A scholarship to the American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been given by the Professional Numismatists Guild to Paul Zapantis, a 21-year-old college student from Worcester, Mass.
“The scholarship will cover airfare, tuition and six nights of dormitory accommodations on the campus of Colorado College,” said PNG Executive Director Robert Brueggeman.
Zapantis said his interest in coins came from both his father, Dino, and grandfather, Paul.
“My Dad acted as ‘tooth fairy’ when I was young and I wound find a silver dollar under my pillow when I’d put a tooth there. I also got a silver Eagle in my stocking every Christmas,” said Zapantis.
“My grandfather owned a small variety store, and one day when I was in the first grade he brought out a big bag of silver coins and split them up with me and my brother, Nick.”
His current interest lies in the coins of the 20th century.
“I try to stick to 20th century coins; things my grandfather would have seen in circulation in his lifetime,” he said.
Zapantis says he will take a class on coin grading.
He is a National Honor Society member, was president of both his senior class and the student council when he graduated from Clinton High School in 2009. He just completed his junior year at Worcester State University.
The PNG says this is the eighth consecutive year of its YN scholarships to Summer Seminar. It is paid for 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.
More Coin Collecting Resources:
• Subscribe to our Coin Price Guide, buy Coin Books & Coin Folders and join the NumisMaster VIP Program
