Bringing history and value into focus

When I was seven years old, I found a 1918-D Buffalo Nickel lying on the ground while exploring a ghost town with my mother.

Not realizing what I had discovered, my seven-year-old brain just about exploded with excitement! Luckily, my grandfather — a longtime numismatist — was there to teach me about Buffalo Nickels and introduce me to the beauty and history behind U.S. coins of all denominations.

From that day on, I developed a deep love and appreciation for the stories and artistry behind American coinage.

Starting so young, however, wasn’t always easy. Without grading companies, online auction houses, or resources to verify purchases, I often found myself taken advantage of by less-than-honest dealers. Back then, deals were made on handshakes at coin shops and coin shows — and both parties had to trust (or hope) that grades and values were fairly represented.

I learned many expensive lessons the hard way — buying coins that were overgraded and overpriced simply because I lacked the knowledge to know better.

These early experiences drove me to learn everything I could about coin grading, valuation, and authentication. I became passionate about understanding how to accurately assess a coin’s true condition and market value — and more importantly, how to protect collectors from being taken advantage of.

Today, through my Livestream Auction shows on Whatnot and through The Educational Numismatist, I enjoy sharing this knowledge with others.

I started this channel to make numismatic education accessible to anyone, anytime, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned collector looking to sharpen your skills.

After all these years, my goal is simple:
To bring history, knowledge, and value into focus — and to help protect collectors from scams and misinformation.