John Kraljevich

NUMISMATIST OF THE CENTURY

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John Kraljevich almost couldn't help becoming a J coin collector and a historian.

He grew up 30 miles west of Philadelphia, so Early American history was an everyday fact of life.

Collecting was in his blood from birth: His maternal grandparents met at a convention for shell collectors and his father, a welder and mechanic, was drawn to the bargains found at country auctions, inspiring a lifelong love of the auction format.

Supported by his maternal grandmother, whose volunteer work at a gift-shop cash register helped her pull old coins from circulation, and a mother who was willing to support young John with books and academic enrichment, Kraljevich took to the hobby quickly. At age 7, a family trip to Europe to visit other family members inspired him to gather coins from every country visited. At age 9, Kraljevich's first local coin show introduced him to the community of the West Chester, Pennsylvania, Coin Club-and a lifelong connection to coins and the people who collect them was made.