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Barry Stuppler Living and Loving Numismatics This professional doesn’t know when to quit, nor does he want to Courtesy of Numismatist, November 2004. "Numismatics is my life. I love it," confesses Barry S. Stuppler, now in his fourth year as a member of the ANA Board of Governors. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he settled in Southern California in 1950. There Stuppler and his wife of 22 years, Lonnie, raised four children, and he began his career as a numismatic professional and publisher. When he says coins are his life, he means it. "Most of my friends are numismatists," notes Stuppler. "I’m usually up until 2 a.m., corresponding with collectors on the Internet. I take my laptop computer when I go on vacation so I can respond promptly to my e-mail." Aside from serving as president of Barry Stuppler & Company, Inc., he is president of the California Coin & Bullion Merchants Association and chairman of the ANA’s Dealer Relations Committee. Stuppler is chairman of the Professional Numismatists Guild’s Consumer Protection Committee, and in 2004 was honored with the organization’s prestigious Abe Kosoff Founders Award. He also is a founder and serves on the board of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, an organization that lobbies in Washington on behalf of the numismatic industry. In 2003 he was appointed by California Governor Gray Davis to the State Commemorative Quarter Selection Committee. Stuppler is known for his passion as a consumer protection advocate. "Many first-time buyers of coins and paper currency invest money before investing time to learn how to protect themselves," he says. "The ANA offers seminars and correspondence courses to help newcomers avoid costly mistakes, such as purchasing overgraded, counterfeit or altered coins." According to Stuppler, knowledge is the key. "It’s important that we educate ‘newbies’ so they won’t make a major misstep that could turn them off to the hobby. The ANA can help beginners develop a numismatic strategy by focusing on coins or paper money that are interesting and rewarding for them." To get the message across, Stuppler writes articles, appears in radio and TV interviews, and posts information on his websites (coinmag.com and GoldNewsToday.com). "I encourage beginners to look at coin values, grades and availability. They should establish a numismatic goal and make sure they have adequate time, funding, knowledge and guidance to achieve it." Stuppler obviously follows his own advice, carving out a niche in the numismatic community he calls home. | |||||||||||||||||
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