Leon Hendrickson is the recipient of the American Numismatic Association’s 2008 Numismatist of the Year for his many contributions to the hobby. Hendrickson is widely known as the founder and president of Silver Towne, a coin dealership and mint he founded in 1949 in Winchester, Ind. Today, Silver Towne employs 100 people and features a coin shop, jewelry and collectibles departments, and custom mint. But the hobby’s fellowship has meant so much more to me than the money," Hendrickson said. # # #About American Numismatic AssociationThe American Numismatic Association is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to study and collect money and related items.