MPC Fest announces new name of annual National Champion award

For over twenty years collectors of military currency and related objects have eagerly awaitedthe announcement of the winner of the annual National Championship competition held at MPCFest. Each night of Fest attendees are matched against each other in a brackets-style competitiontesting their knowledge of military numismatics, including contents of (World WarTwo Remembered: History in Your Hands, also known as Schwan-Boling) as well as materialdiscovered through subsequent research. Each winner receives the title National Champion, anda silver Fest challenge coin of the year engraved Notable three-time winnersinclude Neil Shafer, Jim Downey, Bill Myers, and Fred Schwan. By tradition these four haveretired from the competition, to give aspiring contenders a chance at winning! This hard-earnedaward has never had a formal name, but this year, that will change.

MPC Fest, to honor one of our senior knowledge-bearers and sharers, and to celebrate the returnto an in-person event after three years away, is deeply pleased to announce the naming of theaward the

A beloved andrespected member of the Fest community and the wider numismatic world, Mr. Shafer'sinfluence on the hobby cannot be overstated. His life is full of fascinating stories and hisbiography would fill many pages, but here are a few highlights. He has been an active collectorand numismatist since the 1940s. He is a recipient of the ANA's Farran Zerbe Memorial Awardfor Distinguished Service in 2014, and the NLG Clemy Award in 2004, among other awards toonumerous to list. He is a life member of many numismatic organizations including ANA, IBNS(and an early inductee to the IBNS Hall of Fame), SPMC, Philippine Numismatic andAntiquarian Society, many local and state clubs, and-for 20 plus years- a member of MPCFest. A true educator and evangelist for numismatists, Mr. Shafer has written for every majorpublication, many smaller and local publications, has taught at ANA Summer Seminar, and hasmade presentations at an uncountable assortment of organizations, including over fifteen staffbriefings at MPC Fest.

He served in the USAF, as a violist in the USAF Symphony Orchestra,from 1955 to 1959. Mr. Shafer is also famous throughout the MPC and wider numismaticcommunities for his which accompanies him at all times. From this bag heextracts just exactly the one collectible that you had not realized you needed, had not budgetedfor, but which you absolutely HAD to acquire before he could offer it to someone else!

As always, this year's Fest, Fest 24, will be held at Camp Leo May, Port Clinton, Ohio (PortClinton-Catawba Island Holiday Inn Express), from March 16th to March 19th. The keynotespeaker will be Thomas J. Sparks, speaking on Register by calling 419-732-7322. And watch thisand other numismatic publications for announcement of this year's winner, the first to beawarded the Neil Shafer Military Numismatics National Champion Award!

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
2018 SPMC Hall of Fame Inductees(https://www.spmc.org/hall-of-fame?field_induction_year_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2018)

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SHAFER WINS NLG'S "CLEMMY"(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n36a05.html)
NEIL SHAFER'S 'MONEY OF THE PEOPLE' COLLECTION(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n20a32.html)
SHORT SNORTER EXHIBIT COMING TO PHOENIX(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n06a26.html)