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John Wilson (numismatist)

John Wilson, Jr. grew up on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was President of the American Numismatic Association from 2001 to 2003. In 2007, he was honored with the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award. It was an honor that was also given to his wife, Nancy Opitz Wilson.

Early life

Wilson attended grade school at St. Gerard’s, and competed in wrestling and football at Bay View High School. He was the second of five children born to John and Melita. His father, John, Sr. was a professional wrestler from the 1950’s to the late 1970’s.

Following graduation in 1961, Wilson enlisted in the US Naval Reserve. From 1962 to 1966, Wilson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and served one year in Okinawa and one year in Vietnam. During his tour of duty in Vietnam, Wilson met entertainer Martha Raye. In 1967, Wilson signed on with the 128th Air Refuelling Wing of Wisconsin’s Air National Guard.

Return from Vietnam

Upon returning from his tour of duty, Wilson met Nancy Opitz, and the two were wed in April 1968. Wilson’s first exposure to numismatics came at this time. He was employed with the Wisconsin Novelty Company and serviced phonographs, games, and pool tables. Through his work, he came across various silver circulation coins.

It was his wife, Nancy, a lifelong collector, that encouraged him to pursue collecting. They would attend various coin club meetings, and their specialty would evolve into tokens, medals, and paper money from Wisconsin.

In later years, Wilson would gain employment as a deputy with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department. In later years, he would train deputies and tested security features in new facilities. Wilson’s claim to fame is that he finished as a bailiff and opened court in the trial of Jeffrey Dahmer.

Numismatics

After retirement, Wilson and his wife Nancy relocated to Ocala, Florida in 1999. Their time has been devoted completely to numismatics. Some of the more novel aspects of the collection include a collection of Santa Claus banknotes and obsolete $3 bills from every state.

Wilson has served in various leadership capacities throughout his numismatic career. He served as a board member of the American Numismatic Association from 1995 to 2005, while his wife, Nancy, served on the board from 1987 to 1995. Nancy is a current member of the Florida United Numismatists Board. Other leadership roles for Wilson are as follows:

Chairman of the ANA 100th Anniversary Convention in Chicago in 1991

American Numismatic Association President (2001-2003)

Patron co-chair at the 2007 ANA World’s Fair of Money

Past President of the Central States Numismatic Society

Current director of the International Bank Note Society

Memberships

John Wilson belongs to at least 75 clubs, while his wife Nancy Opitz-Wilson belongs to 35 clubs. Some of these clubs include:

American Numismatic Society

Central States Numismatist Society (CSNS)

Florida United Numismatists (FUN)

National Silver Dollar Roundtable (NSDR)

Society of Paper Money Collectors

Awards and honors

Wilson served as the general chairman of the ANA’s 100th Anniversary Convention in 1991. The event was attended by more than 21,000 people at the Rosemont/O’Hare Exposition Center in Chicago.

Over the years, Wilson has been the recipients of numerous awards. Among honors given by the ANA, Wilson was the recipient of the 1993 Glenn Smedley Memorial Award and the 1994 Medal of Merit. He was the National Silver Dollar Roundtable (NSDR) Man of the Year in 1998. Along with his wife, Nancy, they have been recognized as Numismatic Ambassadors by Numismatic News in 1990, along with the ANA’s Presidential Award in 1998. The Wilson’s also received the FUN’s A.J. Vinci Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Excellence in 1998 and the NSDR’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. Their most recent honor is the awarding of the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award in 2007.