GUIDELINES FOR TAMS MISHLER EXONUMIA CATALOGING AWARDS
The purpose of this award is the encouragement and recognition of exonumia cataloging efforts by members of the Token and Medal Society. It was initially sponsored by Clifford Mishler, in the name of his wife, to recognize the time and effort of those who undertake cataloging efforts.
To qualify for an award, a work must present an inclusive coverage of a defined series, and must be presented in a published and readily available, general distribution form. It must be an original work, or a full revision by a new author of an earlier effort. Second editions, revisions of earlier catalogs, or new treatments of a subject matter previously cataloged by the same author, do not qualify. The work must be solely or obviously devoted to a subject which falls within the field of exonumia.
Length, in itself, is not to be a determining factor when considering a work for an award. Rather, the determination is to be based upon the pioneering and/or lasting value of the effort to the exonumia field.
Three classes of awards gold, silver, and bronze are provided for each year. However, depending on the quality of the works in consideration for a given year, the committee may decide not to award all classes of award.
The copyright date of a book is used to determine the year in which it qualifies for consideration. Since some books are not released until a few months into the year following the copyright year, the awards committee members should not make their decisions until at least May.
Balloting will be by a committee of three or more, at the discretion of the awards committee chairman (normally the TAMS 2nd vice president). The TAMS librarian is usually asked to serve as one of the committee members.
(revised April 1988)
