Eclectic Pursuits of Iola
Eclectic Pursuits of Iola is an independent consulting service offering clients personalized
assistance in the resolution of numismatic editorial and promotional issues, publishing project
planning and the resolution of related business challenges, drawing upon the career experience
of Clifford Mishler, its founder and sole principal, who has been actively engaged in varied and
evolving numismatic publishing pursuits for more than 70 years. Having joined the American
Association and the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (originally Canadian
Numismatic Association) in 1956, being life member #391 of the ANA and #19 of the RCNA for
many years, in 2026 both organizations recognized him for being an active member for 70
years.
Mishler has spent a lifetime deeply engaged in coin collecting community activities, having been
introduced to the hobby in 1950 at the age of ten, as an author, editor, publisher, corporate
manager and consultant. Having initially pursued filling Whitman blue folders with coin collected
from circulation, commending in 1957 his interests became more specialized and focused, at
which time he became engaged in authoring and privately publishing specialized studies in the
exonumia field. In 1958 he commenced the publication of annual monographs documenting
newly released commemorative medal and token issues of the United States and Canada, a
series that continued into 1963. In 1963 he commenced a 40-year career at Krause Publications
as an editor, publisher and corporate manager, culminating with retirement in 2003 following a
12-year tenure in the successive capacities of president and board chairman, subsequent to
which he served Whitman Publishing in a consulting capacity as a numismatic development
director (2005-11).
Mishler was the co-originator and co-author of the Standard Catalog of World Coins, first
published in 1972, through its first 35 years. He was also the responsible publisher of
associated “Standard Catalog” and related references marketed by Krause Publications in the
1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The coin collecting sections of the New Book of Knowledge
encyclopedia annuals from 1969 through 1981 were authored by Mishler. His authorship is also
responsible for the appearance of untold thousands of bylined columns and articles, most of
which were unsigned, published in Numismatic News (1963 – Present) and other related Krause
Publications periodical titles.
A 70-year (2026) life member of the American Numismatic Association, Mishler is a recipient of
that organization’s Medal of Merit (1983), Farran Zerbe Memorial Distinguished Service Award
(1984; subsequently renamed the Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award),
Glenn Smedley Memorial Dedicated Services Award (1991), Lifetime Achievement Award
(1997), Numismatist of the Year Award (2002), and Numismatic Hall of Fame recognition
(2004). He served on the organization’s board of directors (2007-2009) and (2011-2013), as
president (2009-2011), and subsequently served on the board for two additional two-year terms
(2019-2023).
Mishler is also a lifetime Fellow of the American Numismatic Society, having served on its
council/trustee board from 1997 through 2014. He is a recipient of the Burnett Anderson
Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing (2005), jointly awarded by the ANA and
ANA, with the participation of the Numismatic Literary Guild.
A founding lifetime member of the Token and Medal Society, Mishler served that organization as
editor of the TAMS Journal (1964-68) and as president (1976-78), and is a two-time recipient if
its Distinguished Service Award (1966 and 1980). A charter member of the Society of Paper
Money Collectors, he received its Nathan Gold Memorial Award in 2019, in recognition of his
services to that community, and in 2021 was recipient of its Hall of Fame recognition.
A life member of the Numismatists of Wisconsin, Mishler received that organization’s
Meritorious Service Award (1972) and served as its president (1974-76). Born and raised in
Michigan, he is a charter lifetime member of the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He
received a special recognition award for Outstanding Service to MSNS and the hobby of
numismatics in Michigan in 2005, and its George Hatie Memorial Award “for service above and
beyond” in 2017.
A life member of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association, having joined the organization in
1956, Mishler received the organization’s Presidential Award in 2014, the Charles D. Moore
Memorial Award in 2020, and its “Fellow” recognition in 2023. In 2025 he was presented a
special RCNA Lifetime Supporter Award in recognition of his support of Canadian numismatics.
He is also a recipient of the “Friendly Prize,” an international recognition for lifetime numismatic
achievements, awarded by Munzen-Revue in Basel, Switzerland (2001).
A member of the coins and medals advisory panel of the American Revolution Bicentennial
Commission (1970-75), he also served as a member of the Annual Assay Commission of the
United States Mint (1973), a President Richard Nixon appointment, and of the Wisconsin
Commemorative Quarter Council (2001-03), as an appointee of Governor Tommy George
Thompson. He testified before Congress on coinage issues on numerous occasions over a 30-
year period beginning in the mid-1960s.
Having first visited the Higgins Money Museum located in Okoboji, Iowa, in 1979, operated by
the Willaim R. Higgins, Jr. Foundation, Mishler has served the organization as a board member
and secretary since 1991. The museum features the history, notes and artifacts of the National
Bank era (1863-1935). An actively involved member of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild since
its founding in 2004, Mishler has supported that organization with service on its board and as
president-elect and president (2018-2024), also serving as its treasurer (2020-23).
Other notable numismatic recognitions received included the following: Ancient Coin Collectors
Guild, 2008, Exceptionally Meritorious Service Award; Blue Ridge Numismatic Association,
1994, Hall of Fame for Years of Unwavering Support; Central States Numismatic Society, 2019,
The Sower Award; Indiana State Numismatic Association, 1993, Founders Award; Michigan
State Numismatic Society, 1999, A Token of Appreciation in Grateful Thanks, 2005, Outstanding
Service Award, 2017, Service Above & Beyond Recognition Award; National Coin & Silver
Bullion, 2024, Wisconsin Legislative Champion Award; North Dakota Coin & Stamp Association,
2026, Lifetime Mentorship & Scholarship Award; Old Fort Coin Club (Ft. Wayne, Ind.), 2006,
Special Recognition Award; Pennsylvania Numismatic Association, 1984, Frank Gasparro
Award, Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Numismatist, 2002, Gilroy Roberts Award, Excellence in
Numismatic Education; Society of Paper Money Collectors, 2019, Nathan Gold Memorial
Award, 2021, Hall of Fame; Texas Numismatic Association, 1994, Hall of Fame; State of
Wisconsin, 2002, Certificate of Commendation from Governor Scot McCallum, Wisconsin
Commemorative Quarter Council Member.
Outside the hobby community, Mishler was a member of the board of directors of the First State
Bank of Iola (1972-83), and the Scandinavia Telephone Company (1982-2000). He was a co-
founder of the Iola Old Car Show (1972), serving that body as its unofficial executive director
(1976-84) and an ex-officio director (1985-2019), and subsequently in an advisory capacity. He
also served as chairman of the fundraising drive to establish and build the Iola-Scandinavia
Community Fitness and Aquatic Center (1999-2001).
A long-time member of the Iola Lions Club (joined 1973), Mishler’s contributions were
recognized with the presentation of a Melvin Jones Fellow Award (1996) for service to the club
and the community, and as the club’s 2009 Lion of the Year honoree. Recipient of the Iola-
Scandinavia Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Outstanding Citizen Award, Mishler is a long-time
member of the Iola Historical Society, which he has been serving as president since 2011, while
also shouldering editor and publisher responsibilities for its quarterly Window newsletter since
2008.
Clifford Mishler maintains his office at 105 North Main Street, Iola, WI 54945. Office phone
number: 715-445-5050; when unavailable, voice mail messages may be left for response;
personal e-mail address: mish@EclecticPursuitsIola.com.
