The E-Sylum v16#40 September 29, 2013
The E-Sylum
esylum at binhost.com
Sun Sep 29 19:05:28 PDT 2013
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The E-Sylum
An electronic publication of
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society
Volume 16, Number 40, September 29, 2013
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WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
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CHARLES DAVIS MAIL BID SALE CLOSES NOVEMBER 16, 2013
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BOOK REVIEW: THE MEDALS OF KARL X. GOETZ
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THE JOYS OF BACK ISSUES OF THE NUMISMATIST
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EL SITIO NO. 8 PUBLISHED
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JAMES CHARLTON, 1911-2013
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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
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ARTICLE INTERVIEWS RED BOOK EDITOR KEN BRESSETT
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FORBES LIFE HIGHLIGHTS NEWMAN COLLECTION
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FRICK SEMINAR ON DAVID D’ANGERS' PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS
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WHAT PRICE GLORY? MEDALS OF HONOR AUCTION RECORDS
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RIDDELL AND PATTERSON: A CURIOUS CONNECTION
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FIREHOUSE FIRE NEAR PHILADELPHIA MINT
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HARVEY STACK ON THE JAMES STACK COLLECTION, PART 1
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SPINNERET MACHINES IN NUMISMATICS
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NEW RESEARCH ON THE COIN COLLECTORS KLINE
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MORE COINS WITH IMAGES OF BOOKS
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CHARLEMAGNE, SWITZERLAND, AND NUMISMATICS
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IRELAND’S “GREAT LOCK-OUT OF 1913” CENTENNIAL COIN LAUNCHED
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INTERVIEW WITH LOCK-OUT COIN DESIGN RORY BRESLIN
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CONTROVERSY OVER CHINA'S COIN-SHAPED BUILDING
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BRITISH MUSEUM VIKING EXHIBIT INCLUDES COINS
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FEATURED WEB PAGE: THE COINS OF ECUADOR
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Click here to read this issue on the web
Click here to access the complete archive
To comment or submit articles, reply to
whomren at gmail.com
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
New subscribers this week include
Jason Villarreal of Goldberg Coins, courtesy of Jim Neiswinter.
Welcome aboard!
We have 1,670 email subscribers, plus 247 followers on Facebook.
This week we open with information on Charlie Davis' next numismatic literature sale, a short review of the new reprints of the Karl Goetz medal books, an article about some useful back issues of The Numismatist.
Numismatics has lost another legend - the Dean of Canadian Numismatics, James Charlton, has died. Several readers offer tributes.
Other topics include Ken Bressett, Assayer John Leonard Riddell, the Collectors Kline and James A. Stack.
To learn more about the Museum Mazzuchellianum Catalogue, the Stone Mountain Half Dollar, the 1791 Sierra Leone "Piece" Dollar, coins with images of books, coin designer Rory Breslin, and the giant coin-shaped building in China, read on. Have a great week, everyone!
Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum
CHARLES DAVIS MAIL BID SALE CLOSES NOVEMBER 16, 2013
Charlie Davis forwarded this announcement of his upcoming Mail Bid Sale, closing November 16, 2013.
-Editor
Charles Davis will be conducting his next sale of numismatic literature with a Mail Bid Sale closing November 16. The sale will feature The Michael Sullivan Collection of The Works of Wayte Raymond with additions from the libraries of John W. Adams, Gordon Frost and Rob Retz. Highlights will include, in no particular order
Museum Mazzuchellianum Catalogue 1761-1763
Howard Newcomb’s card file with full descriptions in his hand of
1000 cents that comprised his collection
New Netherlands catalogues complete, 6 volumes bound in Morocco
William Sheldon’s copy of Wurtzbach Plates of Massachusetts Silver
Dennis Cooper: The Art and Craft of Coin Making
Henry Chapman’s signed copy of Low’s Hard Times Tokens with Adams Plates
W. E. Woodward catalogues - 91 of the 108 numbered sales
The Numismatist, 1921-1971 complete, bound in cloth
T. Harrison Garrett’s copy of Slafter on Vermonts
Peter Gschwend, James B. Wilson, Malcolm Jackson catalogues with Plates
Revue Belge de Numismatique et de Sigilllographie 1904-1940 complete
Crosby’s Early Coins of America, 3 different, one with Maris Plate
Beazel: United States Counterfeit Detector
Clapp & Newcomb The Cents of 1795-1814 handsomely bound as one
Near Complete Run of the catalogues of M. L. Bolender
Richard Eliasberg’s Deluxe Eliasberg/Brand Catalogue
Dorothy & Grenville Bathe on Jacob Perkins
Milwaukee 1986 Special Red Book signed by Yeoman
Penny Wise and Colonial Newsletter, bound sets
Museum Mazzuchellianum Catalogue 1761-1763
New Netherlands catalogues complete, 6 volumes bound in Morocco
Howard Newcomb’s card file
The catalogue will be posted on our web site October 7 and mailed shortly thereafter
Many lots will be displayed at the Whitman Baltimore show November 7-9.
Charles Davis, EAC 142
Box 547
Wenham Mass 01984
E-Mail:
Numislit at aol.com
Web Site:
www.Numisbook.com
BOOK REVIEW: THE MEDALS OF KARL X. GOETZ
Greg Burns writes:
I received my set of Henry Scott Goodman’s republication (soft-bound) of volumes one and two of Gunter Kienast’s books on Karl Goetz’ medals. They were extremely well protected during shipping by a heavy duty box and were well wrapped; they arrived in flawless condition. The covers look gorgeous and the printing is quite good. I’m very happy with them. Definitely a cost-effective alternative to the long out-of-print and hard to find hardbound originals (or even, for bibliophiles, in addition to the hardbound copies). I think the ease and relative low-cost of acquiring these quality issues will open up to purchasers the broad panorama of subjects and themes Goetz covered. Recommended.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOKS: THE MEDALS OF KARL X. GOETZ
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n38a02.html)
THE BOOK BAZARRE
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS:
Are your books carried by Wizard Coin Supply?
If not, contact us via
www.WizardCoinSupply.com
with details.
THE JOYS OF BACK ISSUES OF THE NUMISMATIST
Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker published an article in CoinWeek September 24, 2013 about the great information to be found in back issues of The Numismatist, the monthly publication of the American Numismatic Association. They focused on four particular issues as examples. Here's an excerpt, but be sure to read the complete article online.
-Editor
Coin collecting is surprisingly dynamic. And coin lore, like coin value, changes over time. Facts change, and commonly known tidbits are lost to time.
Hubert and I comb relentlessly through old books and magazines, and auction catalogs. We do this to learn not just the stories behind the coins, but also the stories behind the stories. Books are great for that, sure, and a good catalog is a masterful blend of the technical and the legendary. However, for our money (literally, and not a lot of it*), old magazines are where it’s at.
Individual issues are snapshots of the hobby as it was at the time of publication, and are full of insights that can only help you as a collector. They have the power to transform your collecting goals and lead you in new and exciting directions. Taken as a whole, a year’s or even a decade’s worth of magazines puts you in the middle of the action, and the hobby of the past becomes a living thing once more.
Bibliophiles and researchers take note - as much as we love diving into 19th century literature, often the best word on a topic is modern. Their picks are relatively recent issues, within the lifetimes of most of our readers. Below I'll list the issues and an excerpt on one example article they cited.
-Editor
February 1986
"(Herb) Hicks’ work is the cornerstone of Washington quarter reverse variety study, and his in-depth feature “The Washington Quarter Reverse: A Die-Variety Bonanza” is a mesmerizing take on the subject.
So groundbreaking is the article that it remains essential reading on the Heraldic Eagle-type Washington quarter reverse, and is often quoted by Q. David Bowers and others when describing the different reverse hub changes that have occurred throughout the series."
July 2002
The story of the 1933 double eagle is one of the great tales of 20th century numismatics. The month that the only example the Federal Government ever allowed to be privately owned went on sale, The Numismatist published an insightful and captivating piece by Stack’s cataloger and former Numismatic Literary Guild Executive Director David T. Alexander entitled “Selling America’s Rarest Coin”.
Alexander covers all the bases, from the production and subsequent melting of the ‘33 double eagle, to attempts to sell the coins over the years – including the Flanagan, Berenstein, Boyd, Bell, Reed and Eliasberg specimens. The Reed specimen was actually advertised by Smith & Sons, a Chicago coin dealership, in the February 1941 issue.
July 1984
James O. Sweeny’s essay “The Liberty Cap: Numismatic Symbol Sans Pareil” should be required reading for every coin collector. Strangely enough, Hubert and I have a long-running conversation going (Hubert: Debate? Argument? Bar-room bull session?) about the differences between the Phrygian cap and the Roman pileus. It’s what we do. The two hats are decidedly different in origin and use and are commonly confused for one another. In Sweeny’s piece, you find an illuminating history of the pileus and its symbolism, going back to the Denarius of Cassius in the 2nd century B.C.E. and progressing through the modern era.
March 1985
We talked about William Hyder before during our coverage of the 2013 ANA Board of Governors elections. In a March 1985 piece entitled “The Selling of the Stone Mountain Half Dollar” Hyder and coauthor R. W. Colbert wrote one of the best essays ever about a U.S. commemorative coin.
The piece traces the coin’s origin back to attempts to construct a monolithic sculpture of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson on the side of Stone Mountain in Georgia. Plans for the work go as far back as 1912. The coin wasn’t issued until 1925, and the actual sculpture wasn’t finished until 1972, after fits and starts and heaps of controversy.
Of all the “shenanigans associated with the issuance of [commemorative] half dollars”, Hyder and Colbert point out, “none is more mysterious than the variety of schemes devised to sell the Stone Mountain half dollar”.
To read the complete article, see:
>From the Vaults: Four Essential Back Issues of The Numismatist
(www.coinweek.com/education/vaults-four-essential-back-issues-numismatist/)
EL SITIO NO. 8 PUBLISHED
Horacio Morero, President of the Instituto Uruguayo de Numismática, submitted this summary of the contents of the latest issue of the club's publication El Sitio. Thanks! -Editor -Editor
-Editor
“El Sitio” Nº 8 contains some interesting news such as the ceremony commemorating the 58 years of the Instituto Uruguayo de Numismática (IUN), four numismatic articles, and a note on an exposition. The cover has a picture of the famous and very scarce so called “cinquiño”, the 5 centésimos coin of year 1840.
The four published articles are the following:
The Medal School Prizes from the School of the Philantropy Society, by Hugo Mancebo Decaux.
The proof Peso del Sitio, by Gustavo O.Pigurina.
The 97 Revolution and the Festival of Trees, by Daniel Fernández Calvo.
Identifying Sheep Shearing Tokens (second printed delivery), by Horacio Morero and Mario Sánchez.
The exposition: “The Jellyfish in the Greek Cities State Coins”.
To read the complete issue on the web, see:
http://www.monedasuruguay.com/bib/bib/sitio08.pdf
JAMES CHARLTON, 1911-2013
George Kolbe forwarded a note from Don Bunjevac announcing that Canadian coin dealer and numismatic publisher Jim Charlton passed away on Friday, September 20, 2013, in his 103rd year.
-Editor
Don Bunjevac,
President,
Toronto Coin Club writes:
I am sorry to have to advise that Jim Charlton died. Mr. Charlton was a great figure in Canadian numismatics, and was charter member #9 of the Toronto Coin Club. He lived a long and active life, and was an inspiration to all who knew him.
Tony Hine writes:
Jim Charlton, long time coin dealer and expert and wooden nickel collector died earlier this week. Judy Blackman has provided us with the attached tribute. Jim turned 100 in July 2011 and attended the wooden money meeting in Windsor. Jim chose to have breakfast with the wooden money collectors rather than join one of several other meetings occurring at the same time.
Here's an excerpt from the tribute. I added an image of Charlton from his obituary web page (link below).
-Editor
James Edward Charlton (July 26, 1911 – September 20, 2013) “Coinman to Canadians” passed away peacefully on Friday, September 20th, 2013 in his 103rd year. James, beloved husband of 68 years to Mary (nee Tyndall), was loving father of James. R. Charlton (married to Pamela), and dear Grandpa of Daniel, Trevor (married to Christa), and Great-Grandpa to Lucas, Dexter and Lillyana.
“James will be dearly missed by members of the numismatic hobby and publishing industry. Scott Douglas shared, “Jim was the epitome of honesty and integrity. Jim Charlton is a numismatic legend. His legacy will live on in all who knew him.” Sean Isaacs shared, “A quiet giant of numismatics, whose contributions to the wonder of coin collecting will leave a permanent legacy. We will indeed miss his wonderful presence at our shows. Sincere condolences to his family.”
James was a Canadian coin dealer and numismatic publisher, and an all around lovely human being. After working as a stationary engineer, he opened a coin store in Toronto. He published his first guidebook, Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Tokens & Fractional Currency, in 1952. Other titles from Charlton Press followed.
Subsequently James sold his store to concentrate on his publications, and later sold his publishing company, Charlton Press, which continues to publish price guides for coins, banknotes and other collectibles.
In 1972, James was recipient of the J. Douglas Ferguson Award for his distinguished services to Canadian numismatics. “As a professional coin dealer for over twenty years, you established a reputation for honesty and integrity that greatly added to the prestige of Canadian numismatics at home and abroad. Your influence was always a steadying factor on the commercial side of our hobby.
Your catalogues of Canadian coins, tokens and paper money have become the accepted standard throughout the world. Such expressions as ‘Charlton's numbers’, ‘Charlton's prices’ and ‘Charlton's grading’ are understood by numismatists everywhere. The publication of your annua1 catalogues has contributed more during the past two decades to the in-creased interest in numismatics as a popular hobby in Canada than any other single factor.
Through your many articles and numerous speeches you have shared your interest and enthusiasm for numismatics with thousands of others. You have always stood for and encouraged the finer aspects of our wonderful hobby. We are proud to present the highest award of The Canadian Numismatic Association to you, James E. Char1ton, for your outstanding contributions to Canadian numismatics.” (signed: Norman W. Williams and Jenny Zubick)
Scott E. Douglas forwarded a copy of a letter he sent out to the Fellows of the Canadian Numismatic Research Society (CNRS). Thanks.
It is with deep sorrow that I report the passing of Canada’s greatest numismatic
ambassador, Fellow Jim Charlton, at 102 years of age. For me to try and recap Jim’s
accomplishments here would take forever that’s how extensive they are. Suffice to say
that there is scarcely a collector in Canada and many other parts of the world that has not heard of the Charlton name. Jim always represented himself with dignity, honesty and
integrity.
I am quite certain there are many, many stories you all have of Jim’s generosity.
In my case, on more than one occasion, Jim sent me a letter commenting on whatever
article I may have written in the CN Journal or Numismatica Canada. He was always
complimentary in expressing how interesting or informative the piece was. I always felt
his sincerity and appreciated that he would take the time to show his support.
On another
occasion Jim sent me some old invoices and statements from the Hamilton Stamp and
Stencil Works dated in the 1890’s when he found out I was researching the company for
a future article. I know my story is not unique and would encourage everyone to take a
moment now to reflect on how Jim may have touched your life.
Jim Charlton is a numismatic legend. His legacy will live on in all who knew him.
Scott included this group photo from the 2011 CNRS meeting in Windsor,
Ontario. Jim Charlton (front row, 3rd from the right) was being celebrated as numismatics' newest centenarian.
-Editor
Darryl Atchison writes:
This was very sad news for me as I first met Jim Charlton when I was about 18 years old back in 1982. I had just been posted to a base in Toronto and took the opportunity to get an introduction to large 'coin shows' and very large, active coin clubs. At that time, Jim was still living in the Toronto area and I would see him regularly. He sparked my interest in numismatic research and displaying and over the years I have added many coin publications to my library that I couldn't imagine how I would have found otherwise.
He was a gentle, soft-spoken man who exuded charm and grace and he was a genuine pleasure to sit down with and chat about coins and other things that interested him.
It cannot be overstated how large the gap in Canadian numismatics will be now that our most famous 'ambassador' has left us. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered for many, many years.
Dan Gosling writes:
Mr. Charlton lived life to the fullest. He dedicated himself to the benefit
of those around him and others as well. He was hard working and highly
successful in business and yet maintained the highest moral and ethical standards.
His biography, J. E. Charlton : Coinman to Canadians by H. Don Allen,
is a must-read for all numismatists. The book details events relating to the
numismatic community during an important time period. There is an
excellent article “James E. Charlton Reflects on the Changing Numismatic
Scene” in the June, 1998, issue of the North York Coin Club Bulletin
www.nunet.ca/nycc/bulletins/NYCC.1998-06.pdf
The James E. Charlton Junior Award,
www.rcna.ca/charlton.php,
was established in 1969 as an annual presentation for the best exhibit of
Canadian coins displayed by a Junior member (under 18 years of age)
at the Canadian Numismatic Association (CNA) Convention. As a great
believer in the importance of encouraging young people to take an interest
in our hobby he created an award to acknowledge excellence in exhibits.
James E. Charlton, F.R.C.N.A., F.C.N.R.S., Honourary President of
The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA), and Life Member 6,
is often referred to as the “Dean of Canadian Numismatics,” and the
“Father of modern numismatics in Canada.”
James E. Charlton was Editor of the Canadian Section of Coin World
(1963-1969, 1983-1990); president of the RCNA (1979-1981);
recipient of the Royal Canadian Mint Numismatic Education Award (1988);
recipient of the Numismatic News Numismatic Ambassador Award (2001);
appointed Fellow of the CNA (2002); first recipient of the Paul Fiocca
Award (2008), the highest award of the RCNA; and attended 51 consecutive
CNA Conventions (1954-2004).
“The Charlton Coin Catalogue and its creator James E. Charlton” is featured at
www.edmontoncoinclub.com/charlton.htm.
The October issue of The Canadian Numismatic Journal features an article
“Canada's Coinman: Continuing Commitment” by Harold Don Allen and
“Reflections of My Father” by James R. Charlton. RCNA members can view
this issue now by logging into The CN Journal Online at:
www.rcna.ca/cnjournal.php
Here's Dan Gosling (left) and Jim Charlton (right).
-Editor
Getting to know Mr. Charlton was the singular greatest joy of my numismatic hobby.
When I called Jim on his 102nd birthday on July 26th he reported that he
was doing tres bien! His son remarked that his father never spoke a single word of French prior to turning 100.
Farewell Mr. Charlton, you lived your life well. You served our hobby
and taught our enthusiasts – a job you did better than anyone I know.
Scott Douglas added (on Saturday):
The funeral service was small and private but very touching. A few of us were able to trade 'Charlton tales' if you will, and the laughter was a tribute to a wonderful individual that left all who knew Jim a better and more enriched person.
The trip to the cemetery was an intimate occurrence and I am thankful to the Charlton family for allowing me to be a part of it. I will not soon forget today.
To read the complete obituary, see:
James Edward Charlton
(obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=James-Charlton&lc=3778&pid=167164731&mid=5679324)
U.S. Coin Cataloger Needed
U.S. Coin Cataloger Needed: Heritage Auctions seeks a cataloger with an extensive background in U.S. coinage and exceptional command of written English for the U.S. Coins department. Duties include, but are not limited to, cataloging, evaluating, and attributing U.S. coins.
The successful applicant will work at our World Headquarters in Dallas or from home (substantial numismatic library required). Excellent benefits and work environment. Salary will be commensurate with skills and experience. Contact Mark Van Winkle at
Mark at ha.com.
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
Dollar Piece or Peace Dollar?
Bob Neale writes:
In the notice of Baldwin's sale of the Arielle collection, shown is a Sierra Leone 1791 proof dollar with the legend "ONE DOLLAR PIECE" and the clasped hands symbol for 'peace.' I wonder whether 'piece' was meant to be spelled as it is? No, I haven't made any effort to find out. Yes, lazy...
Well, that's a good question. I hadn't thought of it as any more than a declaration of the coin's value, a "One Dollar Piece". But the clasped hands could symbolize a peace accord. Is the wording intentional? Was it meant only to represent the denomination, or as a pun?
-Editor
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
BALDWIN'S ARIELLE COLLECTION OF BRITISH COLONIAL COINS
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n39a23.html)
National Coin Album Roman Coin Pages
Dave lange writes:
Of interest last week were the photos supplied by Larry Korchnack of the National Coin Album pages for Roman coins, Publisher Numbers 500A through 500F and Lange Numbers RNSRA1 through RNSRA6. I was aware of these from vintage ads in The Coin Collector's Journal, and David Sundman also has a set of them. I was hoping to photograph David's pages for my book, but this never quite came together, and Larry's photos arrived after the color pages were already laid out fully. The Roman pages were offered for a very short time in the mid-1930s and were not good sellers, being discontinued before the end of that decade.
Even more rare are the National pages for English copper coins by type from James I through George V. These were offered only in the large or portrait format pages, Lange Numbers RNLE1 and RNLE2 (the Publisher Numbers are unknown). I was not able to find even a single example of either of these pages, so they too must have been flops for Wayte Raymond. They were offered concurrently with the Roman pages, and I'm attaching a page from my book which shows the ads for both.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: NATIONAL COIN ALBUM ROMAN COIN PAGES SOUGHT
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n39a10.html)
Fort McHenry and Fire Museum of Maryland Exhibits
Regarding the quarter launch ceremony at Fort McHenry in Baltimore,
Russ Sears writes:
Jane and I arrived there at about 10:30 but our purpose was to see an exhibit which includes over 30 pieces from our collection. As a second thought I purchased two rolls of quarters.
The current exhibit at Fort McHenry focuses on anniversary celebrations of the Star Spangled Banner in 1889, 1914 and 1964. The room where it is located is just past the ranger station on the left. Most people likely assume that they cannot or should not enter the room. Next year the focus will be more on the actual Battle of Baltimore in 1814.
At this time, we also have two different exhibits at the Fire Museum of Maryland. One has to do with the Fire Department in the early 1870's and 1880's. The other features the Battle of Baltimore and related items including document signed by Admiral Cochrane, Admiral Cockburn, Major General Ross, all British leaders of the attack.
Other documents are signed by Major General Samuel Smith, military leader of the defense, Major George Armistead, commander at Fort McHenry and James McHenry (they named a fort after him), and other pieces.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
FORT MCHENRY QUARTER LAUNCH CEREMONY REPORT
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n39a13.html)
Smithsonian Exhibit Suggestions
Martin Kaplan writes:
Coins to include in the Smithsonian exhibit: the first and last U.S. $20 gold pieces...not for circulation...1849 and 1933.
Eric Schena writes:
I am going to pick one item and it's a coin. I would think in order to tell the story of the value of money, you could not go wrong with a Brasher doubloon. Firstly, it's the first American gold coin, it is an excellent draw for people, the design is original and inspiring, and it is a suitably big enough coin that it would be able to be seen easily without too many visual aids. An added thought is that it cannot only tell the story of how money circulated in the early Republic (the bridge between foreign circulating coins and early US coinage), but also the story of American numismatics itself.
The coins have storied pedigrees that spans the history of coin collecting in the US, plus have even bridged the gap into popular culture, to include the movies (The Brasher Doubloon, 1947) and it does not get much more American than Hollywood. In addition, it can be used to discuss trade in the 1780s and 1790s, as well as the value of the coin itself as an objet d'art. That would be an excellent way to broach multiple subjects in one object and not restrict it to just numismatic arcana.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: INPUT FOR NEW SMITHSONIAN NUMISMATIC EXHIBIT SOUGHT
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n39a11.html)
Great ideas! But I could have sworn we'd get a flood of suggestions for must-have artifacts to display in the next permanent exhibit of the Smithsonian's National Numismatic Collection. But that's all we've heard this week. Any other suggestions, readers?
-Editor
ARTICLE INTERVIEWS RED BOOK EDITOR KEN BRESSETT
Jeff Garrett interviewed Ken Bressett for an NGC Weekly Market Report published September 26, 2013. Here are some excerpts - be sure to read the complete version online.
-Editor
Q: Ken, how long have you been involved with the Red Book?
A. I began sharing numismatic information with Dick Yeoman in 1956, and did it out of friendship and concern for the accuracy in the book. In 1959, he asked me to move to Racine, WI and work for him full time on this and other projects.
Q: How has the process of pricing changed since you began work on the Red Book?
A: The basic process is the same in that we still survey key US dealers and average their opinions to gain an insight into current price trends. In the early days we did the calculations without use of computers or even adding machines. Today the system is far more refined and computers do much of the work for us. The final numbers still require human analysis and consideration of factors that machines simply cannot supply.
Q: We are most familiar with your work regarding United States coins. What other areas of numismatics interest you?
A: I enjoy all aspects of numismatics, but have refrained from actually collecting US coins to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. I collect coins of China and Japan because they are so challenging, and ancient Greek silver coins because they are historical and beautiful.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you have met in your years of numismatics?
A: Eric P. Newman. I recently attended a party for him on his 102 birthday. He regaled me with stories from his past and the many enjoyable times we spent together. His incredible memory and life experiences are astounding, and extend far beyond what most people only know about his numismatic activities. He is truly a modern Man for All Seasons, and a great humanitarian.
To read the complete article, see:
TEN QUESTIONS
(www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=3593&Ten-Questions)
FORBES LIFE HIGHLIGHTS NEWMAN COLLECTION
Nick Graver forwarded this brief article from Forbes Life which profiles Eric Newman and his collection.
-Editor
In the late 1800s, eons before the euro was even a gleam in a Brussels economist’s eye, several European countries forged an international monetary standard that the United States considered joining. The U.S. Mint went as far as to design new gold and silver coins to match the weight of those in Italy and France, and even invented a new denomination, the Stella, with a face value of $4. Yet adoption of this Esperanto of currency was soundly defeated by American isolationists, and only a few prototype coins (or “patterns”) remain. Some of the finest were acquired in the 1930s and ’40s by a man named Eric P. Newman.
Now those patterns are back in circulation–among collectors, anyway–having been sold in April by Heritage Auctions. Their value has skyrocketed: an 1879 “metric dollar” that Newman bought for $35 fetched $41,000; another from 1880, for which Newman paid $50, sold for $47,000. “Eric was way ahead of his time,” says Heritage cochairman Jim Halperin. “He’s a brilliant, brilliant man.”
Yes, is brilliant: Newman, now 102 years old, not only had a great eye for valuable coins; he also played a major role in gathering the numismatic knowledge that got fellow collectors interested. “Fifty years ago, there were no databases,” Halperin explains. “You pretty much had to memorize things. Eric remembered.”
On November 15 and 16, another portion of Newman’s vast holdings will go on the block at Heritage, with some of the most pristine early federal coinage among the 1,800 lots on offer. Highlights include a 1795 small eagle silver dollar valued at $650,000 and a 1796 quarter dollar valued at $800,000, both considered the finest such specimens in existence. The sale is expected to total more than $15 million.
As with the patterns, these lots will surely go for orders of magnitude more than Newman paid. From his first purchase in 1921, when he was just 10 years old, Newman simply traded on what he knew. “My guess is that he made one of the greatest investments ever,” says Halperin. If only the architects of the euro had been so wise.
Nick adds:
The magazine has a huge super-detailed image of the 1796 bust half dollar. The layout is impressive, and then four other auctions are mentioned.
To read the complete article, see:
Never-Used Federal Coin Sale To Total Estimated $15 Million
(www.forbes.com/sites/jonathonkeats/2013/09/05/never-used-federal-coin-sale-to-total-estimated-15-million/)
FRICK SEMINAR ON DAVID D’ANGERS' PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS
Dick Johnson forwarded this announcement from The Frick Collection in New York. Thanks!
-Editor
Frick Collection is pleased to offer The Romantic Medallion: Collecting David d’Angers’s Portraits, a seminar led by Emerson Bowyer, guest curator, and Jonathan Kagan, collector, on Tuesday, October 29, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. We hope you will consider joining us for what promises to be a riveting exploration of portrait medallions from Mr. Kagan’s private collection and the Frick’s special exhibition, David d’Angers: Making the Modern Monument.
David d’Angers is often credited with the nineteenth-century revival of cast bronze portrait medallions. By the end of his life, the sculptor had created an immensely popular portable pantheon of some five hundred medallions depicting the celebrities of his day, from Géricault and Goethe to George Sand and Paganini. This seminar will introduce these objects and discuss their creation, reproduction, and distribution. It will also offer the rare opportunity to examine a group of medallions from a New York private collection and to consider issues related to connoisseurship and collecting.
To reserve a space in this seminar, please visit our Web site, e-mail seminars at frick.org, or call 212-547-0704.
We hope to see you at the Frick!
The Frick Collection
1 East 70th Street
New York, New York 10021
www.frick.org/seminars
Dick adds:
I hope this results in a published work.
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WHAT PRICE GLORY? MEDALS OF HONOR AUCTION RECORDS
Harry Waterson submitted this item regarding the market value of Medals of Honor. Thanks!
-Editor
What Price Glory?
No, this is not a 1952 Jimmy Cagney comedy.
This is an analysis of Victoria Cross and Medal of Honor medals auctioned off November 10. 1988. The venue was Sotheby's, London. The auction codename was "SCRAMBLE!" The exchange rate was $1.89 to the pound.
Twenty-five years ago the value of these medals was dependent on the recipient and the story of heroism his medals told. Since Medals of Honor could not be sold legally in the US, the London market was the venue of choice. In this auction the Medals of Honor outnumbered the Victoria Crosses by more than two to one. The unnamed US medals went for small prices and probably went to type collectors. The exception to that was the Navy Type II Tiffany Cross which is rare by any definition.
There was thought that the medals and awards of Admiral Richard E. Byrd were consigned to Sotheby's in London so that his Medal of Honor could be sold. That is not stated here as fact but was certainly a contributing factor. The total Byrd consignment came to 90 lots. It was sold by the estate of Marie A. Byrd, the Admiral's widow. The real irony was that just one month before the sale the son of Admiral Byrd, Richard E. Byrd, Jr., was discovered dead in an empty warehouse in Baltimore where he had been living rough for some weeks. At the time the family had no explanation for what happened.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MORE ON THE VALUE OF A MEDAL OF HONOR
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n39a14.html)
RIDDELL AND PATTERSON: A CURIOUS CONNECTION
Mike Marotta submitted this article on the connections between Assayer John Leonard Riddell and Mint Director Robert M. Patterson. Thanks!
-Editor
I sent a manuscript to The Numismatist
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