EDITOR PROFILE: WAYNE HOMREN

WITH DEGREES IN DISCIPLINES including math, computer science, and business administration, coupled with a career that started in computer science and artificial intelligence and ended at the U.S. Department of Defense, numismatics might seem like a disconnected interest for Wayne Homren. But curiosity is what drives the E-Sylum editor. He is fascinated with how the study of money intersects with fields like geography, history, economics, and metallurgy, and he's learned more about those subjects through the hobby than he did during his many years of education. His work editing The E-Sylum, the digital newsletter of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS), might be demanding, but for a man thrilled by discovery and new perspectives, it's fulfilling.

Sydney Stewart: What motivated you to create The E-Sylum?

Wayne Homren: Initially, the goal was simply to drive visitors to the new website I had created for the NBS and hopefully attract some new members. I also wanted to promote numismatic literature and education in general, which is why the newsletter was free to all and archived on the website from the start.

It may have been an offhand comment that made me think of expanding the newsletter's scope. While introducing himself at an ANA meeting, a friend said, "My name is Walter Breen, and I collect information." I realized that people collect numismatic literature not just for the books themselves, but for the information they contain. NBS members include a "who's who" of the hobby, from top dealers and collectors to researchers and authors. What they all have in common is a love of numismatic knowledge. So, a wide range of topics became fair game. No one ever complained, and The E-Sylum grew to cover the full range of coins, tokens, medals, and paper money of all eras, ancient to modern.

SS: The newsletter features a wide range of material and updates. What's your process for sorting through everything and deciding what to publish?

WH: I'm glad you asked—there's so much possible material to choose from each week that a lot does not make the cut. Priorities are reflected in the order articles appear, so sections like NBS news, numismatic literature sales, new books, obituaries, and the Newman Numismatic Portal are high on the list, followed by selected hobby news, regular columns, and auction previews. When it comes to hobby news and press releases, I'm more selective. People can find the same information in other numismatic publications. We rarely discuss prices or grading. We leave that to other publications and stick to numismatic history and scholarship. Our auction previews go beyond most press releases and include a large amount of text and imagery from the auction catalogers. It can be a lot to read, but there's much to learn in each issue. I hear all the time from people who thank me for bringing their attention to interesting lots they end up purchasing for their collections.

SS: Which hobbyist has had the greatest impact on you?

WH: No question—my mentor Glenn Mooney and the members of the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society (WPNS). In college I read a newspaper article about the coin collection at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Glenn was interviewed in the article. I looked up his phone number and called him. He invited me to his home and delightedly showed me his collections of coins, tokens, and medals. It was an eye-opening experience. Soon, he invited me to a WPNS meeting, and I became a member. Members researched and spoke about different numismatic subjects at every meeting, and they were all great role models for me. Later, I held every office and became a life member of the club. I guess I've been paying it forward ever since.

For more information, see:
http://e-sylum.org/

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web