Gene Hessler (2011)

Gene Hessler, the author of five major books on paper money, an award winning author of more than 350 articles on numismatics and a well-known broadcaster and lecturer on the topic.

Gene was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1928 and as a child already knew that music would be his profession. After studying music in Cincinnati and New York, he traveled with the big bands of Woody Herman, Billy May and others, and then worked in the pit orchestras for many Broadway shows. It was here that he started collecting under the mentorship of the late Lester Merkin, former musician and respected numismatic dealer. Gene quickly realized that paper money was more interesting than coins. He soon began to research paper money engravers, and ultimately produced his series of books. Gene has written for numerous magazines including the IBNS Journal. For about 10 years he wrote columns for the Numismatist and Coin World, and for 14 years served as editor of Paper Money. Gene was also curator of the Chase Manhattan Bank Money Museum and the St. Louis Mercantile Bank Money Museum.