Arthur and Ira Friedberg have been leading figures in numismatics for more than three decades. After college, both brothers joined their family firm, Coin & Currency Institute, and quickly established themselves as authoritative voices in the field. Arthur graduated from The George Washington University in 1972 with a B.A. in history and went on to earn an M.B.A. from New York University in 1976.
Ira received his B.S. in journalism from Boston University in 1975. Together, they coauthored major revisions of Gold Coins of the World (now in its tenth edition) and Paper Money of the United States (now in its 23rd edition). They also collaborated on Appraising and Selling Your Coins--with more than 250,000 copies in print, now in its 24th edition--and oversaw updated editions of R.S. Yeoman's classic references Modern World Coins and Current Coins of the World. Arthur has been a frequent contributor to the Standard Catalog of World Coins and has written extensively for The Numismatist, the journal of the American Numismatic Association (ANA).
He also serves as the long-standing paper-money columnist for Coin World. His expertise is recognized worldwide--he has consulted for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Money and Medal Programme in Rome and testified before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on commemorative coin legislation. Over the years, Arthur has also advised advertising agencies, law firms, and insurance companies on a wide range of numismatic and coin-marketing matters. A respected leader in the profession, Arthur is a past president of the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN), a life member of the ANA, and a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) since 1977. Together, the Friedbergs have earned some of the highest honors in the hobby. In 1993, they were awarded the IAPN's Prix d'Honneur for Gold Coins of the World as the best book of the year, and their firm, Coin & Currency Institute, is a founding member of the association.
In 1992, the American Numismatic Association presented them with its Medal of Merit for "distinguished service to the hobby." Arthur has also been individually recognized, receiving the Heath Literary Award in 1994 for best article in The Numismatist, and the Swiss Vrenelli Prize in 1999 for "outstanding contributions to numismatics.".