John Roberts

John Roberts was introduced to the world of coin collecting as a 10-year-old when he received some old coins and a Red Book from his brother as a Christmas present. Over the years, Roberts focused on collecting Morgan Dollars varieties listed in the Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan & Peace Dollars by Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis. Through his work with VAMs, he has discovered a number of previously unknown varieties.

As a soldier and engineer in the US Army, Roberts traveled to several countries, developing an appreciation of foreign cultures and economies, as well as their coinage. After his military service, the former sergeant became a professional numismatist. He worked in a leading coin store in the Columbus, Ohio area before beginning his own business as a coin dealer focusing on varieties. In 2003, he joined the ANACS staff and is now the Director of Attribution Services.

Roberts is regarded as an expert in Morgan Dollar variety attribution. He is an avid collector of numismatic literature and is fascinated with the story behind the coins, particularly methods of manufacture and the politics of the day. He is a member of a number of numismatic organizations from the local to national level. He serves on the Board of the National Silver Dollar Roundtable and is the current President of the Society of Silver Dollar Collectors. Roberts’ articles and coin photography have been featured in a number of numismatic publications. He is the author of About VAMs, a long-running monthly column in Coin World.