Inside PCGS: Abigail Zechman

When I attended my first coin show, the 2012 Winter Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Convention, I had no idea how it would change my life. Unlike many numismatists, my journey into this hobby didn't start through a family member. Instead, it all started with a Girl Scout patch. My troop went to the coin show for our "Fun With Money" patches, and as an art- and history-obsessed kid, I found the world of numismatics fascinating. I left that show with a bag full of coins, A Guide Book of United States Coins ("The Red Book"), and a new community. Funnily enough, I didn't get the collecting patch until about six years later.

My family was incredibly supportive of this new hobby of mine; they took me to every single day of every single FUN show after winter 2012 so I could page and get to know the dealers, went to coin club meetings with me so I could engage with numismatists outside of shows, and even helped me put together my competitive educational exhibits when I repeatedly left them until the last minute. Thanks to their support, I quickly built a real numismatic community and always looked forward to the next FUN show when I could see all my coin collecting friends and mentors again. That community is what really kept me so engaged in the hobby.

In 2016, I attended my first American Numismatic Association (ANA) Summer Seminar, and that is where my casual collecting interest became a true passion. Getting to spend two whole weeks surrounded by people my own age who loved coins as much as I did and meeting and learning from industry rockstars was exhilarating. It was the following year of Summer Seminar that I decided I wanted to work professionally in the industry; the year after that, I realized my true passion lay in numismatic education. I loved teaching people about numismatics, getting them excited about coins, and helping them find their own path in this industry.

My decision to pursue a career in numismatic education was a bit of an odd one to most people. It wasn't really a role that existed anywhere outside the ANA at the time, but I was determined to make it work. I became even more involved in numismatics, giving educational talks at coin clubs and shows, building educational exhibits, seeking out new learning opportunities, and just getting involved wherever I could. All that work led to me becoming Young Numismatist of the Year in 2018. As I got older, I took every internship and job opportunity offered to me and even served on the board of FUN for four years, hungry to learn more and be part of this industry that had already played such a huge role in my life.

When I was given the opportunity to join PCGS in an education-focused role, I was shocked. As I mentioned earlier, when I decided to pursue numismatic education, I knew the opportunities would be limited, so I never imagined I would one day work for one of the most respected companies in the industry.

As education coordinator, I helped expand PCGS's educational initiatives. I hosted internal training sessions to introduce staff to the world of numismatics, wrote articles highlighting underrepresented areas of the hobby, and revamped our informational videos. I also helped launch new customer-focused initiatives, including grading contests and events for young numismatists.

This year, I stepped into a new role at PCGS as program manager of numismatic education and development. In this position, I develop internal training programs and external educational materials while also helping bring new numismatic talent to our team. Our staff is filled with incredibly talented individuals, and I've enjoyed helping them continue to develop their skills, deepen their knowledge, and grow within the company. Being involved in numismatic hiring has also given me the opportunity to support passionate and talented individuals, just as others once supported me.

One of my favorite parts of my job is the time I get to spend with young numismatists (YNs). Throughout my numismatic journey, I was fortunate to find incredible mentors and friends who helped shape my path and guided me to where I am today. Now, as a numismatic professional, I have the opportunity to do the same for the next generation of collectors.

I serve as a YN counselor at Summer Seminar, mentor YN coin clubs, and have helped organize multiple YN events and programs. I love mentoring young collectors, catching up with them as they run around the bourse floor, and watching them forge their own paths within the industry. Supporting these young numismatists has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my career.

I think my career is proof that you don't have to fit yourself into a box to succeed. Growing up in the industry, I was fortunate to have many people who supported me, but there were also plenty who didn't always respect me or view me as a "real numismatist" because I wasn't pursuing a career as a grader or dealer. If I'm honest, neither path ever really interested me. What I am passionate about is education and creating material tailored to specific audiences and topics. I'm also deeply passionate about coins and the numismatic hobby, and I never saw why I couldn't make a career out of both. Because I refused to let others discourage me from forging my own path, I now get to do what I love at one of the most respected companies in the industry.

Today, I'm proud to be a numismatic professional who gets to share my love of coins with others and inspire new collectors along the way. I hope my unique approach to the industry encourages others to pursue their own passions and create their own paths, even if it is outside the status quo.

When talking about my personal coin collection, my true obsession is ancient coinage. They are what hooked me on numismatics from the beginning. The first coin I ever bought was from Medieval Venice. While I collect a little bit of everything, my main focus is Roman coinage featuring female portraiture. I am currently trying to assemble a complete collection of all the coins depicting Fulvia, a powerful political figure of the Roman Republic. Of course, I do tend to get bored focusing on just one collection, so I am also assembling a date set of Buffalo Nickels, coins featuring inspirational women, Red Books (A Guide Book of United States Coins), and anything else that piques my interest.

Outside of numismatics, I am an avid reader and musical theater lover. You may have even noticed a few musical theater references in some of my past articles. I also love to travel. My favorite trip was to Italy, where I finally got to visit Venice myself, connecting my love of travel to my love of numismatics.