The American Numismatic Association (ANA) World’s Fair of Money is one of the most anticipated conventions of the year. The show moves around the country, and this year the flagship event was presented in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The show has been held in the city a few times in recent years, in large part thanks to the wonderful local volunteers who make the show possible. Pittsburgh is a charming city and has become a favorite for dealers and collectors from around the world.
The rare coin market has been enjoying a wave of positive developments that will make 2026 one of the best years for the hobby in recent memory. The two biggest factors have been the growth and impact of social media and the America250 celebrations. We will explore each of these in detail and how this played out at this year’s annual convention. Early reports from my fellow professionals ranged from “it was a great show” to “the best coin show of my career.” The 2026 World’s Fair of Money was a big success for everyone who attended.
Before the show
The ANA World’s Fair of Money is a long and exhausting event. The show officially opens to the public on Tuesday, but by then, there has already been literally millions of dollars’ worth of business conducted. Like many others, our company arrived on Saturday before the event and had arranged private showings of coins for Sunday to several clients. By Sunday afternoon, the host hotel was buzzing with activity, as dealers went from room to room giving early shots at their inventory. Like a lot of dealers, we all hate being there so early, but the fear of missing out (FOMO) is too strong.
By late Sunday afternoon, I could already tell that it was going to be a special week. Dealers were ravenous for inventory and prices were elevated. Sunday went by in a flash and after hours of intense business, everyone put their material in security and prepared for the next day.
Monday
Monday is the first day dealers are allowed onto the bourse floor, with about 50% opting in for the ANA Dealer Day. This added day allows dealers an early opportunity to set up their bourse tables and to have the chance to conduct wholesale business before the public is allowed in. Monday had traditionally been PNG Day in years past.
Despite some glitches the ANA experienced with a new badging system, the day was extremely busy from start to finish. Monday was also the start of the many after-hours events held throughout the week. Stack’s Bowers hosted an evening event at the beautiful Union Trust Building that was attended by dealers from around the world.
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Tuesday
The official ANA World’s Fair of Money started at noon on Tuesday, with a keynote address by our new US Mint Director, Paul Hollis. Shortly thereafter, the ribbon was cut, allowing the hundreds of collectors who had filled the hall a chance to pour in. The convention center in Pittsburgh is a cavernous hall, and there are no pillars blocking your view of the bourse. It’s impressive to witness, especially from the hallway that suspends above the convention floor.
Within a few minutes, the ANA World’s Fair of Money was an explosion of activity. Later that night, the ANA hosted a special event for donors at the Heinz Center. Several other competing events took place as well, including a PNG board dinner that I attended.
Wednesday
By Wednesday, collectors from around the world were enjoying the massive bourse and the many incredible numismatic displays that are a trademark of ANA shows. One of the highlights of the convention was the latest exhibit of the Tyrant Collection. The collection has been formed by famed billionaire collector Dan O’Dowd. The collection is billed as the “Most Valuable Private Coin Collection.” Based on this year’s exhibit and past exhibits, this claim is not an exaggeration. The Tyrant Collection this year featured Byzantine gold coins and other numismatic delicacies from the era.
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Thursday
Thursday was our craziest day of the show, and it seemed everyone had scheduled something special. My first commitment was a live podcast from the bourse conducted by the ANA. The ANA had invited several experts to discuss topics, and the event was live-streamed so collectors could participate in the show from their homes. Shortly after, the Coin of the Year awards were held, with China taking first place for its Chinese Dragon 10 Yuan silver coin.
Later that afternoon, our company conducted a special event at the NGC table. We had recently purchased around 9,000 Morgan Silver Dollars in original sealed bags from the 1950s. We opened one of the sealed bags at the NGC table for a crowd of about 50. Collectors and dealers of all ages enjoyed the excitement of our “Bag Reveal,” as dozens of beautifully toned coins emerged after nearly 75 years of storage. For those interested, the event can be seen on our YouTube channel.
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For the first time ever, all 11 coins were displayed with informative talks about the coin’s unique history. The US Mint also distributed the highly controversial Trump dollars for the first time, with a limit of five per person.
The new Mint Director, Paul Hollis, has a deep numismatic background and is a wonderful ambassador for the hobby. He was on hand all week meeting collectors and giving talks. His efforts for the hobby should be commended. He was at the convention on Saturday after most participants had left, giving an educational talk to young collectors.
Friday
The show started to wind down by Friday, as dealers and collectors began to melt away and start their trips home. Friday night was special for me, as I was awarded Numismatist of the Year at the annual ANA banquet dinner and ceremony. The award is very meaningful to me, and the recognition of my numismatic education efforts was greatly appreciated.
The 2026 ANA World’s Fair of Money was a huge success for our company and nearly every other in attendance. As mentioned above, the hobby is being buoyed by a few incredible tailwinds. Social media and streaming sales have turbo-charged numismatics. Hundreds of dealers, large and small, have started selling coins on the many streaming platforms that have been developed in the last few years. The demand for merchandise from these sellers is insatiable. In response, prices for many coins have started to increase sharply for the first time in years.
Social media has also brought an amazing number of young collectors into the hobby. They are connecting with one another through social media, and the ANA bourse was full of young people running around. It was exciting to witness.
Another positive has been the America250 celebrations and the focus on American history. The US Mint has issued one year-only circulating coinage for the nation’s semiquincentennial and has even thrown in some exciting special privy mark coins. These coins have thrilled collectors and the public alike, with many searching pocket change for the first time in years. There are more celebratory coins coming out this year, including the highly anticipated re-release of the 1907 High Relief Double Eagle.
The rare coin market seems to be firing on all cylinders now. The year 2026 will go down as a historic year for the hobby.
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