Numismatics : Coin World Magazine staff includes - Museum quality coin experts, an expert grader at Independent Coin Grading (ICG), a morgan dollar specialist, an attorney that writes about collectables law.

Meet the Editorial Staff

Beth Deisher is in her 26th year as editor of Coin World. She joined the staff in 1981 as news editor and served as executive editor before being tapped to lead the editorial team in 1985. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Beth is author of Making the Grade – A Grading Guide to the Top 50 Most Widely Collected U.S. Coins, has supervised updates of six editions of Coin World's Almanac and was founding editor of Coin World's Guide to U.S. Coins, Prices & Value Trends published annually since 1989. She is a fellow of the American Numismatic Society and holds memberships in many state, regional and national numismatic organizations, including the American Numismatic Association. In 2010 ANA recognized her contributions to numismatics by bestowing its highest honor, the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award. She was awarded the Numismatic Literary Guild's Clemy Award in 1995 and received the Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Journalistic Excellence in 2006.

William T. Gibbs, news editor, joined the Coin World editorial staff in 1976 as an assistant editor for "Collectors' Clearinghouse." Bill serves as chief copy editor for all Coin World publications and directs weekly editorial production aspects of Coin World. He has served as lead copy editor for all books published by Coin World since 1985 and is principal author of the cover topic for Coin World's Guide to U.S. Coins, Prices & Value Trends. Bill is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and majored in journalism.

Paul A. Gilkes, senior staff writer, has been a member of the Coin World since 1988. Paul covers the U.S. Mint beat and has memorably reported for more than two decades on many of the hobby's most important stories including the record sale of the Farouk/Fenton 1933 double eagle and the ongoing legal proceedings of the Langbord 1933 double eagles. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Grove City College in Pennsylvania and collects autographs and memorabilia from The Andy Griffith Show.

Fern Loomis, editorial assistant, proofreads each issue of Coin World and its ancillary publications. A graduate of Ohio State University, she taught English before joining Coin World in 1994. Fern was instrumental in the initial launch of Coin World on the Internet. She describes herself as an accidental cat collector, which precludes collecting much else.

Erik Martin joined the staff in 2005 and served as editor of Coin Values magazine until it became a section in Coin World's monthly Special Edition in January 2011. He continues to work with the Coin Values analyst team, writes Coin World's weekly "Readers Ask" column as well as writing news and features. He earned a bachelor of arts in English from Huntington University in Indiana.

Michele Orzano served as editor of Paper Money Values magazine and continues to edit Paper Money, now that it is a section of the monthly Special Edition. She joined the Coin World staff in 1985. She has written extensively on legislative and legal topics and has won major state and national awards in graphic design and feature and news writing. Michele was essential in Coin World's ambitious coverage of the 50 State quarters circulating commemorative coin program and since 1993 has written most of the paper money coverage. She graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Steve Roach, associate editor, has been deeply involved with numismatics for more than 20 years. Two years spent as a grader at ANACS, nearly three years at Heritage Auctions, and a stint as a paintings specialist at Christie's have given Steve a rich understanding of the hobby, its market and the unique personalities and exceptional objects that make collecting meaningful. He leads the Coin Valuing team, writes the weekly "Market Analysis" for U.S. coins, as well as covering the legislative and legal beats. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Michigan and a juris doctorate from Ohio State University.

Jeff Starck, senior staff writer, was Coin World's 2003 Margo Russell intern and joined the staff in 2004. Jeff has been a collector since childhood and fondly remembers the challenges of completing Whitman folders by pulling coins from circulation and searching rolls from the bank. His current collecting interest focuses on Missouri-related numismatics and exonumia. He is the primary writer for the World Coins section in the monthly Special Edition and is responsible for Coin World's coverage of world coins and weekly International page. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Webster University in St. Louis where he was editor-in-chief of its weekly student newspaper.

Meet the Columnists

Many dedicated numismatic writers and researchers have served as Coin World columnists since 1961. They have helped make Coin World the leading publication of the entire numismatic field and make up a literal "who's who" of the hobby. Current columnists include:

David T. Alexander provides the details and history long forgotten or previously unknown about the people and events behind the images on medals and coins in "The Research Desk."

Don Bailey, professional numismatist and specialist in Mexican coins, serves as retail pricing analyst for Mexican coins (1905 to current) and also keeps collectors posted on the state of the market in "Mexican Market Analysis."

Q. David Bowers, acclaimed as the most prolific writer and researcher in modern times, in "The Joys of Collecting," provides timely and fun-packed glimpses of collecting adventures and ideas.

Michael Bugeja, a coin collector since childhood and professor of journalism, guides new and beginning collectors through fun-packed and enriching expieriences in "Home Hobbyist."

Bruno Collin, numismatist and journalist of France, and Serge Pelletier, numismatist and journalist of Canada, team to keep collectors abreast of the latest news of nations that since 2002 have issued euro coins in "Euro View," published six times a year in the World Coins section of the Coin World's monthly Special Edition.

Allan Davisson, professional numismatist for more than 30 years, specializes in coins of England, Scotland and Ireland. He serves as Coin World's retail pricing analyst for British coins (1838 to current) and also provides commentary for "British Market Analysis."

Mike Diamond, error coin specialist, is lead author of Coin World's weekly "Collectors' Clearinghouse," which delves into how errors and varieties are created in U.S. coinage. He is also author of "World Errors" published six times a year in the World Coins section of Coin World's Special Edition.

Al Doyle scouts the bargains and neat paper money collectibles for budget-minded collector in "The Frugal Collector," published monthly in the Paper Money section of the Special Edition.

Michael Fahey, senior authenticator at ANACS, shares his expertise and tips in "Detecting Counterfeits" in the regular pages of Coin World and also guides collectors in learning to grade U.S. coins in his popular "First Grade" column published in the Coin Values section of the monthly Special Edition.

Michael Findlay, professional numismatist and Canadian coin specialist, updates retail values for Canadian coins (1858 to date) and provides market analysis for Canadian coins.

Arthur L. Friedberg, professional numismatist and expert in U.S. paper money and world gold coins, serves as pricing analyst for Coin World's Paper Money retail guide for federally issued paper money and also provides observations and insight about the paper money market monthly in "Paper Money Market Analysis." He also serves as pricing analyst for Euro Values covering retail prices for euro coins issued by 21 nations since 2002 and provides "Euro Market Analysis" for updates published in World Coins.

John Kraljevich, a noted expert in Early American numismatics, helps modern-day collectors explore coins and paper money of the pre-federal era in "Colonial Americana."

Brad Karoleff shares in "Designs of the Times" the fun and difficult-to-find information that makes collecting any of the Bust series of the early United States so intriguing.

Rita Laws provides collectors with interesting facts and timely ideas on how to form collections and where to find coins that depict subjects and themes on coins and medals in "Going Topical," published monthly in the World Coins section of the Special Edition.

Susan Maltby is a museum conservator and an expert in caring for and saving coins, paper money and other related objects. "Preserving Collectibles" includes priceless tips and practical ideas to help collectors safely store, exhibit and handle their coins and paper money.

Erik Martin answers reader inquiries regarding U.S. and world coins, paper money and exonumia in "Readers Ask," published weekly in Coin World.

Jeffrey Nichols, one of the world's leading experts on the economics of gold, silver and the platinum-group metals, takes readers behind the headlines to explain supply, demand, and other forces affecting prices in "Precious Metals Watch."

Ken Potter and John Wexler guide collectors through the exciting and sometimes frenzied world of coins displaying collectible differences from "normal" coins in "Varieties Notebook."

Fred Reed, a longtime collector and writer, documents historical events of numismatic importance in "The Week That Was."

Jeff Reichenberger is a coin collector, researcher and writer who looks at the lighter side of collecting from the angle of a "regular guy" in his "Low Relief" column.

Steve Roach, Coin World's associate editor, provides insight as to the direction of the rare coin market in his weekly "Market Analysis" and also monthly explores the world of modern coins, providing the back stories and spotting events that drive the market in "Making Moderns."

John Roberts, the director of attribution services for ANACS, uses expert photography and his wealth of knowledge to uncover the nuances of Morgan dollar varieties in "About VAMs."

Bill O'Rourke reveals the treasures he is finding as a result of his searches of rolls and bags of modern U.S. coins in "Found in Rolls."

Gerald Tebben goes behind the scenes and explores many offbeat trails in bringing to the forefront the long-lost information that makes coins so special in "Coin Lore."

David Vagi, ancient coins specialist, explores Greek, Roman and Byzantine coinage with a fresh and inviting prospective in "Ancients Today," published monthly in the World Coins section of the Special Edition.

Armen Vartian, an attorney, provides insight into and awareness of the laws that protect and the legal situations that affect collectors in "Collectibles and Law."

Wendell Wolka, a paper money collector and educator for more than 40 years, shares what makes paper money fun in "Collecting Paper."