Patrick A. Heller's 18-State Sales Tax Exemption Victory: The Rare Coin Industry's Hidden Legislative Win
The National Coin & Bullion Association honored Patrick A. Heller with its inaugural Legislative Champion Award at the 2026 membership dinner, recognizing his role in securing sales-tax exemptions for rare coins, numismatics, and bullion across 18 states. Active in six additional states during the past year, Heller's decades-long advocacy demonstrates how individual leadership shapes regulatory environments for the numismatic and precious metals industry.
The National Coin and Bullion Association (NCBA) held its annual membership dinner and awards ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 2026. The event recognized individuals and organizations for their work advancing state-level legislative campaigns and contributions to the precious metals and numismatic trade.
Patrick Heller Receives Inaugural Legislative Champion Award
The newly created Patrick A. Heller Legislative Champion Award went to Patrick A. Heller himself. Heller has worked for decades on state campaigns to secure sales tax exemptions for coins, currency, and precious metal bullion. He participated in efforts that resulted in exemptions across eighteen states: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. By 2026, he was also active in related campaigns in Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska, New York, and Virginia.
Coordinated Campaigns in Multiple States
In Maryland, Brett Stelfox received the Diane Pyle Distinguished Service Award for supporting passage of House Bill 309, which expanded precious metals sales tax exemptions across the state. Whitman Expo Inc. also received the Legislative Champion Award for supporting Maryland's coordinated efforts.
In Nebraska, Pat Moran was recognized for maintaining the state's exemption during discussions around Legislative Bill 1244. New York honorees Scott Hunt and William Panich received the award for opposing Senate Bill S7875. John Blash was recognized for his leadership role in Virginia's sales tax exemption expansion campaign.
Lifetime Achievement Across Six Decades in the Trade
The James U. Blanchard Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Terry Hanlon, who built a career spanning approximately sixty years in the precious metals and numismatic industry. Hanlon participated in the founding of Dillon Gage Metals in 1987 and later served as the company's chairman. He served as NCBA president (then known as the Tangible Assets Industry Council) from 1995 to 1998 and continues to serve on its board.
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