 articles and six books, including pioneering work on coin-collecting boards and folders. From 1988 to 2022, he contributed the popular "USA Coin Album" column to The Numismatist. He received numerous accolades during his career, including the ANA Lifetime Achievement Award and Numismatist of the Year honors, as well as the 2023 Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing.

Kenneth Hallenbeck, a former ANA president (1989-91) and Colorado Springs-based coin expert, has served the Association in nearly every capacity—from executive leadership to hands-on mentorship. Known for his integrity, warmth, and dedication to numismatic education, Hallenbeck plays a pivotal role in strengthening the ANA's mission and fostering community at local and national levels. He was honored with the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service and the Numismatic Ambassador Award, among others.

The ANA World's Fair of Money is being hosted at the Oklahoma Convention Center in Oklahoma City, OK. The show brings coin collectors together from all over the world, featuring hundreds of dealers, displays of rare treasures, educational opportunities, family activities, and more.