National Coin & Bullion Association Honors Industry Leaders During Annual Membership Dinner and Awards Ceremony

The event was conducted in conjunction with the American Numismatic Association’s 2026 World’s Fair of Money and brought together dealers, collectors, industry executives, and legislative advocates from across the country.

One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the inaugural Patrick A. Heller Legislative Champion Award to longtime industry advocate Patrick A. Heller. The award was renamed this year in recognition of Heller’s decades of volunteer service and leadership on state-level campaigns seeking sales-tax exemptions for coins, paper money, and precious-metals bullion.

Throughout his career, Heller has played a major role in successful exemption efforts and legislative advocacy campaigns in numerous states: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the last year, he has been actively involved in campaigns in Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska, New York, and Virginia.

The association also recognized several other individuals and organizations for their contributions to successful legislative efforts during the 2026 session:

• Ashley Sandoval received the Diane Piret Outstanding Service Award for leading Colorado’s successful effort to preserve the state’s sales-tax exemption on coins and bullion.
• The Colorado Professional Numismatists Association received the Patrick A. Heller Legislative Champion Award for coordinating grassroots advocacy efforts in Colorado. Association president Tom Hallenbeck accepted the award on its behalf.
• Brett Stelfox received the Diane Piret Outstanding Service Award for his work supporting passage of Maryland Senate Bill 309, which expanded Maryland’s precious-metals sales-tax exemption statewide.
• Whitman Expos received the Patrick A. Heller Legislative Champion Award for supporting Maryland’s successful coalition effort. This award was accepted by their chief operating officer, Michael Pfeiffer.

• Pat Moran received the Diane Piret Outstanding Service Award for helping lead efforts to preserve Nebraska’s exemption during debate over Legislative Bill 1244.
• Scott Hunt and William “Bill” Panitch each received the Diane Piret Outstanding Service Award for their advocacy efforts opposing New York Senate Bill S7875.
• John Brush received the Diane Piret Outstanding Service Award for leadership during Virginia’s successful campaign to extend its bullion and legal-tender sales-tax exemption.

The evening concluded with presentation of the James U. Blanchard Lifetime Achievement Award to Terry Hanlon, recognizing nearly six decades of leadership and service within the precious-metals and numismatic industries.

Hanlon helped build Dallas Gold and Silver into an industry leader before joining Dillon Gage in 1987 to launch Dillon Gage Metals, where he served as president. Under his leadership, the company grew into one of the nation’s largest diversified precious-metals enterprises. Hanlon also served as chairman of NCBA (then the Industry Council for Tangible Assets) from 1995 to 1998. He remains a board member to this day.

“The individuals and organizations recognized this year represent the very best of our industry,” NCBA executive director David Crenshaw said. “Their advocacy, leadership, and commitment continue to protect and strengthen the numismatic and precious-metals marketplace nationwide.”

The NCBA Annual Membership Dinner and Awards Ceremony is one of the association’s signature events, held each year during the ANA World’s Fair of Money.

For additional information about the National Coin & Bullion Association and its legislative initiatives, visit ncbassoc.org.