Walter Breen

Walter Breen (September 5, 1930(or possibly 1928?) - April 28, 1993) was a numismatist best known in coin collecting circles for writing Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins and U. S. Half Cents Encyclopedia. Walter Breen was a coin genius, able to keep thousands of facts about coins in his head. He also co-authored "California Fractional Gold".

The Breen numbers from his Encyclopedia are widely used to attribute varieties of coins.

A troubled individual in his personal life, he died in prison in Chino, California after pleading guilty to child molestation. The numismatic community was greatly shocked by this turn of events.

He reportedly wrote or co-wrote Greek Love under the pseudonym J.Z. Eglinton. This book attempts to justify sexual relationships between adult men and young boys.

Walter was married to science fiction writer Marion Zimmer Bradley in 1964. They separated in 1979. She apparently had some knowledge of his personal inclinations.