Rick Tomaska
Rick Tomaska
Rick Tomaska is a Numismatic Expert, coin scholar, entrepreneur, author, and television show host who began his career in numismatics in 1981[1]. Originally specializing in high grade proof-like Morgan dollars, Rick is now better known for his specialization in U.S. proof coins with a focus on Franklin and Kennedy half dollars and his television show on Art & Coin TV[2].
David Hall (President of PCGS at the time) had this to say: “Rick Tomaska is a pioneer in the study and collecting of Franklin half dollars. His first book was extremely influential. His second book on Franklins is must reading for every serious collector of the series.”[3]
Mark Salzberg wrote this about his second book: “Rick was the real pioneer in recognizing the value and rarity of high-grade Franklins. He awakened interest in this series among collectors and made it the market force that it is today. Books of this caliber on other coin series would go a long way toward bringing the U.S. coin market to full maturity.” [3]
Q. David Bowers said about his newest book: “Between these two covers is just about everything you ever wanted to know, and more than you ever imagined existed!”[4]
Career
Tomaska established his career in numismatics in 1981[5].
During this period he discovered a cameo contrasted 1962 proof Franklin half dollar. Given only the earliest strikes off new dies from that era exhibited these cameo qualities, he realized these half dollars offered increased rarity and value.
Upon publication of his book Cameo and Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 to 1970 Era in 1991 he contacted David Hall, then president of PCGS, to discuss adopting “Cameo” grading standards for their service. In early 1992 after several meetings, Cameo and Deep Cameo designations for Proof coins were adopted by PCGS[5][2] [6].
He then conferred with NGC, resulting in their service subsequently adopting the ULTRA CAMEO designation (similar to the PCGS DEEP CAMEO designation) for proof coins with extremely heavy cameo contrast in 1992[5][6].
His second book The Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars led PCGS and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation to set in motion a new designation, Full Bell Line, for mint state Franklin half dollars[5][6]. A follow-up addition of the book was released in 2002.
He began hosting his own television coin show on Art & Coin TV in 2010.
In 2011 he published his fourth book, with a follow-up edition being released in 2012.
In addition to all of his contributions to the numismatics community he has also helped his clients assemble many of the finest known proof sets in existence, including the highest rated proof Morgan dollar set in the NGC Registry[7], the finest known proof and mint state Franklin half dollar set in the PCGS Registry[8] [9], and the highest rated proof Seated[10] and Barber[11] half dollar collections in the NGC Registry.
Books and Other Media:
After several years of research and specialization in his field, Rick published his first book, Cameo and Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 to 1970 Era in late 1991. The book contained the first extensive pictures and date by date analysis of Cameo coins[12].
He published his second book, The Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars in 1997, a date by date analysis of proof and mint state Franklin half-dollar coins. A second edition of the book was published in 2002.
In 2011, Rick Tomaska released his fourth book, A Guide Book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars, which earned the Numismatic Literary Guild's Extraordinary Merit award.
With the success of this book, Whitman Publishing contracted with Rick to do a follow-up revised second edition the following year (2012) to incorporate many of the changes in value of these coins that had taken place the previous year.
He has also contributed articles to The Numismatist, Rare Coin Market Report[5], Numismatic News, Coin World, COINage, Coins, and PCGS[13] [6].
In 2010 Rick became a part of Art & Coin TV’s regular scheduling, hosting every other Tuesday and one Saturday a month.
References
- ↑ Tomaska, Rick (1991). Cameo And Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 To 1970 Era. R&I Publications. ISBN 0-9628577-0-X. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Meet Our Hosts - Rick Tomaska". Retrieved 7/17/12. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tomaska, Rick (1997). The Complete Guide To Franklin Half Dollars. DLRC Press. ISBN 1-880731-57-6. Search this book on
- ↑ Tomaska, Rick (2012). A Guide Book of Franklin & Kennedy Half Dollars - Second Edition. Whitman Publishing, LLC. ISBN 0794836666. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 RCMR (September 2007). "Meet The Dealer". Rare Coin Market Report.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Tomaska, Rick (2011). A Guidebook of Franklin & Kennedy Half Dollars. Whitman Publishing, LLC. p. 273. ISBN 079483243-1. Search this book on
- ↑ "NGC Highest Rated Proof Morgan Dollar Set". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved 7/12/2012. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "PCGS Highest Rated Proof Franklin Half Set". Professional Coin Grading Service. Retrieved 7/12/2012. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "PCGS Highest Rated Mint State Franklin Set". Professional Coin Grading Service. Retrieved 7/12/2012. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "NGC Highest Rated Proof Seated Liberty Half Dollar Set". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved 7/12/2012. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "NGC Highest Rated Barber Half Dollar Set". Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. Retrieved 7/12/2012. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ Tomaska, Rick (1991). Cameo And Brilliant Proof Coinage Of The 1950 to 1970 Era. R&I Publications. pp. vii. ISBN 0-9628577-0-X. Search this book on
- ↑ Tomaska, Rick. "Why Franklin Half Dollars of The Same Date and Grade are Often Valued Very Differently". Professional Coin Grading Service. Retrieved 7/12/2012. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help)
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