Q. David Bowers
By Catherine Bullowa-Moore
I met Abe Kosoff in the early 1950s as a fellow member of the Board of Directors of the Professional Numismatists Guild, of which he was Charter Member No. 1 and was the first president, 1954-1955. I recall that Sol Kaplan was the next president, for the 1955-1956 term, and C.C. ("Tim") Shroyer was secretary-treasurer. Abe was elected president once again for the 1964-1965 term, and Sol assumed the thankless position of executive secretary. I was appointed to be chairperson of the Membership Committee. It was in that capacity that I had a close relationship with Abe, often consulting with him by telephone in our ultimate goal to improve PNG membership ethics and standards. If there was something questionable about an applicant for membership, Abe would always say "we can control him once he becomes a member." My duty was to research the professional and personal qualifications of applicants and to check references. We all worked without pay for the betterment of the organization.
In late 1963 I offered Sol Kaplan the unique G.C. Smillie collection of Proof 1896 'Educational" $1, $2, $5 notes and the Cox $10. I had in mind that the Smithsonian Institution would be the best place for this step-by-step exhibit of the design evolution of each note. In early 1964, Sol inspected this group and wanted to seek Abe's opinion on the price for the lot. He asked me to take it to Abe, who was staying in a suite in the Waldorf-Astoria Towers in New York City. Abe and Sol were to meet to decide if they would donate the collection to the Smithsonian that year. Unfortunately, no agreement materialized, because the collection was taken by robbers on June 4, 1964. It was later rumored that the contents of the suitcase containing the notes were burned and, alas, gone forever-what a loss for numismatics!
In that era we had definite plans for the block-booking of PNG dealer members at convention bourses so that we could all be kept together for security reasons as well as a "front of honest Insecurity reasons as well as a "front of honest Injuns." The Central States Numismatic Society Convention committee in Kansas City frowned upon this novel idea, and the PNG dealers were spread around in three separate rooms. A special PNG Board of Directors meeting was called. I don't recall if Abe was still president at the time, but I do remember that the PNG Board decided that the PNG dealers should walk out of the convention. This was against my minority vote. The walk-out created a large financial loss for me. I always regretted that I did not stay, especially since Al Overton, a fellow PNG member, ignored the majority vote and stayed.
During those times, Abe Kosoff, Charlie Wormser, Dan Brown, Jim Ruddy (who served as secretary), Lester Merkin, and I enjoyed attending and participating in the Board of Directors meetings, which often lasted past midnight sometimes as late as two in the morning. After hearing suggestions from everyone, Abe often took the role of peace-maker. Although he and Sol Kaplan were very close friends, at times they got in heavy and heated discussions with each other. When all was said and done, Abe usually would smooth talk and settle the discussions to the satisfaction of all involved.
One year some of us were invited to a party at Abe and Molly's private club. I believe it was for an anniversary. Steve, their son, was in good health at the time, and their daughter Sonnie was there as well. My husband Earl and I met many of his non-numismatic friends at the club and also at another time at their new home in Encino, California. I remember that one couple, who were ardent photographers and owners of a New York camera shop, also attended and, later, joined the Kosoff's at some of the overseas Congresses of the International Association of Professional Numismatists, of which I was at one time a second vice-president. At the International Congress held at Stockholm, Sweden in 1967, Abe ran for the office of vice-president and I ran for the office of a Board member. Henry Christensen was elected the second vice-president, and Abe lost out. I was elected a director. There was a big discussion, and the Board of the International Association of Professional Numismatists decided that they should have more members than were previously allowed. Eventually Abe became a member of the Board.
He always volunteered to be the United States correspondent for the Bulletin, the International Association of Professional Numismatists publication. Many times he had little news to enlarge upon, but he furnished news items of coin sale results and member activities. Abe had a great talent for writing and giving people an insight in to members on this side of the Atlantic Ocean-reading that furnished great interest for IAPN members who were primarily concentrated in rope . Abe Kosoff and Sol Kaplan had many "big deals" going on, with the DuPont Collection being one of the most prominent. They spent much time together, I believe that Sol did much of the spade work, while Abe concentrated on marketing and promoting the various collections. This team was just about unbeatable in that day and age.