Numismatist Numismatist A numismatist is a specialist in numismatics ("of coins"; from Late Latin "numismatis", genitive of "numisma"). Numismatists include collectors, specialist dealers and scholars who use coins in object-based research. Although the term numismatics was first coined in English in 1829, people had been collecting and studying coins long before this, all over the world. The first group chiefly derive pleasure from the simple ownership of monetary devices and studying these coins as private amateur scholars. In the classical field amateur collector studies have achieved quite remarkable progress in the field. Examples are Walter Breen, a well-known example of a
Edward Hawkins (numismatist) Edward Hawkins (numismatist) Edward Hawkins (5 May 1780 – 22 May 1867) was an English numismatist and antiquary. For over 30 years he was the Keeper of Antiquities at the British Museum. Born at Macclesfield on 5 May 1780, he was the eldest son of Edward Hawkins of Macclesfield, banker, and his wife Ellen, daughter of Brian Hodgson of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. He was educated at Macclesfield grammar school, and privately from 1797 to 1799 by Richard Ormerod, vicar of Kensington. Around 1799, he returned to Macclesfield, and received a commission in a volunteer corps raised there. He was employed under