Leon Hendrickson named Numismatist of the Year

Coin collecting is

Silver Towne owner's

lifelong dedication

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

Prominent Winchester businessman Leon Hendrickson was recently named the American Numismatic Association's 2008 Numismatist of the Year. The award was given for Hendrickson's many contributions to the hobby of coin collecting. He will receive the award during an ANA Membership Reception Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. during the World's Fair of Money in Baltimore.

Hendrickson is widely known as the founder and president of Silver Towne, a coin dealership and mint he founded in 1949 in Winchester. He began by selling coins out a cigar box stashed under the counter of his Winchester restaurant and the business grew from there. Today, Silver Towne employs 100 people and features a coin shop, jewelry and collectibles departments, as well as a custom mint.

"It's just beyond my imagination how much business is out there but the hobby's fellowship has meant so much more to me than the money," Hendrickson said.

Hendrickson is an active member of more than 30 numismatic organizations and a tireless advocate and promoter of the hobby. He is a former president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, Central States Numismatic Society and the Indiana State Numismatic Association.

An ANA life member, Hendrickson previously was awarded the ANA Medal of Merit (1990) and Presidential Award (2003). He has received lifetime achievement awards from the National Silver Dollar Roundtable, the Blue Ridge Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild.

"Whenever the hobby community has presented a challenge to him with a request for his participation, Hendrickson has simply done what was asked and what was right," said ANA Governor Clifford Mishler. "He always has time for the individual collector seeking information or a marketplace for buying or selling coins. It doesn't matter if the object is a proof set or an 1804 dollar."

The ANA Numismatist of the Year Award is given annually for career achievement in the field of numismatics. Past winners include John Dannreuther (2007), Mark Salzberg (2006), Adna G. Wilde (2005) and Kenneth E. Bressett (2004).