The Rare Coin Estate Handbook

The Rare Coin Estate Handbook is a step-by-step guide to estate planning for coin collectors. From record keeping to disposition methods, this handy primer cuts right to the chase on every topic. It is mostly written to the active collector, but pertinent chapters also have “Tips for Heirs” sections to aid non-numismatists in avoiding common pitfalls when inheriting a collection (and once you've read this book, its convenient size makes it perfect for inclusion alongside your collection in a bank vault or safe deposit box).

Written by three owners of Heritage Coin, the world’s largest and most respected rare coin dealer and auctioneer, The Rare Coin Estate Handbook offers sound advice and the experience gained from billions of dollars in coin transactions over four decades.

R. STEVEN IVY is the founder of Heritage Capital Corporation and its affiliates, which comprise the world’s largest rare coin firm. Since beginning collecting as a pre-teen in 1959, Steve has remained at the forefront of the rare coin business. He rented his first bourse table at 12, placed national coin ads at 13 and opened a retail storefront at 20. Over the next decade, Steve Ivy Rare Coins was incorporated, added an auction house and became a force in the marketplace. Through it all, Steve’s boundless energy allowed him to manage the business functions of the company as well as serve as chief numismatist. In 1983, Steve merged his business with Jim Halperin, and the Heritage family of companies was born. Now in his fifth decade in the business, Steve directs the strategic planning for all of the affiliates as well as overseeing the day-to-day business operations. He also remains active in the numismatic side of the business, attending all major coin shows. Currently, Steve serves on the Board of the Professional Numismatists Guild and is a life member of the American Numismatic Association.

JAMES L. HALPERIN, Heritage’s co-founder, "may be the greatest coin mind of all time," according to David Hall, founder and CEO of both the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Coin Universe. Hall went on to call Halperin the "Michael Jordan of numismatics," and with good reason. Since discovering a near photographic memory for coins as a teenager, Jim has continuously stayed on the cutting edge of the business and performed feats that have left those who know him in a constant state of awe. Arguably the finest grading "eye" in the business, Halperin’s 1986 book, How to Grade U.S. Coins, set the core standards for the major grading services. Earlier, he was the first to use a mainframe computer system in numismatics. This catapulted his company to the top of the industry and in 1983, he merged businesses with Steve Ivy to form Heritage. A surprising percentage of the successful coin dealers in America have learned their craft working under Jim at one time or another. A former governor and life member of the American Numismatic Association, Jim is also a member of the Professional Numismatists Guild.

GREGORY J. ROHAN, is a partner at Heritage with direct responsibility for all corporate functions involving rare coins. A numismatic prodigy who ran a successful rare coin business while still in high school, Greg has bought and sold millions of dollars in rare coins, including many famous rarities such as the 1804 silver dollar. He was instrumental in Heritage’s Guinness World Record purchase of the Trompeter Collection for $15,177,000. With over three decades in the business, Greg is intimately familiar with the handling of rare coins in estates and trusts, particularly where timing and taxation is an issue. He holds memberships in the Professional Numismatists Guild, the American Numismatic Association, the Appraiser’s Association of America, and many other numismatic and professional organizations.

About the Editor:

C. WILLIAM ROSSMAN is a Senior Numismatist at Heritage. A numismatist since 1960, Will is a life member and former governor of the American Numismatic Association, and has been designated a Master Numismatist by that organization's School of Numismatics. He also holds memberships in the Professional Numismatists Guild, the Numismatic Literary Guild and many other national and regional organizations.