1st American Reserve - Mike Fuljenz Professional Biography
1st American Reserve


Who Is Mike Fuljenz?

Mike Fuljenz has turned a lifelong love of coins into a dream business, while maintaining a reputation as an honest, skilled numismatist and award-winning author. As the Chief Numismatic Consultant for our company, he provides inestimable experience and knowledge of all things numismatic.

Since 1986, Mike has received thirty (30) Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) Awards, including three NLG Book of the Year Awards in a specialized category, and twelve (12) total awards for his investment and collectibles newsletters. In 2009, Mike received his 3rd NLG "Best Dealer Publication" award for the information featured in his brand new, comprehensive Gold Guide.

In 1996, he also received the prestigious American Numismatic Association's Presidential Service Award for his long-running professional service to the numismatic industry. He also previously served as the committee chairman of the grading service for the American Numismatic Association.

From 1982-1998, he taught classes for the American Numismatic Association on counterfeit detection, coin grading, gold and commemorative coinage.

Even a cursory view of his career resume shows undeniably that he is an expert's expert when the subject is United States rare coins.

Consultant Resume

Michael Ray Fuljenz


Education

  • 1968  Graduate Louisiana Governor's Program for Gifted Children
  • 1977  Graduate University Southwestern Louisiana Cum Laude (Chemistry/Biology)
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Awards

  • 1986  Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) Magazine Columnist of the Year — The Numismatist
  • 1992  NLG Television Reporter of the Year — CNBC's Smart Money
  • 1993  NLG Television Reporter of the Year — KWHY, Los Angeles
  • 1994  NLG Television Reporter of the Year — CNBC's Smart Money
  • 1995-1998  NLG Radio Reporter of the Year — WOR Radio's Smart Money
  • 1995-1996  American Numismatic Association's Presidential Service Award
  • 1997-2000  NLG Television Reporter of the Year — CNBC-TV's Money Talk
  • 1997-2002  NLG Extraordinary Merit Award for Newsletter
  • 2004, 2008 & 2009 NLG Best Dealer Publication Awards
  • 2006-2008  NLG Extraordinary Merit Award for Newsletter
  • 2008  Money Show of the Southwest Service Award
  • 2009 NLG Best Website Article "2009 Ultra-High Relief Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle"
  • 2009 NLG Best Television Report Fox 4 "King of the Road Show with Jim King"
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Awards in Specialized Category*

  • 2000  NLG Book of the Year Award* for “Type III Double Eagles 1877-1907”
  • 2001  NLG Book of the Year Extraordinary Merit Award* “Collector’s Guide to Indian Head Quarter Eagles”
  • 2002  NLG Book of the Year Award* “Type II Double Eagles: 1866-1876”
  • 2002  NLG Best Article Award* — “Why All Your Gold Coins Should Be Certified”
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Consulting

  • 1992-1997  Weiss Research (Silver & Gold Report)
  • 1990  U.S. Post Office (Consumer's Guide)
  • 1994  Phillips Publications  (Ken and Daria Dolan's “Straight Talk”)
  • 1995  U.S. Mint (Alexandria, Virginia 'Eagle Distribution Symposium)
  • 1991-2000  Smart Money with Ken and Daria Dolan on WOR Radio & Premier Network
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Major Media Appearances

  • 1984  New York Times
  • 1990-1992  WWL Radio New Orleans
  • 1991-2002  More than 20 appearances on CNBC's Smart Money, Steals and Deals, Money Wheel, Money Talk with Ted David and Sue Herrera, and Morning Show
  • 1991-2000  More than 15 appearances on WOR Radio's Smart Money
  • 1993  KWHY Channel 22 in Los Angeles
  • 1994  USA Today
  • 1997-1998  Nostalgia Network's Smart Money with Ken and Daria Dolan (Cable TV)
  • 1995-2010  Monthly Show on KLVI Radio in Beaumont, Texas
  • 2004  Bloomberg TV
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Contributor

  • Houston Post (1992-1995)
  • The Red Book for Coins
  • The Blue Book for Coins
  • Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins
  • U.S. Commemoratives by Q. David Bowers
  • Insider's Guide to U.S. Coin Values (Gold Coin Price Coordinator)
  • Silver Dollar Encyclopedia
  • Coin Dealer Newsletter
  • A Consumer Guide to U.S. Coin Investment
  • CoinAge Magazine
  • The Numismatist (Magazine of the American Numismatic Association '1982-1990)
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Consumer Protection Assistance

  • CNBC's Steals and Deals
  • Silver & Gold Report
  • Attorney General Illinois
  • Dateline
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • Federal Trade Commission
  • Better Business Bureau
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Past Recommendations 

  • Silver & Gold Report
  • Taipan
  • Straight Talk on Your Money (Ken and Daria Dolan)
  • American Survival Guide
  • Robert Leuver — Former Director Bureau of Engraving & Printing and Past President American Numismatic Association
  • Franklin Sanders — Editor, The Moneychanger
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Offices Held

  • 1972-1975  President Southwest Louisiana Coin Club
  • 1974  Chairman Louisiana Numismatic Association State Convention
  • 1983  Vice President U.S. Commemorative Society
  • 1987-1989  Chairman American Numismatic Association Certification Service
  • 1995-2010  Board Member - Industry Counsel for Tangible Assets (ICTA)
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Public Service

  • 1996  Board West End YMCA of Beaumont
  • 1996-2002  Board Little Dribblers and Coach
  • 1996-2004  Soccer Coach
  • 1997-2000  Board West End Little League and Coach
  • 1999-2000  President, Beaumont Little Dribblers
  • 2007  St. Thomas Aquinas Award for Outstanding Support of Catholic Schools
  • 2007 Lamar University Three T Man Award
  • 2007-2010 Diocese of Beaumont Catholic School Board
  • 2009 Inducted McNeese State University Athletics Hall of Honor
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Educational Presentations

  • 1982-1998  Taught 20, week-long seminars on gold and silver coinage for the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs
  • 1984  Speaker, Middle Atlantic Numismatic Association in Philadelphia
  • 1984  Speaker, Garden State Numismatic Convention in New Jersey
  • 1985  Speaker, Greater New York Numismatic Convention Author's Symposium
  • '87, '99-2009  Speaker, Greater Houston Money Show
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Accreditations

  • Better Business Bureau, Accredited since 2002
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Memberships

  • ICTA and others
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Professional Testimonials

"Count me among Mike Fuljenz’s numerous admirers. He is a leader in the coin industry."
Robert Leuver
Former Director, Bureau of Engraving & Printing,
Former CEO of the American Numismatic Association(ANA)
"Mike Fuljenz is the nation's #1 coin and bullion expert. No one knows physical precious metals better."
Franklin Sanders
Editor, The Moneychanger
"Mike Fuljenz has been a member in good standing of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) since 1980. Mike has taught seminars for ANA almost every year since 1982 on advanced coin grading, detection of counterfeit coins, and our "super course" on gold, silver and commemorative coins…He is simply a terrific teacher."
James Taylor
Former Director, Educational Services, ANA
"Mike Fuljenz is a numismatist who has a remarkable combination of market knowledge, information and expertise."
Q. David Bowers
Author and Past President
American Numismatic Association
"I consider Mike Fuljenz one of my most reliable industry sources."
James DiGeorgia, Former Editor
Silver & Gold Report
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Client Testimonials

“I have learned first hand that Mike is impeccably honest, trustworthy, ethical and a man of the highest moral character. I have also learned through extensive dealings with him that he is truly one of the bright minds in the field of numismatics.“
J.A., MD
Louisiana
“Mike Fuljenz’s commitment to excellence and integrity in his dealings surpass anyone I’ve met in his field. I recommend him to anyone contemplating a rare coin purchase or even for a friendly second opinion.”
B.N., MD
Louisiana
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