(L2024)

Born in Boston, Massachusetts. Attended Harvard but left after three semesters. Married to Gayle Ziaks August 5, 1984, with two sons.

Full time coin dealer since age 16 when he opened Jim's Stamp & Coin Shop. PNG member after 1990. Principal in New England Rare Coin Galleries. Their auction branch conducted 29 sales from 1975 to 1982.

He was involved with the early use of computer technology for coin dealers and auction firms. Principal with Steve Ivy in the firm of Heritage Rare Coin Galleries after 1983. They have conducted auctions since 1983. He served on the ANA board of governors 1989 to 1991. He received the ANA Glenn Smedley Memorial Award in 1991, Medal of Merit in 2007 and NLG Clemmy Award. He collects twentieth century art.

He contributed the "Membership Matters" column to Numismatic News. Author of How to Grade US Coins (1990), U.S. Coin Values and N.C.I. Grading Guide.

He is also the author of two novels, The Truth Machine (1996) and The First Immortal (1997).

In 2013 he was inducted into the PCGS CoinFacts Coin Dealer Hall of Fame. In 2021 he was on the Coin World list of The Most Influential People in Numismatics 1960-2020. He made the list again in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2025 he made their Top 10 list. Later in 2025, he was honored with the ANA Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award.

bio by interview 8/17/91; Conaut 157