Germany 1912 and seventeen-year old Ilse Ehrenkrantz longs for a story that is different from her middle class traditional Jewish life. Fascinated by her artistic explorations of Catholic symbols, Ilse immerses herself in a world outside her family. This decision propels her into a relationship with her cousin, Georg, a spirited story teller and passionate coin collector, who abandons Judaism for a Prussian military career. Ilse's choices set in motion a series of consequences that divide her family. Rich with details of the era, this subtle novel-part family saga, part love story-raises questions about Jewish identity, spirituality and desire. At the center are the valuable and mesmerizing coins that will draw Ilse to become The Numismatist's Wife.