COURTNEY COFFING (1920-2015)

Retired Bank Note Reporter editor and German notgeld authority Courtney L. Coffing died Dec. 13 at the age of 95.

Though his numismatic interests began early, his numismatic career began in middle age.

Mr. Coffing was proud to have joined the American Numismatic Association in 1947, but his first professional numismatic assignment began in 1965 when he joined the staff of the Amos Press weekly Coin World based in Sidney, Ohio.

There his interests in world issues led to his being assigned to World Coins magazine. He also worked on Numismatic Scrapbook.

From 1960 to 1965 he had been a civilian U.S. Army employee in West Germany. He was an education advisor.

While he was there, he helped organize coin clubs in Wiesbaden in 1960 and Kaiserslautern in 1962.

Coffing retired from Coin World in 1983, worked briefly for East Lansing, Mich., coin dealer Joseph L. Lepczyk and joined the numismatic editorial staff at Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., in 1984 where he was made editor of Bank Note Reporter.

He served in that position until 1987.

After his second retirement, he founded his own publication about notgeld called the Fraktur.

In 1988, his book, A Guide & Checklist of World Notgeld, 1914-1947 and Other Local Issue Emergency Money, was published by Krause.

Early on he had served in the Civilian Military Training Corps and the U.S. Border Patrol from which he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

His World War II Marine service included the battle of Iwo Jima and a post-war assignment in China.

During the Korean War he was a mortar school instructor and retired as a staff sergeant.

His civilian service to the military also included time as an U.S. Air Force instructor.

Mr. Coffing’s funeral was to be held Dec. 22 at the Iola United Methodist Church.

He is survived by a son, a daughter and three grandchildren.

Courtney L. Coffing, 95 passed away in his sleep early morning of Dec. 13, 2015. Courtney now joins his beloved wife Wanda, his parents William and Millie Coffing and his sister Ruth in Heaven. He is survived by his son Larry (Barbara) of Beach Park IL., adopted daughter Catharine (Fred) of Iola, WI, grandsons Matthew and Anthony and three great grandsons.

Courtney lived a long rewarding life firmly rooted in his Christian Faith as a life long Methodist serving the church for many years as a Sunday School Teacher and Lay Leader. His life of service began in the Civilian Military Training Corps and the U.S. Border Patrol from which he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.

His WWII service included the battle of Iwo Jima and postwar China. During the Korean War he was a mortar school instructor and retired as a Staff Sergeant. His civilian service to the military included time as an U.S. Air Force Instructor and as a U.S. Army Education Advisor in Europe.

Returning to the U.S., Courtney spent 18 years with Amos Press in Sidney, Ohio writing and editing for the Coin World and World Coins publications followed by a short period of time with coin auctioneer Joe Lepczyk ended by Joe’s tragic death. In 1984 Courtney joined the Krause Publications Numismatic division before retiring and starting his own Notgeld publication, the Fraktur.

Throughout most of his life he was a very active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Marine Corps League and the Lions Club receiving some of their highest awards. Finally as old age over took them Courtney and Wanda took up residence in the King Veterans Home where the wonderful staff provided the best care possible anywhere.

Visitation Dec.21, 2015, Voie Funeral Home, Iola 3-6pm.
Funeral Dec.22, 2015, Iola United Methodist Church 11 am.
Followed by lunch at the Glacier Woods (Iola) Country Club 12:30 pm.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web