Rick Tomaska is a nationally recognized numismatist, author, and coin dealer with more than four decades of expertise. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he founded R & I Coins in 1981, specializing in high-quality mint-state and proof U.S. coins. Tomaska is best known for pioneering research on modern proof coinage. His 1991 book, Cameo and Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 to 1970 Era, helped establish the Cameo, Deep Cameo, and Ultra Cameo designations now used by PCGS and NGC. His Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars (1997) introduced the "Full Bell Lines" grading standard, now widely recognized across the hobby. In 2014, Tomaska co-founded Rare Collectibles TV (RCTV), where he educates and inspires collectors nationwide through "Rick's U.S. Coin Show." Known for his ability to make complex topics accessible, he has been called the "Cameo King" for his groundbreaking work in proof coin grading and collecting.
