Famous Women in Numismatics
Who are some famous women in Numismatics?
Here's a running list:
US Mint Directors
- Nellie Tayloe Ross (May 1933–April 1953)
- Eva Adams (October 1961–August 1969)
- Mary Brooks (September 1969–February 1977)
- Stella Hackel Sims (November 1977–April 1981)
- Donna Pope (July 1981–August 1991)
Engravers / Medalists
- Lea Ahlborn (Swedish Medalist) - Wikipedia - Lea Fredrika Ahlborn (née Lundgren) (18 February 1826 – 13 November 1897) was a famous Swedish artist and medallist.[1] She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts and the first woman to be appointed royal printmaker. The position of royal printmaker was counted as a public office, and thereby made her the first female official or civil servant in Sweden.[2]
- Elizabeth Jones (US Mint Chief Engraver)
- Laura Gardin Fraser
- Glenna Maxey Goodacre
- Heidi Wastweet (CCAC member)
Civil War Token Merchants
- Amelia Gavron
Collectors / Numismatists
- Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli Wikipedia - Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001) was a numismatist, and advisor to the US Mint. Together with her husband, Vladimir Clain-Stefalli (1914-1982), she built the National Numismatic Collection (NNC) at the Smithsonian Institution, from approximately 60,000 pieces in 1956 to over 960,000 pieces in 1982.
- Emery May Holden Norweb
- Jacquenette (Jacque) Cummings Ostheimer
- Nicole Kidman
- Penny Marshall
Dealers
- BJ Searls
- Catherine Bullowa
- Charmy Harker
- Bonnie Sabel - Albanese Rare Coins Bio - Forgive me for not revealing my age, as they say a lady never tells! I will say I’m proud of being a Grandmother to four great kids, Baileigh,Ty, Kameron and Olivia. They belong to my son Adam, and his beautiful wife Jenni. My daughter, Fawn just recently was married to her sweetheart Nathaniel. I’m always ready to share new photos or anecdotes regarding my family, they are always first in my heart. My hobbies include baseball, reading and collecting sports memorabilia. I have had the wonderful good fortune of working under the tutelage of respected numismatists such as Kathleen Duncan, Mark Feld, and more recently Kenny Duncan. So many coin dealers and clients have spent countless hours teaching me the nuances of their specific areas of expertise and I’m eternally grateful. I love coins! I’ve helped assemble finest known collections of Saint Gaudens, Commemoratives, 20th century type and early type coins as well. If pressured, I would admit my favorite coin is a monster toned Silver commemorative. I’m proud to work for a firm that’s motto is Honesty-Quality-Integrity. Whether you view yourself as a beginner, or advanced collector, I’d love to hear from you. I’ll do my best to find that one special coin or discuss your collecting goals.
- Laura Sperber
- Liz Kogan
Coin Figures
- Sacagawea
- Susan B. Anthony
- Lady Liberty
Comments
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That is a great list, I have no additions. Cheers, RickO
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Perhaps a category for journalists? I don’t have a list of names handy but I’ve seen plenty of women write great articles in various coin magazines.
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Laura Gardin Fraser
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."1 -
@DCW said:
Laura Gardin Fraser
Excellent! Added!
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How about Glenna Goodacre?
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."0 -
@DCW said:
How about Glenna Goodacre?Another great one! Added
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Charmy Harker needs to be in the dealer list (aka the Penny Lady)
WS
Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.0 -
Catherine Bullowa - dealer
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Maybe Virginia Culver? I know of her, but not a lot about her, so I'm not exactly sure if she fits on the list. President of TAMS from 1964-65 and the ANA from 1973-75. Also, the Executive Director of the Numismatic Literary Guild.
American Numismatic Association Governor 2023 to 2025 - My posts reflect my own thoughts and are not those of the ANA.My Numismatics with Kenny Twitter PageInstagram - numismatistkenny
My Numismatics with Kenny Blog Page Best viewed on a laptop or monitor.
ANA Life Member & Volunteer District Representative
2019 ANA Young Numismatist of the Year
Doing my best to introduce Young Numismatists and Young Adults into the hobby.
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@Boosibri said:
Is BJ Searls a dealer? I knew her only as the Set Registry lead at PCGSShe was with World-Wide Coin Investments, Ltd. before joining PCGS.
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Nicole Kidman with her ancient Judean coins.
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Queen Isabella
Dolly Madison
Many first spouses
Hellen KellerWorry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire0 -
Margo Russell. Beth Deisher. Ute Wartnberg.
Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.2 -
@PerryHall said:
Queen Isabella
Dolly Madison
Many first spouses
Hellen KellerThe dolly Madison is my favorite modern commem as well
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Elizabeth Jones
Edited to add this recent blog post by Ute Wartenberg.
Jesse C. Kraft, Ph.D.
Resolute Americana Curator of American Numismatics
American Numismatic Society
New York City
Member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), British Numismatic Society (BNS), New York Numismatic Club (NYNC), Early American Copper (EAC), the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4), U.S. Mexican Numismatic Association (USMNA), Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC), Token and Medal Society (TAMS), and life member of the Atlantic County Numismatic Society (ACNS).
Become a member of the American Numismatic Society!2 -
@johnny9434 said:
@PerryHall said:
Queen Isabella
Dolly Madison
Many first spouses
Hellen KellerThe dolly Madison is my favorite modern commem as well
Yup. It's also my favorite bust dollar.

Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire0 -
Kathleen Duncan (Pinnacle Rarities) and Bonnie Sabel (Albanese Rare Coins) are a couple of highly respected dealers.
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Great post! Did not know Nicole Kidman was a collector! Is she a member of the forum? Asking for a friend.
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@PerryHall said:
@johnny9434 said:
@PerryHall said:
Queen Isabella
Dolly Madison
Many first spouses
Hellen KellerThe dolly Madison is my favorite modern commem as well
Yup. It's also my favorite bust dollar.

🙂
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Lily Tomlin, her ancient coins can be found on display at the Getty Villa.
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Penny Marshall was a coin collector at one time.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire0 -
How about women sharpshooters? Annie Oakley (1860-1926) shot coins out of the air I believe.....
bob
Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com0 -
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I believe Kristin Chenoweth collects quarters (I heard of some Long beach citings before)
Margaretha Ley, a prominent fashion designer who had a fantastic collection of ancient coins, from which this aureus of Vespasian originated (after being excavated in 1895 from the ash of Mt. Vesuvius in a villa outside of Pompeii):
Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection0 -
Sarah Sophia Banks.
Despite collecting in the late 18th century, her brief comments about coins have created some of the biggest stirs in numismatics over the past few years.Jesse C. Kraft, Ph.D.
Resolute Americana Curator of American Numismatics
American Numismatic Society
New York City
Member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), British Numismatic Society (BNS), New York Numismatic Club (NYNC), Early American Copper (EAC), the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4), U.S. Mexican Numismatic Association (USMNA), Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC), Token and Medal Society (TAMS), and life member of the Atlantic County Numismatic Society (ACNS).
Become a member of the American Numismatic Society!1 -
Thread Revival
I just read the latest Hot Topics and wanted to thank all the women in our hobby!
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Let's add Lea Ahlborn, the 19th century Swedish medalist, who also made some well-known American medals.
ANS Charles Anthon medal
ANS NYC Evacuation medal
Joseph Mickley medal--
Ed. S.
(EJS)0 -
Elvira Clain-Stefanelli - numismatist
Bonnie Sabel - dealerJohn
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution0
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