This week I took on research for another coin columnist, Donald J. Muniz. I found out a fewinteresting things about the first half of his life but the second half remains a mystery.

I started with his listing in the 1950 Census when he was five years old. He was living inRutherford, New Jersey, with his father, Ricardo Muniz, his mother Lydia Muniz and hisfourteen-year-old brother Richard. Ricardo was manager of the television receiver manufacturingdivision of the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc.

Donald John Muniz was married to Phyllis Nancy November on August 28, 1966. They had adaughter. In 1967, Donald J. Muniz graduated from Monmouth College with a B. A. degree ingovernment.

Ricardo, the father, joined the A.N.A. in 1943 as member 9513. Richard, the son, joined theA.N.A, in 1960 as member 35455. In 1962, Ricardo joined Richard in his coin business inMiami. Donald J. Muniz joined the A.N.A. in 1969 as member R-83581. It was about that timethat he joined his brother in the business.

Ed Reiter was one of the great writers of a coin column published in the Asbury Park Press, Hementioned Richard Muniz in a column in 1970.

Donald J. Muniz was frequently mentioned in one of the Ed Reiter columns as he offered anopinion on some aspect of the coin market. From 1971 through 1978, he was mentioned in aReiter column 39 times and his photo was included five times. His photo also appeared at coinshows mentioned in the Reiter column.

Donald is listed as president of Richard M. Muniz, Inc. in 1971. In October 1971, the companywas reorganized with Donald president for the new East Coast Coin Co. During 1971 to 1973,there were regular ads for East Coast Coin Co, in The Numismatist. These ads had hismembership number (63581) but did not include his name.

Donald was active with the Monmouth Coin Club and he was vice president in 1972. He was alife member of the Garden State Numismatic Association.

The February 17, 1973, issue of The Daily Record (Long Branch, NJ) included "CoinsConfidential," a column submitted by Donald J. Muniz. Subsequent columns were published onFebruary 24 and March 17, 1973. I looked around and could not find any other columns orinclusion in any other papers.

Title of his first column was "Buyer Beware." Near the end he stated, "The AmericanNumismatic Association (A.N.S.) is working hard to combat all the deceptions I've mentioned."Anyone can make a mistake, but that statement might have offended both the A.N.A. and theA.N.S. (They are not the same thing)

Also in 1973, The Daily Record was carrying the "Money Clips" column by Fred Reed. In theMarch 17, 1973, issue, both columns were published on different pages. The Reed columnscontinued after the Muniz columns were dropped.

In 1973, Muniz applied for membership in the Numismatic Literary Guild. In his application hestated that he contributed a numismatic column to six eastern newspapers. His membership wasaccepted. I did not find his by-line on any other item.

The New Jersey Numismatic Journal included a full-page ad for East Coast Coin InvestmentCompany in 1975.

"Although East Coast employs a staff of qualified representatives, all portfolios are personallyassembled by Donald J. Muniz, President of East Coast Coin Company. Mr. Muniz has beenactive in Coin Investments since the mid-fifties."

This did not explain that in the mid-fifties, Donald was ten years old.

In 1976, Muniz complained about the Bicentennial medals as reported in another Ed Reitercolumn:

East Coast Coin Auctions conducted sales in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

Along the way, Donald became an expert in numismatic investments. In 1976, he spoke at aninvestment diversification seminar in Baltimore. On February 17, 1978, there was an investmentseminar in Atlanta. The promotional material stated: "Featured speaker will be Donald J. Muniz,a recognized expert on 'the blending of financial planning strategies with the rare coinmedium.'"

In March of 1979, two collectors obtained judgments against Muniz for misrepresenting thevalue of coins sold. On February 13, 1980, a Monmouth County grand jury handed down a 29-count indictment against Muniz for defrauding 23 customers of $536,463. In June, he pleadedguilty to nine counts of the indictment. On August 4, 1980, Muniz was sentenced for 11 to 19years in state prison. In May, he was expelled from the A.N.A.

One unsatisfied customer was Dr, Michael J. Hyland. He withdrew $150,000 from his pensionfund to buy an investment portfolio of coins and stamps from Muniz. He then had the collectionappraised. The stamps declared to be worth $60,000 by Muniz were appraised to be worth lessthan $2,500. The coins declared to be worth $89, 950 were appraised at $28,700. The saleincluded a warranty that the collection could be returned for a refund within a year. Munizrefused to honor the warranty.

On March 28, 1980, a court issued a judgement of $150,000 against Muniz in favor of Dr.Hyland. It is unlikely that Dr. Hyland could collect on the judgement.

Across the hobby there are many similar stories of people with little knowledge of numismaticswho fall prey to a numismatic investment expert or telemarketer.Donald Muniz and Phyllis were divorced in 1980.

On August 6, 1982, the name of Donald John Muniz was legally changed to Donald JohnRoberts. The name change was probably intended to isolate himself from a bad reputation. Hisnew name is too common to trace without some context. I have no idea what he did in the secondhalf of his life.