Michael Fuljenz has been named the 2021 Dealer of the Year by the Congressionally-chartered American Numismatic Association (ANA). As the official bullion and rare coin expert of NRA Publications, Fuljenz has been a treasured benefactor of the National Rifle Association and is a recipient of NRA's Ring of Freedom Award. He's also been a longtime supporter of NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe program. Additionally, Fuljenz has been a featured speaker on the topic of precious medals at the association's Freedom First financial seminars.
"“[Fuljenz] is not only an outstanding numismatic educator and community leader, but he has also helped many collectors and dealers who were victims of fraud," the ANA noted in a statement announcing him as Dealer of the Year. In one instance, Fuljenz aided a Louisiana doctor in getting a $1 million refund from a merchant who had sold him counterfeit gold coins.
“I am truly grateful for the Dealer of the Year recognition from such a renowned, national organization as the American Numismatic Association. All my professional and personal life, from teaching high school chemistry and physics to active involvement in the community and leading a prominent, nationwide rare coin and precious metals dealership, I have strived to provide both useful education and the highest quality products and service,” Fuljenz said.
Fuljenz has been known as America's Gold Expert for more than 30 years, and he has run counterfeit detection seminars across the country. Additionally, he's aided law-enforcement agencies in solving numismatic-related crimes. He has won more than 60 prestigious national and regional honors for his consumer education and protection work in rare coins and precious metals, including awards from the Press Club of Southeast Texas, the Numismatic Literary Guild and has been honored as Humanitarian of the Year by Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from McNeese State University in 2015.
A respected community leader for his tireless volunteer work on behalf of Lamar University and other educational, athletic, civic, and church organizations in his hometown of Beaumont, Mike also has served with distinction as a consultant to the Better Business Bureau, Texas Attorney General, Federal Trade Commission, United States Mint and Royal Canadian Mint. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the influential National Coin & Bullion Association, Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas, and is a member of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) and is a PNG Accredited Precious Metals Dealer.
His free, weekly Metals Market Report is available online at MikeFuljenz.com.
The American Numismatic Association’s Dealer of the Year award is presented annually since 2009 to honor a professional numismatist who shows uncommon dedication to strengthening the hobby and the association, and who displays exemplary ethical standards as a numismatic dealer. The association’s headquarters are in Colorado.
