Bill Fivaz

Bill Fivaz (born 1934) is a distinguished American numismatist and author. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1956 and subsequently served in the United States Navy. Fivaz has been an avid coin collector since 1950, developing a particular interest in die varieties—distinctive features on coins resulting from variations in the die used during minting. This passion led him to co-author The Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins with J.T. Stanton, first published in 1990. The guide became an instant success among collectors, offering detailed insights into identifying valuable coin variations.

Throughout his career, Fivaz has authored over a dozen numismatic books, including Helpful Hints For Enjoying Coin Collecting (1999) and the United States Gold Counterfeit Detection Guide (2005). His contributions to the field have been widely recognized; in 2001, he was named "Numismatist of the Year" by the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Beyond writing, Fivaz has been an active member of the Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta, serving on its board of directors and mentoring young collectors. In February 2024, the club celebrated his 90th birthday, honoring his decades-long dedication to numismatics.