Esteemed Numismatist Dennis Tucker Joins CSNS Board

He succeeds Carrie Meyer, who stepped down from the board voluntarily due to the increased demands of her expanded responsibilities as a college professor and administrator.

Meyer is a former curator of the famous Byron Reed Collection at The Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. She is now an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the Department of Special Collections and Archives of the Health Sciences Library at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

“On behalf of the Central States Numismatic Society, I extend our sincere thanks to Carrie Meyer for her service on the Board of Governors. During her tenure, Carrie generously shared her time, talents, and perspective in support of the Society and its mission. Her contributions helped strengthen CSNS and will have a lasting impact on the organization. We are grateful for her dedication and wish her continued success in all her future endeavors,” stated CSNS President Mitch Ernst. 

In addition to elected members of the CSNS Board, there are two appointed seats for individuals with professional and nonprofit leadership experience whose expertise can provide valuable support to CSNS and its members. Tucker has accepted the appointment to replace Meyer.

 “As president of Central States, I am pleased to welcome Dennis Tucker to our Board of Governors. Dennis brings not only an unparalleled record of service and achievement in numismatics but also valuable nonprofit leadership experience that will help guide the Society into the future,” Ernst stated.

A collector since the age of seven, Tucker is an award-winning author, researcher, and member of many national and international numismatic organizations, including two terms (2016-2024) on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. He served for two decades as the publisher of Whitman Publishing, overseeing the annual A Guide Book of United States Coins (“the Red Book”) and many other titles.

In his new role on the CSNS Board, Tucker believes it is important to focus on four vital areas: education, communications/community, young collectors, and good governance.

“I respect that the Society devotes a good amount of resources to education. The Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium is a brilliant feather in the Central States' cap. I like the current CSNS commitment to showcase each member state in the Society. This is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on each state, as well as a unique way to publicize the annual convention,” Tucker wrote in a brief statement about the mission of CSNS.

“The Central States’ activities, giveaways, and programming for young collectors are top-notch. When it comes to encouraging new hobbyists, I don’t limit my approach to ‘kids are the future of the hobby!’ because new collectors in their forties and fifties are just as important to cultivate. But I do think young people with curiosity and intelligence are an important audience. The American Numismatic Association and Central States are leaders in this area,” he explained.

Regarding good governance, Tucker stated: “Mitch (Ernst) and I have had a lot of conversations, and we’re ‘in harness,’ as Dave Bowers says, when it comes to the importance of solid, professional governance in the nonprofit world. Since I retired, I’ve been able to concentrate on volunteer work, and I like what I see at Central States.”

For additional information about the Central States Numismatic Society, visit www.CSNS.org.