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THE HANBERRY COLLECTION

hirley Hanbery, wife of the late Dr. John Hanbery, a nationally renowned neurosurgeon and long-

time professor and chief of neurosurgery at Stanford University Hospital, began collecting coins

around 1965. Mrs. Hanbery was herself a graduate of Stanford Univerity receiving a degree in history.

As a historian she was naturally drawn to collecting ancient coins. Mrs. Hanbery soon focussed on

ancient Greek coins to the exclusion of all others, collecting with an appreciation of both the historical

and aesthetic aspects of the archaic, classical, and Hellenistic periods. She collected coins in all metals

and was particularly drawn to those with venerable pedigrees. In addition to the intellectual rewards

inherent in collecting ancient coins, Mrs. Hanbery enjoyed the social interaction with other collectors.

As a long-standing member of the San Francisco Ancient Numismatic Society, she regularly attended

meetings, sharing her newfound treasures with her fellow collectors. She likewise frequented most

West Coast coin shows, becaming well-known to many dealers. She was active in the Stanford Chapter

of the Archaeological Institute America and volunteered as a docent at the Stanford Art Museum (now

the Cantor Arts Center) where her knowledge of classical antiquity was most appreciated.

Upon her death in 1998, her impressive collection passed to her son, John G. Hanbery, also a Stanford

graduate, who went on to become an esteemed speech therapist at the Ralph K. Davies Hospital in San

Francisco. Mr. Hanbery passed away in 2001.

Frank Kovacs