The Numismatic History of the Silk Road(s)
December 11, 2025, 12pm MT

The Silk Road has captured the public imagination and inspired museum exhibitions, coffee table books, cultural festivals, and archaeological programs over the last several decades. This is amazing considering the largely forgotten (at least in the west) history of Central Asia. Yet, this vast trade network began at the very end of the 1st millennium B.C. and operated almost continuously for more than 1,500 years involving Rome, China, and all of the regions in between them. Previous exhibits have focused mostly on the cultural objects, archeological remains, surviving narratives, etc., but relatively few have focused on the numismatic legacy of the Silk Road(s). This presentation will outline the history of the Silk Road(s) focusing on the coins that formed an integral part of the vast trade network across Eurasia. 

Douglas Mudd is the curator/director of the American Numismatic Association's Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is responsible for developing, planning, and content of the Museum's exhibition program and the organization and care of the ANA collections. He has created dozens of numismatic exhibits for the museum and for the ANA's semi-annual conventions. His recent work has expanded the museum's exhibits into the virtual world of the internet, including Trenches to Treaties: World War I in Remembrance, and Money of Empire: Elizabeth to Elizabeth.

The Art of American Coinage: Reflecting Values from 1792 to Today
January 8, 2026, 12pm MT

Coins are more than just a medium of exchange—they are miniature works of art that embody the values, beliefs, and ideals of the societies that create them. In this talk, we’ll explore how U.S. coinage, from 1792 to today, tells the evolving story of American identity. We'll trace the changing depictions of Liberty and how her image evolved in a rapidly changing world. We'll examine the symbolic meaning of her trappings, the contradictions of anti-slavery imagery on coins before the Civil War, and the complex representation of American Indians. Through these small objects, we’ll uncover how coins have both shaped and mirrored the nation’s cultural and political history.

Russ Bega began collecting U.S. coins when he was eight years old after a trip to his local coin shop in Northern Colorado. He was previously employed by Heritage Auction Galleries, before departing on a decade-long career as a U.S. Army Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer. In 2021 he joined the Harlan J. Berk team in Chicago, IL, where he is now the store manager. His specialty is Liberty Seated coins and 19th century numismatics.

When Money Fails: Post WWII Hungarian Hyperinflation
January 22, 2026, 12pm MT

As the Allies celebrated the end of the Second World War, some countries, such as Hungary, continued to suffer. Hungary was not only conquered by the Soviet Red Army, but they were thrust into economic turmoil and hyperinflation. The Hungarian Hyperinflation from 1945-1947 generated the highest denominations in history at that time, and the efforts to curb it were fought with creative administrative tactics. In the 2nd segment of the When Money Fails series, we will learn the economic and numismatic history that plagued Hungary.

Alexander Blough started collecting in 1998, has been an adult member of the ANA since 2013, and pursued his Master's in European History with a focus on Numismatics where he wrote his Master's Thesis on The Socioeconomic Impacts and Importance of Inflation and Hyperinflation in Europe During The Early 20th Century.