Ruth W. Hill

Ruth W. Hill (October 24, 1898–January 15, 1995) was an American numismatist who specialized in the collection of historical banknotes from around the world. Referred to as the "Grand Old Lady of Paper Money Collecting in North America” by many collectors, she was well-regarded not only for her extensive numismatic holdings but also for her trailblazing efforts as a woman in a male-dominated field. Hill was a collector of bank notes and one of the foremost researchers of paper currency, and was a highly active member of the numismatic community from the 1950s until her death. By the time of her death, her bank note collection was considered one of the rarest and most extensive in the world.

Early life

Ruth Hill was a native of Texas and lived in both Georgia and Florida before settling down in St. Louis with her husband, Adolph B. Hill Jr. The Mr. Hill worked as a representative for a company that made specialty inks, which included dealings with banks. It was through her husband's dealings with the Banco de México that Ruth Hill first became interested in studying and collecting paper currency.

Her collection quickly grew to contain some of the rarest bank notes ever issued. Hill was well known for her generosity both in time and resources to other members of the numismatic community, especially noted for her keen assistance to new numismatic collectors and being pivotal in bank note research. Later in her life, Hill also used her collections to promote collecting interests in grade school-age students. Hill also served in the Society of Paper Money Collectors and the American Numismatic Society.

Death Ruth Hill died in St. Louis in January, 1995 at the age of 96. Her collections of bank notes, both American and international, went on to be partially auctioned off or preserved for future generations of bank note collectors. A 1933 cloth one yuan note from the Sichuan-Shaanxi Provincial Workers & Farmers Bank which sold for $18,800