Press Release
Nation's Only Museum of Minting Organizes
Gallery Mint Museum Foundation receives non-profit status, selects board, seeks donations and accreditation
(Eureka Springs, AR) - The only museum in the United States specifically dedicated to the 2400 year history of the minting of coins is rapidly becoming a realilty.
"We have selected a board of directors, we are designing a museum building and we have the beginnings of a world-class collection," says Ron Landis, president of the Gallery Mint Museum Foundation (GMM). "We are ready to start designing exhibits."
The GMM Foundation was recently awarded non-profit status by the state of Arkansas. "There are several international museums that treat the history of minting and here in America we have historic mint buildings. But until now there was no museum in North America that focuses specifically on the development of minting technologies. Now there is." Landis continues, "The art and technologies involved in the production of coins has made a profound impact on modern manufacturing methods in use today. Also, the contributions of the engraver throughout history has made a significant impact on the development of the economic system by providing the necessary talents to create coining dies, high security plates for intaglio printing of bank notes and postage stamps, as well as playing a major role in the development of the movable type system Mr. Gutenberg created over 500 years ago."
The concept of the living history museum will be unique in this country. Most of the machinery on display will actually be used during demonstrations of the processes used in the production of coinage in various periods. Of the highest interest among U. S. coin collectors will be a colonial era mint and a representation of the first U. S. Mint founded in 1792. The mint exhibit will actually produce replicas of our nation's first coinage during live demonstrations.
"We will always have the living history part of our educational outreach program," says Landis. "That's why Joe Rust and I started the workshops: To preserve the art of engraving. But a museum is more than its educational activities and we are going to be hiring a professional staff to design and run the facility and to oversee the collection."
As part of that dedication to professional standards, the GMM Foundation is working toward accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM). "We will be designing this museum from the ground up to obtain professional accreditation," says Landis. "GMM would be the only numismatic museum in the United States to have AAM accreditation."
GMM has now found a Board of Directors composed of historians, minting scholars, numismatic artists and museum professionals whose names are very familiar in the numismatic world.
The thirteen-member GMM Board includes Erik Goldstein, Curator of Mechanical Arts and numismatics at Colonial Williamsburg; John Kraljevich, numismatic researcher; Dick Johnson, founding editor of Coin World, a weekly hobby publication; Chris Madden, intaglio engraver for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; Edward C. Rochette, Executive Director emeritus of the American Numismatic Association; Ron Landis, Chief Engraver and co-founder of the Gallery Mint Museum; Greg Lambousy of the Louisiana State Museum; John Nebel, computer specialist and numismatic photographer, Mike Ellis, President of CONECA and error coin authenticator for ICG; Timothy Grat, chief coiner of the Gallery Mint; and Dick Doty, curator of the national coin collection at the Smithsonian Institute and well-known authority on minting technologies.
Board President Ron Landis noted that the new, non-profit numismatic museum was careful to select individuals with impeccable academic reputations and a passion for numismatics and minting technology to serve on the Board. "This is a 'Dream Team' Board with a clear understanding of our goals."
"What the museum means for Arkansas tourism, and especially Eureka Springs, is an attraction that will entice thousands of coin enthusiasts to come to Eureka in order to gain a better understanding of the minting methods used throughout history. We hope to appeal to the general public as well by instilling a better understanding and appreciation of the art of coin making."
Currently, the foundation is seeking a proper location in Eureka Springs but so far have been discouraged by the rising costs of real estate in the area. Landis added, "We may just decide to build it on the property adjacent to the Eureka Music Park located three miles south of town," (a property currently owned by Landis).
The foundation is now preparing fund-raising programs, and is now accepting tax-deductible donations as seed money for the new museum effort.
For more information about the Gallery Mint Museum Foundation, contact Mike Ellis at P. O. Box 101, Eureka Springs, AR 72632; by telephoning 479-253-5055 or toll free at 888-558-MINT (6468); by fax to 479-253-5056 or via email to gmmmike@arkansas.net.
