Mathilde Hufford-Varrone was five years old when she began venturing into numismatics. “I was first introduced to numismatics by my dad, great uncle, and papa,” she recalls, now at the age of 18. “I would look through numismatic magazines with my dad and point out all the coins I liked. My great uncle, who lived a floor below us, would also give me rolls of quarters or other interesting finds, and my papa gifted me a lockbox to keep my growing collection in.” She still adds coins to that little lockbox.
“Initially, I gravitated toward animal coins because I loved animals and I really enjoyed those designs. I also really liked colorized coins because I found the way color was incorporated into the design fascinating and it made certain details stand out.” Hufford-Varrone eventually was drawn into banknotes after her father brought some home for her from a coin show. “I became interested in the political imagery and propaganda sometimes depicted on banknotes.”
Her love for global paper money was furthered by a seminar she took covering world banknotes at the American Numismatic Association Summer Seminar. That scholarly scene inspired Hufford-Varrone to participate in a variety of enriching numismatic activities, including serving as head of a young numismatist auction last summer. “As auction head, I delivered speeches promoting the auction, collected and cataloged donations, and made sure the auction went smoothly. I really enjoyed being the auction head, and it was really nice to give back to a community that has done so much for me.”
Her mission to continue learning compelled her to major in biomedical engineering, which she studies at University of Oklahoma on a pre-med track. “I am hoping to go to medical school and become a pediatric doctor or potentially do research in health,” she says. “Although my career will likely not be related to numismatics, I plan to stay engaged in the hobby and continue collecting.” She is interested in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Professional Numismatist Program and wants to contribute numismatic articles to various publications to share her knowledge with other collectors. “My main piece of advice is to take opportunities as they come to you. So many people in this hobby want to uplift young collectors and dealers,” she says. “Everyone brings different knowledge to the table, and everyone can learn so much from each other, so do not be afraid to talk to others in the hobby and ask them questions.”
Hufford-Varrone also recommends collecting whatever piques your interest, “no matter how niche or weird.” She adds, “When I started collecting more seriously, I felt like I had to collect American coins. While they were interesting, I did not feel very passionate about them, which made me feel less attached to the hobby. However, when I started collecting banknotes with vibrant art or historical significance, I found myself falling in love with the hobby again and feeling the same enthusiasm I did when I first started collecting.”