Featured Member: Littleton Coin Company
Featured member, Littleton Coin Company, is one of the most recognized names in American numismatics and one of the most enduring success stories to come out of Littleton, New Hampshire. Founded in 1945 by World War II veteran Maynard Sundman, the company has grown from a one-room downtown office into a nationally known, 100% employee-owned business that serves coin and paper money collectors across all 50 states and beyond.
A Business Born from Passion
The roots of Littleton Coin Company stretch back further than 1945. In 1927, a rainy afternoon introduced a 12-year-old Maynard Sundman to his friend’s stamp collection, and that chance encounter sparked a lifelong passion for collectibles. After serving honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II, Sundman returned to New England and launched an advertising campaign in December 1945 that would change the course of his life and the hobby industry. Rather than advertising in niche hobby publications, he targeted comic books, Sunday newspaper supplements, and general-interest magazines, reaching everyday consumers where they already were. Orders poured into his modest Littleton office from across the country.
Growth Across the Decades
What started with four employees quickly expanded. By 1950, the team had grown to 40 people, and by 1954 the company had officially become Littleton Stamp and Coin. Through the 1960s and into the 1970s, Sundman expanded his coin inventory with the help of international suppliers and continued refining the company’s signature “coins on approval” model, which allowed customers to review coins at home before deciding to buy, with no down payment or credit card required. In 1974, stamp operations were transferred to the acquired Mystic Stamp Company, and Littleton refocused entirely on coins and paper money. By the early 1990s, the company had grown to more than 125 employees and was generating over $10 million annually, with its strongest five-year growth period happening between 1990 and 1995.
A Family Legacy and a Smooth Transition
Maynard Sundman built more than a business. He raised three sons, David, Rick, and Don, instilling in them an early love of collecting and a deep understanding of the trade. David Sundman joined the company in 1972 after earning a history degree from Gettysburg College, and succeeded his father as president in 1985. Under his leadership, the company continued to grow and earned national recognition. Coin World magazine named David one of numismatics’ Most Influential People from 1960 to 2020, and he has received the American Numismatic Association’s Harry J. Forman Dealer of the Year Award. In 2020, the company transitioned to full employee ownership, and David stepped into the role of chairman.
Leadership and Operations Today
Today, Littleton Coin Company is led by President and CEO John Hennessey, who joined the company in 2007 as VP and CFO before being named to his current role in 2020. A Certified Public Accountant and Boston College graduate, Hennessey previously worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston and brings significant financial leadership to the organization. He is a member of the American Numismatic Association and serves the Littleton community through volunteer roles including chair of the Town of Littleton’s River District Redevelopment Commission.
The company is headquartered on an 85,000-square-foot campus in the foothills of the White Mountains and reported annual revenue of approximately $61.7 million in 2026. Since its founding, Littleton Coin has spent more than $200 million buying coins and paper money, maintaining one of the largest inventories in the industry.
Community Commitment
Littleton Coin Company’s investment in the local community extends beyond employment. Each year, the company presents the Fannie Sundman Memorial Scholarships, awarding $24,000 in scholarships in 2025 to support students in the region.
Active and Engaged in 2026
The company remains at the forefront of the hobby. In March 2026, a Littleton Coin inventory specialist discovered a struck-through production error on the newly released Mayflower Compact quarter from the Philadelphia Mint, the first of five quarters celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary. The find generated excitement across the national collector community and reflects the kind of expert, hands-on attention that has defined Littleton Coin Company for more than 80 years.
Built by collectors, for collectors, Littleton Coin Company continues to bring the coin store to customers’ doors, one package at a time.
