Q. David Bowers
By Aubrey Bebee
Remembering Abe Kosoff elicits many pleasant, proud memories that go back to the beginning of my professional career. At that time in the late 1930s many United States gold coin collections in groups were being sold by a "gold-conscious public," and as a result of our good fortune my wife Adeline and I bought many collections. Around the same time we learned that Abe was offering to pay top market prices for such collections. Consequently, we began selling important gold coins to him. These mutually profitable transactions, conducted in Abe's responsible manner, made a lasting impression on me. These contacts, plus other subsequent business dealings, reinforced my belief that he was a credit to the numismatic profession.
During the early days I had the honor of serving on many important committees with Abe. One I remember in particular was the Dealers' Committee appointed by Loyd B. Gettys, president of the American Numismatic Association. The committee was set up on November 18,1947 and was headed by Col. Joseph Moss, with Abe Kosoff, Sol Kaplan, Charles Wormser, and myself. At another time Abe and I, members of the old American Coin Dealers' Association, laid the groundwork in organizing the Professional Numismatists Guild, of which Abe served as the founding president.
Among Abe's many outstanding achievements was the book done with Dr. Judd, United States Pattern, Experimental and Trial Pieces. Walter Breen helped as well. First published in 1949, the reference is today one of the most important works in the hobby. I vividly recall Abe's visits to Omaha when, as guests of Hewitt and Bunny Judd, he spent many hours in the preparation of the volume.
Abe's outstanding auctions caused great admiration and amazement for me years ago. I remember the F.C.C. Boyd, Bell, William P. Donlon, Michael F. Higgy, Julian S. Marks, Adolphe Menjou, and Dr. James O. Sloss sales as well as a number of American Numismatic Association convention auctions. Then there was the fixed-price offering of the Dr. J. Hewitt Judd Collection.
Often, both Abe and I would bid competitively on the same lot at one sale or another. I will never forget James Kelly's auction at the 1956 American Numismatic Association convention in Chicago. Abe and I were both trying to buy Lot 1773, a 1907 MCMW Saint-Gaudens Extremely High Relief double eagle. Just prior to its coming up for sale, Abe made a telephone call to his client, securing what apparently was an unbeatable bid. Even though I kept bidding, Abe finally captured that great rarity for the then-record price of $9,250.
On another occasion, the Paramount International Coin Corporation sale held at the American Numismatic Association convention in 1967 in Miami Beach, Florida, both Abe and I were again bidding on the same lot. It was Lot 2241-the famous 1913 Liberty head nickel, consigned by Beth McDermott. Countless dealers and collectors had tried to buy her late husband's nickel, but to no avail. Now it was being placed on the auction block. The atmosphere was at a very high pitch. Abe, with a prominent millionaire client at his side, made two high bids, the higher at $44,000. At that point Abe's client stopped. So, my next bid at $46,000 won-and I became the owner of the McDennott 1913 Liberty head nickel. Abe was among the very first to extend his warm and sincere congratulations.
Abe was always the perfect host on social occasions. Adeline and I were the guests of Abe and Molly at their country club in Los Angeles, where Abe served as president. This was just prior to Abe's auction at the 1958 American Numismatic Association convention in Los Angeles. Needless to say, Adeline and I were royally entertained.
I believe that I could write my own book about the many pleasantries that resulted from my many years of friendly colleagueship with Abe Kosoff. Both Adeline and I always cherished Abe and Molly's warm friendship, and we felt a deep affection that included their lovely daughter, Sonnie, and their dear son, Steve. We were just one of the many thousands who deeply felt their loss at Steve's untimely passing.
Adeline and I, lie others in the great multitude of his close friends, have enjoyed a better and richer life having known Abe Kosoff.