MYRON G. XENOS (1938-2025)

Myron Xenos, age 86, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, with his wife at his side. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a friend to many. He will always be remembered for his love for his family, kindness, sense of humor, and love of animals.

He was born August 3, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late James and Margaret Xenos (nee Fanelli). He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Daryl Xenos (nee Eckert), his daughters, Stacey Xenos-Maverick (Mike) and Stefanie Xenos, and his granddaughter, Taylor Golas.

Myron grew up in Rocky River, Ohio. As a young man he collected stamps, coins and their literature. He was also active in the Greek Orthodox Youth Association and was a member of the Masonic Order of DeMolay. After graduating from Rocky River High School, he attended Kent State University where he met his lovely wife and received his bachelor's degree in 1962. Myron proudly served in the United States Army (1958-1963).

In 1962, Myron opened his own public accounting firm and received his Certificate of Enrollment as an Enrolled Agent in 1974. He also served as the Finance Director for the City of Rocky River during the 1970's.

He became a member of the American Numismatic Association in 1961 and began selling numismatic literature in 1967. In 1986, he and his partner started a numismatic publishing company called The Money Tree and began holding mail bid auctions of numismatic literature, holding 32 auctions, with the last auction being held in 1999.

In 1978, Myron opened the first new business, a deli with an ice cream counter, in Beachcliff Market Square which was located in the old renovated Beachcliff Theater in Rocky River. The restaurant was a showcase to many antiques, including a Marantz Pianocorder that played music on magnetic tapes, and numerous stained-glass windows and chandeliers.

Over the years, Myron was involved in many other endeavors. He was a partner in a vending machine company, and he was a partner in real estate development. He was a collectibles and rare coin auctioneer on the WVIZ televised auction for over 40 years. He was also a partner/owner of harness racing horses.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 10:30-12:00 at Westlake United Methodist Church, 27650 Center Ridge Road, Westlake OH followed by a Celebration of Life service to be held in the church sanctuary at noon. We will continue the Celebration of Life with a luncheon in the church fellowship hall, immediately after the service. Private interment at Lakewood Park Cemetery, Rocky River, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Myron's honor to Hospice of the Western Reserve (www.hospicewr.org/give), Rock it Out, Inc. (www.rockitout.org) or Friendship APL of Lorain County (www.friendship APL.org/donate).

To read the complete online obituary, see:
Myron G. Xenos Obituary (https://www.buschcares.com/obituaries/Myron-G-Xenos?obId=43718755)

That's a great photo of Myron, always a happy, smiling, helpful person, a joy to be around. If memory serves I first met Myron and his Money Tree partner Ken Lowe at the famous "Invasion of Louisville" excursion to Armand Champa's numismatic library. As I ramped up my own numismatic library I often sold duplicates through Money Tree, sometimes making the drive from Pittsburgh to Rocky River with a load of boxes in the trunk.

Myron would insist on buying lunch and we dined at a nearby restaurant where he was a regular. I would always get together with Myron and Ken and fellow numismatic bibliophiles at coin shows, often sharing lunch or dinner and a ton of laughs. I'll repeat my earlier phrase here - Myron was a joy to be around. His smile and sense of humor were infectious.

Here's an earlier article by John Lupia with additional information. -Editor

Myron Xenos was born on August 3, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio. As a young man he collected stamps, coins and their literature. In May 1956 he won third place award for his stamp exhibition at the Fifth International Philatelic Exhibition (FIPEX), at the New York Coliseum.

In September 1961, he joined the ANA as Member No. 42733, listed as a collector of U. S. and Canadian coins. He seems to have had a natural predilection for U. S. Bust-type half dollars.

On December 16, 1961, he married Daryl Eckert, daughter of Samuel M. and Margaret F. Eckert. They had two daughters. He graduated Kent State University in 1962. He opened his own accounting firm in 1962.

In 1967 he began selling numismatic literature doing business as Security Coin Trust. In 1971, he was partners with brother in-law Gary B. Eckert, and Harry Mueller in Leo Vending. This is where he acquired many rare coins.

In 1978, he became a partner as a real-estate developer with Xenophon Zapis in the Tiffany Ridge Corporation building condominiums at Rocky River.

Also in 1978, he was a restauranteur as well as an antiques expert and owned a restaurant in Beachcliff Market Square which had music played by a Marantz Piano Corder that played music on magnetic tape.

In the September 1980 issue of The Numismatist on page 2375 he advertised as The Money Tree, a coin dealership specializing in foreign crowns and dollars, 1260 Smith Court, Rocky River, Ohio.

In 1981, he served the T. V. auction show on Channel 25 as the rare coin dealer.

In 1986, he became partners with Ken Lowe in the firm of The Money Tree. Myron was the president and owner, and Ken Lowe was the editor.

The Money Tree began holding mail bid auctions of numismatic literature in July 1987, and published their house organ Out on A Limb. They held thirty-two auctions, which only twenty-eight are known by me. Their last auction was held on December 4, 1999.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MYRON XENOS (1938-PRESENT) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n33a20.html)

"Back in 1956, I was a high school senior, and did my shopping, so to speak, at Halle Bros. Dept. Store, the building which now houses the Drew Carey TV show's Winfred Lauder Store.

"48 years ago, the stamp & coin dept. was operated by Carl DiFalco, who was my mentor in the coin hobby. One day I was looking at some coins and also bought some stamps from the King Farouk collection. Carl looked at me and said, much like a father would, "You can't collect both stamps & coins successfully. You have to divorce one or the other." Not wanting to be thought a bigamist, I chose coins.

"Several years later, I became his accountant and tax advisor when he opened his own shop. From one decade to the next, I became his mentor regarding his finances. His eyesight began to fail, and I then had a coin dealer who was legally blind. We were friends till he died, but we spent many hours sharing our opinions about numismatics, politics, and taxes."

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
DEPARTMENT STORE COIN LORE (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n44a12.html)

With this news coming on the heels of George Kolbe's passing, Jeff Dickerson writes:

"I began collecting numismatic literature to support my coin collecting back in the 1970s and 1980s, but drifted away from the hobby until 2008 when I returned with an insatiable appetite for numismatic literature. Once back, one of my first calls was to The Money Tree's Myron Xenos from whom I had purchased a few volumes from decades ago. Myron said he was no longer in business, but invited me to come to Ohio with the assurance that I would find a few boxes of literature that would make the trip worthwhile. Naturally, I made the trip from central Illinois to Rocky River Ohio.

"Back in 1985, recognizing their common interests, a mutual friend introduced Myron to Ken Lowe at a local coin show. Their friendship evolved into the Money Tree numismatic literature business. The bookmen conducted 29 mail bid auctions and produced the lively and informative house organ Out On A Limb. Ken did the cataloging and Myron headed up the production and publication arm of the business. Today you will find The Money Tree Press logo on the spine of some favorite numismatic books like Bust Half Fever by Edgar Souders, American Numismatic Biographies by Pete Smith and a reprint of Ed Frossard's Numisma. Following Ken's untimely death, David Sklow joined Myron and they conducted three additional sales under the Money Tree banner. Of Myron's varied numismatic interests, his Bust Half dollars were closest to his heart.

"When my wife and I arrived we found the basement and second floor of Myron's office overflowing with books, catalogs and ephemerial material. It was an honest-to-goodness treasure hunt, but the real treat was hearing the many entertaining stories surrounding the collectors and his experiences with them.

"That evening Myron and his wife, Daryl, invited us to dinner and back to their home to explore his extensive numismatic library. It was about this time that Myron was beginning to sell his library through a number of David Sklow auctions. Nearly every year until 2020 we visited Myron and Daryl always bringing home a few boxes of literature. Myron would let most of the things I was interested in go, but always would hold back a couple of items. I theorized that was so we would return the next year and invariably the next year he was ready to send those pieces my way. Following the 2012 ANA Convention in Rosemont Myron and Daryl came to visit us and check out my fledgling library. Between visits we periodically talked on the phone and occasionally I would receive a surprise package of goodies from Rocky River.

Myron, thanks for the many fond memories."

Numismatic bibliophiles on August 11, 1989 at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh rare book room. Pictured: Mark Auerbach, George Kolbe, Wayne Homren, Frank Katen, Ken Lowe, Myron Xenos, John Bergman, and Armand Champa. Sadly, all are now gone except for myself and Mark Auerbach.