Kenneth Bressett
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Bressett is an American numismatist. He has actively promoted the study and hobby of numismatics
for over 50 years. His published works on the subject cover a wide range of topics and extend from short articles to standard reference books on such diverse areas as ancient coins, paper money
, British coins and United States coins.
Throughout his career he has worked as an author, editor and publisher of books and products for coin collectors
. He has also taught the subject to hundreds of students through courses at Colorado College
and other places. From 1983 to 1988 he served as Director of Coin Authentication and Educational Programs for the American Numismatic Association
. Subsequently he served on the ANA Board of Governors, later as Vice President and then as President from 1993 to 1995.
Bressett was appointed to the U.S. Assay Commission in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson, and in 1996 was made a member of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his service and dedication to numismatics, including election to the National Numismatic Hall of Fame, The American Numismatic Association Medal of Merit, and the Ferran Zerbe award.
Bressett first became interested in coins in 1937 when his neighbor gave him a coin each from China
and Belgium
. He began collecting coins in earnest while he was a clerk in a grocery store in 1943 and through high school. Bressett attended Dresser Business School in 1947 and later studied graphic arts at the University of Wisconsin. He joined the American Numismatic Association in 1947 and attended their convention in Boston the following year. From 1948 until 1959 Bressett worked as a printer and compositor for Sentinel Publishing Company.
In 1950 he married Bert Britton. They had three children, Philip (1951), Richard (1954), Mary (1955).
Bressett began free-lance editorial work on Red Book in 1956. He went to work for Richard S. Yeoman
at Whitman Publishing in Racine
in 1959. He wrote several books while at the publishing house and in 1962 became the editor of the Whitman Red Book and Blue Book. From 1964 to 1968 Bressett was the Editor and Publisher of the Whitman Numismatic Journal.
Bressett worked as a consultant for the F. Newell Childs collection that later sold at auction for over $8 million. In 1966, he was appointed to the U.S. Assay Commission by President Lyndon B. Johnson
. He taught at the ANA Summer Seminar in 1975. In 1980, Bressett left Whitman to work for A. M. Kagin in Des Moines, Iowa
. From 1982 to 1988 he worked at ANA as Director of ANACS. In 1986, he dove with Mel Fisher
in Florida for treasure of the sunken Nuestra Señora de Atocha.
Bressett was on the Board of Governors from 1989 to 1994 and served as President from 1995 to 1997. In 1996, he was inducted to the ANA Hall of Fame. For the next few years, he promoted the Peace 2000 project around the world. He served on the CCCAC commission from 1996 to 2003 and promoted the 50 State Quarters
program.
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
for over 50 years. His published works on the subject cover a wide range of topics and extend from short articles to standard reference books on such diverse areas as ancient coins, paper money
Paper Money
Paper Money is the second album by the band Montrose. It was released in 1974 and was the band's last album to feature Sammy Hagar as lead vocalist.-History:...
, British coins and United States coins.
Throughout his career he has worked as an author, editor and publisher of books and products for coin collectors
Coin collecting
Coin collecting is the collecting or trading of coins or other forms of minted legal tender.Coins of interest to collectors often include those that circulated for only a brief time, coins with mint errors and especially beautiful or historically significant pieces. Coin collecting can be...
. He has also taught the subject to hundreds of students through courses at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
and other places. From 1983 to 1988 he served as Director of Coin Authentication and Educational Programs for the American Numismatic Association
American Numismatic Association
The American Numismatic Association was founded in 1891 by Dr. George F. Heath in Chicago, Illinois. The ANA was formed to advance the knowledge of numismatics along educational, historical and scientific lines, as well as enhance interest in the hobby.The ANA national headquarters and museum is...
. Subsequently he served on the ANA Board of Governors, later as Vice President and then as President from 1993 to 1995.
Bressett was appointed to the U.S. Assay Commission in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson, and in 1996 was made a member of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his service and dedication to numismatics, including election to the National Numismatic Hall of Fame, The American Numismatic Association Medal of Merit, and the Ferran Zerbe award.
Bressett first became interested in coins in 1937 when his neighbor gave him a coin each from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He began collecting coins in earnest while he was a clerk in a grocery store in 1943 and through high school. Bressett attended Dresser Business School in 1947 and later studied graphic arts at the University of Wisconsin. He joined the American Numismatic Association in 1947 and attended their convention in Boston the following year. From 1948 until 1959 Bressett worked as a printer and compositor for Sentinel Publishing Company.
In 1950 he married Bert Britton. They had three children, Philip (1951), Richard (1954), Mary (1955).
Bressett began free-lance editorial work on Red Book in 1956. He went to work for Richard S. Yeoman
Richard S. Yeoman
Richard S. Yeoman was a commercial artist and coin collector who marketed coin display boards for Whitman Publishing...
at Whitman Publishing in Racine
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
in 1959. He wrote several books while at the publishing house and in 1962 became the editor of the Whitman Red Book and Blue Book. From 1964 to 1968 Bressett was the Editor and Publisher of the Whitman Numismatic Journal.
Bressett worked as a consultant for the F. Newell Childs collection that later sold at auction for over $8 million. In 1966, he was appointed to the U.S. Assay Commission by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. He taught at the ANA Summer Seminar in 1975. In 1980, Bressett left Whitman to work for A. M. Kagin in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. From 1982 to 1988 he worked at ANA as Director of ANACS. In 1986, he dove with Mel Fisher
Mel Fisher
Mel Fisher was an American treasure hunter best known for finding the 1622 wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha named after a shrine in Madrid for protection. He discovered the wreck July 20, 1985...
in Florida for treasure of the sunken Nuestra Señora de Atocha.
Bressett was on the Board of Governors from 1989 to 1994 and served as President from 1995 to 1997. In 1996, he was inducted to the ANA Hall of Fame. For the next few years, he promoted the Peace 2000 project around the world. He served on the CCCAC commission from 1996 to 2003 and promoted the 50 State Quarters
50 State Quarters
The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of circulating commemorative coins by the United States Mint. Between 1999 and 2008, it featured each of the 50 U.S. states on unique designs for the reverse of the quarter....
program.
Books written or edited
- Money of the Bible
- Let's Collect Coins
- Basics of Coin Grading for U.S. Coin
- Buying and Selling United States Coins
- United States Coin Price Trends
- Collectible American Coins
- Collecting U.S. Coins
- The Fantastic 1804 Dollar
- A Guide Book of English Coins
- Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins
- A Guide Book of United States Coins
- The Handbook of United States Coins
- Guide Book of United States Currency
- Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins
Sources
- The Guide Book on the Official Red Book of US Coins, by Frank J. Colletti, 2009, Whitman Publishing.
- The Guide Book of United States Coins, 2011, Whitman Publishing and Ken Bressett as provided.
- The Handbook of United States Coins.