Born in New York City. Married to (1) Ruby; (2) Frances M.; and (3) Laurese Byrd Gordon Katen February 22, 1964. She had one and he had three children by previous marriages. Employed as assistant director of industrial relations for Worthington Pump.

Katen began collecting in 1937. In business with Milford Coin and Stamp in New Haven, Connecticut in 1944. He moved to Washington D. C. by 1958. They conducted 69 auction sales with 107,337 lots 1946 to 1990. Secretary of the American Coin Dealers Association, Inc. Past president of Milford (CN) Coin Club, New Haven Numismatic Society and Nation's Capital Coin Club.

Katen conducted the 1948 ANA convention sale. Shortly afterward he published Katen's Koin Kapers. His editorials were critical of the ANA election procedures. One charge was that ANA Secretary Lewis Reagan rigged the 1950 ANA election. The May 1950 issue of The Numismatistannounced the expulsion of Katen. No reason was given. In 1971 the ANA Board restored Katen's membership and apologized. He was awarded the Medal of Merit in 1978. His ads resumed in The Numismatist in 1983.

[John Lupia reported that he was born as Francesco Giuseppe Cincinnati Catanzariti in Plait, Italy.]

profile: NN 6/30/92 see: ANAHist 758-761