Q. David Bowers
By Donald Groves
I always found Abe Kosoff to be straightforward in his opinions. He never was one to puff his wares to the detriment of other merchandise that another dealer might have. If he felt that a particular coin had a value he would say so regardless of whether he would be part of the deal. Abe's personal reputation came first in his relationship with collectors. The money was always a second thought.
I remember that one night several collectors and dealers were having a general discussion in the lobby of a Chicago hotel. It was the summer of 1979. The discussion turned to the 1787 Brasher doubloon that Bowers & Ruddy Galleries would be offering as a part of the Garrett Collection sale in New York City the following fall. As a collector I had always fantasized that someday I might be able to own the Brasher doubloon, but I had never truly expected that the opportunity would be offered to me, much less the opportunity to bid on the finest known example of this legendary rarity.
That night, I remember Abe's comment was that in his opinion the numismatist who was fortunate enough to own a Brasher doubloon would have a treasure he would contemplate for the rest of his life.
Here was a perfect example of a situation in which Abe had no possible financial gain from such a remark. He was, in fact, giving his best advice and honest feelings with whatever benefit anyone might cull from his personal feeling. Of course, his remarks reinforce my own convictions.
Later, after the sale, I recalled to Abe the conversation of that night. He just smiled that friendly smile of his and said, "I am glad I was able to contribute."
Abe afforded me two other rare opportunities in numismatics that I will never forget. Part of the legacy of the Numismatic Gallery venture with his partner Abner Kreisberg were two 1792 Mint products that had achieved a unique and giant stature in the early history of our country. As leftovers from that joint venture, Abe offered me an opportunity to acquire the silver disme, one of two known, and the copper pattern "quarter," also one of two known. The Mint record shows that three silver dismes were produced, the whereabouts of which only two are known-the piece that Mrs. R. Henry Norweb donated to the Smithsonian Institution and the one which Abe Kosoff and Abner Kreisberg owned.
I am reasonably certain that the silver dismes were made for circulation and, therefore, were not patterns. It is well recorded that the copper dismes were, in fact, pattern presentation pieces for the Congress and other government officials.
The only other 1792 copper "quarter" resides in the Smithsonian Institution also. I will forever lovingly bless Abe for the opportunities he gave me in acquiring these two numismatic wonders and the advice that he unknowingly gave me that evening that helped me in my determination to acquire the finest known Brasher doubloon in that November night at the St. Moritz Hotel in New York City in 1979.