Phil Skingley (1972-2026)
There are numismatists whose significance is not immediately apparent at first glance. Philip Skingley was one of them.
Starting out at the Collectors Gallery in Shrewsbury
He began his career in the early 1990s with Mike Veissid at the Collectors Gallery in Shrewsbury. There are many galleries like this in the United Kingdom. They are a paradise for collectors, because you can find all sorts of things there, including coins, medals, and banknotes, of course. You don’t need to be a specialist in such galleries. If you want to prove yourself here, you have to know a little bit about everything. Philip Skingley did just that. During his years in Shrewsbury, he acquired a solid basic knowledge in countless areas and developed a feel for collectors and what interests them.
Spink’s Publishing Division
In the year 1996, Spink recruited the promising numismatist. Of course, he also helped with catalog production, but his most important role was on another front: he became the heart and soul of Spink’s Publishing Division, the publishing house that was so irreplaceable to the numismatic world and whose sale has left a deep void. Philip Skingley was the person with whom an author had to consult. He always represented the interests of the reader, ensuring that even the most scientific work remained usable. In a subtle way, he influenced countless books and enforced the high quality standards of “his” publishing house. For many years, Spink was considered one of, if not the most renowned numismatic publisher in the world. Catalog works such as the RIC were published here. One reason for this was, or rather, above all, Philip Skingley’s personal commitment. It was more than deserved when he received the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Numismatic Society in 2014.
Of course, Phil was also an author himself. His standard catalog of British coins was reprinted again and again.
The same was true of the supplementary catalog of Scottish and Irish coins. Philip Skingley also edited the legendary Numismatic Circular. Founded in the year 1892, it was the longest-running publication of its kind before it was discontinued in printed form in 2014.
Mentor and gentleman
That was Phil. He was always willing to assist, without considering what he would gain from it. He helped many young coin enthusiasts secure their first internship. They mourn his passing deeply. They cherished Phil as their mentor and estimated his always well-considered advice. Phil enjoyed interacting with them and was delighted when he could share his wealth of knowledge.
When I think of Phil, he is and remains for me the English gentleman par excellence: always friendly, never in a bad mood, helpful, well-informed, and obliging. If humanity consisted only of people like him, the world would truly be a better place.
Now Phil Skingley is dead. He suffered a stroke on February 4, 2026, and died the following night at the age of 54. He still had so much to give to the world!
He leaves behind a wife and two children who will miss him infinitely. Our deepest sympathy goes out to them.
If you would like to share your memories and photos with Phil’s family, a dedicated website has been set up for this purpose.
Text and Images by Ursula Kampmann
