Q. David Bowers
By Paul L. Koppenhaver
About 25 years ago a young neophyte in the coin business was stuck on a question from a customer about a Liberty Seated coin. So with more guts than brains because he didn't know Abe, he called the "Dean of Numismatics" with the question. Very graciously, Abe spent about 20 minutes explaining why some coins with higher mintages were worth more than their counterparts of lesser mintage. His courteous manner and willingness to take the time to help left a lasting impression on that young man. I know because I was that young man.
Helping people was Abe's way of life. I didn't have much contact with Abe over the next few years, except to exchange friendly bits of conversation at various coin shows. But I did become friends with Steve Kosoff and Mike Kliman as their offices were only about a half mile from my little store. My friendship with Abe really began after the untimely death of Steve. Abe, Steve, and Mike shared offices in Encino, and I was sharing offices with Ron Gillio in Van Nuys. A few months after Steve's death, Mike asked me if I would like to move into Steve's office. I immediately agreed, realizing the great opportunity to be in a position to share Abe's years of experience. Shortly after moving in, I was preparing for my third exonumia mail bid sale. Abe saw it and asked if I would take a consignment from him. It turned to be one of the finest collections of Alaskan tokens to be auctioned (April 1970).
On another occasion he handed me a 2 x 2 box labeled 'Zahrman-Civil War Tokens." He didn't need to sell these items but he knew it helped my sales. Abe and Molly decided to move to Palm Springs, so we moved all of Abe's duplicate catalogues to my garage for storage. Over the years, we sold and donated quite a few of them. I would make four to six trips a year to Palm Springs to visit Abe. On one occasion when we were in his bank, he handed me a box and said this should be good for my auction. Again this proved to be true; it was the largest collection of sutler tokens to be auctioned at one time. It was the Dr. Whiteley Collection. The box was still sealed and was postmarked approximately five years earlier.
At the 1971 ANA in Washington, D.C., I was helping Abe at his table. At the end of the convention he handed me two plastic holders and said to take the coins out so we could ship them registered back to the Coast. I guess I can say that I handled the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel. It was quite an experience to be able to view these rarities in my own hands.
I attended my first PNG function that year as Abe's guest and knew that I would have to be part of the Guild someday. I was Abe's guest the next two years, and in August 1973 Abe said "You're ready to apply for membership and I'll sponsor you." Proudly I became a member of the PNG in March 1974. Abe was a father to me in many ways, and I know he was pleased when I became a PNG member and when I became the executive director in 1978.
Abe never refused to help a collector or dealer in a dispute and acted as an arbitrator many, many times. He believed strongly in the PNG arbitration system; after all, PNG was his baby.
Abe told many wonderful stories about B. Max Mehl, F.C.C. Boyd, the Guttags, King Farouk and many more.
My wife, Glenda, and I have many wonderful memories of Abe professionally and personally- the conventions, the banquets and our visits. I respected him highly as the ''Dean of Numismatics" and we loved him as Abe-the man, father, husband, and my mentor. We miss him terribly.