As I continue my journey from the tech world into professional numismatics, I’m always looking for opportunities to deepen my industry knowledge. That’s why I was thrilled to attend the Stack's Bowers Professional Numismatist Program in Costa Mesa, California this past July. Over five intensive days, I joined 24 other scholarship recipients for a comprehensive deep dive into the numismatics industry. We covered everything from auctioneering and photography to financial trading and cutting-edge technology.

Given that the program typically accepts candidates aged 18-25, I was honestly surprised to be selected. However, as I build out Numi, my automated AI coin-sorting robot, and transition into my new career, I knew the program would be invaluable. Imagine my surprise when I received the acceptance email! It turned out I was the only person over the age limit (who wasn't already a Stack's employee) accepted this year.

Here's how the week went.

Welcome Dinner

The event kicked off with a welcome dinner and pool party at the home of a Stack's executive. While I met many new faces, it was a pleasant surprise to see familiar ones from the ANA Summer Seminar, as well as people I've been talking with for years on Instagram. It was here that I met Larry Stendebach, one of the head technical leaders at Stack's. When I walked over to introduce myself, he got visibly excited when he heard my name. He explained that he had personally seen my application and told the program team, "I want this guy here." We had a great chat about all things AI and coins. It's rare to come across someone at the intersection of tech and numismatics, much less someone as accomplished as Larry.

The program may have started off with a pool party, but the week had only just begun.

Day 1

When I walked into the room, I noticed that all the seats were preassigned. Turns out I was assigned to the front of the class 😅. Each day had a packed schedule.

Day 1 Class Schedule

• ^{8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast}
• ^{9:00am - 11:00am: Advanced Coin Grading}
• ^{11:00am - 12:00pm: Presenting Collections at Auction}
• ^{12:00pm - 1:00pm: Lunch}
• ^{1:00pm - 2:00pm: History of Stack's}
• ^{2:00pm - 3:00pm: Class Pictures & Office Tour}
• ^{3:00pm - 5:00pm: Elective Course [I chose Numismatic Professionalism & Etiquette]}
• ^{6:00pm: Dinner}

The day started with everyone introducing themselves. I was feeling nervous, being by far one of the oldest students in the program. But I calmed my nerves, and when it was my turn, I introduced myself as a non-traditional numismatist focused on researching Dansco albums and the intersection of technology and the hobby.

Our first course was Advanced Coin Grading. It was surprising to learn just how critical in-house coin grading is for auction houses. Since most coins arrive already slabbed, their own grading wouldn't be needed as much. I was utterly wrong. I learned that countless raw coins come in from collections, and employees need to make the call on whether a coin is worth sending for certification.

We covered everything from technical vs. market grading to the history and growth of third-party grading in the hobby.

Next, we learned how Stack's processes and prepares collections for auction.

After that was a presentation on the history of Stack's Bowers. It was fascinating to learn the humble beginnings of Harvey G. Stack, Lawrence R. Stack, and Q. David Bowers, and how they grew their businesses into one of the biggest numismatic auction houses today.
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Then, we got to go on an office and studio tour of where the auctions take place. It was so much fun learning how auctions happen behind the scenes. They even let us take pictures with the podium and gavel!

Most days had an elective, and I chose the Numismatic Professionalism & Etiquette course. As I talk with dealers about the value of an AI coin-sorter, I need to better understand their culture and mindset to build the best product for their needs.

We wrapped up the day with dinner at a nearby restaurant, which was kindly paid for by Stack's.

Day 2 Class Schedule

• ^{8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast}
• ^{9:00am - 11:00am: Advanced Coin Grading}
• ^{11:00am - 12:00pm: Career Story + Q&A with Auction Experts}
• ^{12:00pm - 1:00pm: Lunch}
• ^{1:00pm - 3:00pm: Helpful Tips for Running a Coin Business}
• ^{3:00pm - 5:00pm: Elective Course [I chose Rare Coins & Technology]}
• ^{6:00pm: Dinner}

We started the day again with Advanced Coin Grading, this time covering how to spot varieties and errors.

All of us were then put to the test to get hands-on with some coins and apply what we had learned.

After a grueling grading exam (I only got 6 out of 25 right), we had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with one of Stack's senior auctioneers to gain insight into what their day-to-day responsibilities look like.

During the lunch break, a few students who heard I was working on Numi asked for a demo. We managed to catch Larry nearby, and I got to show off my latest prototype built out of Lego. I received a ton of great feedback and advice from Larry on where to head next. He convinced me of the merit of using a Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D printer to overcome the limitations of Legos. This was definitely one of the highlights of the program for me.

After lunch, we received insightful tips for running a real coin business. Andrew Glassman shared a bunch of war stories from his 34 years in the industry.

It was time for another elective. Naturally, I chose Rare Coins & Technology, led by Larry. All the students who attended were fellow tech nerds like me. We had a lively discussion about AI and its future ramifications for both numismatics and broader society.

We ended the day with a lively dinner at Benihana, kindly covered by John Albanese.

Day 3 Class Schedule

• ^{8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast}
• ^{9:00am - 11:00am: Advanced Coin Grading}
• ^{11:00am - 12:00pm: Career Story + Q&A with Cataloging Experts}
• ^{12:00pm - 1:00pm: Lunch}
• ^{1:00pm - 3:00pm: Elective Course [Coin Photography]}
• ^{3:00pm - 5:00pm: Advanced Coin Grading Exam}
• ^{6:00pm: Dinner & Bowling}

Day 3 would be our final and most intense day of advanced coin grading. The day started with a lecture by Wade Spencer, who shared his insights on the grading landscape and the most common mistakes graders make. It was interesting to learn that the condition of the obverse (front) of a coin holds more weight than the reverse (back)

After grading, we got to learn how Stack's handles currency from Peter Treglia & Aris Maragoudakis. It was fascinating to hear the differences and similarities between how coins and currency are handled.

We got to take a breather with today's elective: Coin Photography, led by Chrissie Good (who took all these wonderful photos). We went inside the photography room to see from start to finish how coins were prepared, photographed, and listed on the website. Chrissie shared some great tips on best practices for taking the perfect coin photo. Figuring out photography and lighting has been one of the biggest hurdles in getting Numi to be consistent, and Chrissie gave me a ton of helpful feedback. Before the course ended, we even got to photograph coins we brought along!

After learning all things coin photography, it was time for our final grading exam. We were given 30 seconds each to grade 25 coins. Many students excelled. I was just happy my score improved from the day before (8 out of 25!).

We ended a hard day of grading with a fun night of bowling.

Day 4 Class Schedule

• ^{8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast}
• ^{9:00am - 11:00am: Wholesale - Trading, Valuation, and Dealing}
• ^{12:00pm - 1:00pm: Lunch}
• ^{1:30pm - 5:00pm: Beach Day!}
• ^{6:00pm: Dinner}

After three days of intense learning, Day 4 was focused more on enjoying what California had to offer.

Our day started with a course on Wholesale Trading. As a former financial services worker, I was all about this lecture. It was fascinating to learn about the inner workings of bullion trading and the various financial derivatives used to hedge against market fluctuations. It reminded me a lot of what I learned about the secondary mortgage market when I worked at Fannie Mae.

Now it was time for some classic California seafood at Rockin' Baja Lobster and a relaxing day at Newport Beach.

And to round off a fun beach day, a dinner at Woody's Wharf.

Day 5 Class Schedule - Last Day

• ^{8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast}
• ^{9:00am - 11:00am: The Auction Process}
• ^{11:00am - 12:00pm: Career Story}
• ^{1:00pm - 3:00pm: History of Bullion Trading}
• ^{3:00pm - 4:00pm: Career Story}
• ^{4:00pm - 5:00pm: Wrap-up}
• ^{6:00pm: Graduation Dinner}

To start our last day, we were lucky to have President Brian Kendrella share his 12+ years of experience and what the auction process looks like from his perspective.

After Brian, we heard from Nicholas Fritz about his experience cataloging world & ancient coins. I'm not much of an ancients collector, so it was cool to listen to what that side of the hobby was like. He was kind enough to bring out his personal collection to show the class.

After grabbing a burger from a Habit Burger food truck, we were lucky enough to spend time with Greg and Dan Roberts. Greg is the CEO of A-Mark (the parent company of Stack's Bowers) and shared his insights on the deep and complex world of bullion trading. Back in college, my senior thesis was about the 2008 Financial Crisis, so it was fun to nerd out on finance with him and ask questions about how he navigated A-Mark during that time.

We then heard our final career story from Larry, who shared his journey as a technologist who blended his passion for technology and coins into a fulfilling career. It was inspiring to hear his story, as in many ways I am following a similar path as I find my place in the industry. Afterward, Larry showed us his personal collection and was more than happy to check out coins that students brought with them.

And with that, the educational portion of the program was done! We all got a lovely certificate and snagged a photo with some of the presenters and leadership.

But the program wasn't finished yet. Now it was time for our graduation dinner at Maggiano's, where we enjoyed a private dining room. Brian Kendrella joined our table, and we got to hear his thoughts on the culture he strives for at Stack's. It felt sincere when he said that when making decisions, he keeps at the top of mind what best serves the hobby.

Final Reflections

And that's a wrap! Throughout the week, one thing I noticed and appreciated was how open and candid all the Stack's employees were about their long tenures at the company. Hearing both the positives and the challenges made their praise for Stack's culture feel that much more sincere.

I'll never forget the incredible week I had being surrounded by some of the brightest numismatic minds today, as well as the next generation of industry leaders. Coin collecting has a reputation for being full of old-timers, but seeing so many young, passionate people—most of them already active dealers—made me deeply optimistic for the future of the hobby.

For me, this week was more than just an educational program; it was a confirmation. It gave me confidence that I've made the right choice in pursuing professional numismatics and provided a clearer vision for how my background in technology can bring value to this field. I'm honored to have been selected for this amazing opportunity. Thank you to everyone at Stack's for making this program possible, and to my fellow students for sharing their knowledge and inspiring me.

The journey is just beginning, and I'm excited for what's next.

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