By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
Tony Bonaro, director of youth activities for Florida United Numismatists (FUN), was recently honored by the American Numismatic Association with the 2022 Lawrence J. Gentile, Sr. Memorial Award for Outstanding Adult Advisor. Bonaro, who was born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY, said he had a coin collection when he was a young boy, but that his interest faded over time. He knew at the age of 13 that he wanted to join the Marine Corps and so he did, at age 18. He spent six years enlisted and 16 years as an officer before retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 1992. He then began his career, first with Chrysler Corporation and then with the Luther Coggin dealerships, as a management and leadership skills trainer. He moved on to contract work with CSX and then finally with Southwest Signal Engineers as quality, safety, and training director supporting all the major railroads in the design and installation of railroad crossings. “If you see a railroad crossing, I probably had something to do with it,” he said. He retired in 2017. He has served as a scoutmaster with Boy Scouts of America for 42 years and is presently one of the St. Johns County representatives who can approve rank advancement to Eagle Scout. Bonaro met his wife Valerie on a blind date while he was stationed in Washington DC and they have three sons and a daughter as well as eight grandchildren.
Q: How was your interest in coin collecting rekindled?
A: In 2002, I attended the American Numismatic Association’s coin show in Jacksonville. I went with my son and it was our first coin show. We were captured and fell in love with coin collecting immediately. I learned about the Florida United Numismatists, who put on the largest coin shows in Orlando and brought two more of my sons with me. We all started collecting coins. At one of those shows, I learned about their children’s program called Young Numatists (YN). I was asked if I knew anything about the Boy Scouts’ coin merit badge. Of course I did, and so for the last 18 years I’ve presented for the coin collecting merit badge for the Boy Scouts and the Fun with Money patch for the Girl Scouts.
Q: What is it about coin collecting that fascinates you?
A: I love history. There is a story behind every coin. For instance, starting this year, the US Mint will release five different quarters, each featuring a prominent American Woman. I collect primarily US coins.
Q: What is your favorite coin that you own and do you have a “dream” coin?
A: My favorite would be my United States Marine Corps commemorative $1 coin, issued in 2005. Two of these commemorative coins are produced annually by the US Mint and they cover historical US events and people. They each contain one ounce of silver. My dream coin is an 1849 $20 gold piece issued by the Mormon Church of Salt Lake City. I say it is my dream coin because right now, the cheapest one is available for $375,000!
Q: What does the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) offer kids interested in coin collecting?
A: If you join FUN (membership dues are $5 annually; visit www.funtopics.com) you will receive our newsletter. I write an article on a different topic for each issue for the kids and in 2022 our theme is Famous Americans on coins. We’ve covered George Washington, John F. Kennedy Jr., Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson and we discuss why each is on a coin as well as information about the coin. I include a trivia contest that requires older kids to do a bit more research than just what’s in the article and for each kid who sends me the answers, I send them a coin to add to their coin collection.
Q: What would you like to do locally to engage kids in numismatics?
A: I’d like to start a coin collecting club for local kids aged about 10 to 17. There are so many things kids can do these days, but coin collecting includes history, math, science and vocabulary skills. It’s just a great hobby! If anyone is interested in joining, please just send me an email at tonybonaro@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy Tony Bonaro
Tony Bonaro with two of his favorite coins.
