Born in New York City. Unmarried. Coin dealer in New York. He met Farran Zerbe in 1926. Zerbe found about 50 counterfeit coins in Werner's collection. Werner began a serious study of counterfeits assisted by Edward T. Newell and Howland Wood. He worked with the U. S. Secret Service to track down counterfeiters of commemorative half dollars in about 1934. He received the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award in 1959 and the ANA Medal of Merit.

Werner was a promoter who found a way to capitalize on historic events. He developed and patented a press to enclose Lincoln cents with an embossed copper shell. He produced a souvenir for the Admiral Byrd expedition and the Morro Castle disaster. In 1935 he attended the trial of Bruno Hauptman who was accused of kidnapping the son of Charles Lindbergh. Werner sold more than 25,000 souvenir cards at $.10 each. His largest issue was the Santa Claus cent with estimated distribution over 750,000 pieces.

Werner served as sergeant-at-arms for the ANA for 25 years, 1934 to 1961. He made contributions to establish the Edward T. Newell Memorial Award for contributions in the field of ancient numismatics and the Howland Wood Memorial Award for best exhibit at the ANA convention. He also contributed for the Farran Zerbe memorial Award for

distinguished service to the ANA. The first was awarded in 1951. In 1959 the award was presented to Werner. He died at home in New York City. In 1982 he was elected to the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame.

obit: BNR Aug 82; CW 7/28/82; NUM 95 Sep 1982 pages 2294-2295 DOB:SSDI