A Michigan State University economics major, Andrew Blinkiewicz, 21, of Kalamazoo, has been selected by the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) to be the recipient of the PNG’s 2018 Young Numismatist scholarship.
A member of the Kalamazoo Coin Club and currently the secretary of the Michigan State Numismatic Society, Blinkiewicz said he “caught the collecting bug” at the age of 13 from his grandfather. Today, he enjoys collecting Walking Liberty half dollars and Swiss shooting medals among other numismatic items. During the summer of 2017, he worked as an intern at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. He wants to eventually become a professional coin dealer.
“Summer Seminar provides me with another step toward a full-fledged career in numismatics,” said Blinkiewicz, who added he plans to take the advanced coin grading class during the 2018 ANA Summer Seminar.
“The PNG will pay for tuition, meals and five nights of dormitory accommodations so Blinkiewicz can attend one of the six-day sessions of the 2018 American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar on the campus of Colorado College, site of the ANA headquarters, in Colorado Springs, Colorado,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
This is the 14th consecutive year of PNG’s Young Numismatist scholarship for the annual ANA educational programs. The funds for the scholarship are administered from the PNG’s Gerald Bauman Memorial Fund.
“Bauman, who died in 2001, served for many years as a prominent coin dealer with Manfra, Tordella & Brookes in New York City,” added PNG President Barry Stuppler.