Abe Kosoff: Dean of Numismatics

Back then, while collectors naturally felt that Uncirculated pieces were more desirable than Extremely Fine coins, the differential was not particularly great, as the above illustration in the three-cent piece series indicates. An Uncirculated coin always cost more than an Extremely Fine piece but the differentiation was usually not many multiples, as would later be the case.

Proof nickel three-cent pieces cost from $17.50 upward, with the most expensive item being an 1878 at $92.50. $300 would bring a Proof 1877 20-cent piece in the mail, while a Brilliant Uncirculated 1916-D dime cost $375 and a Proof 1836 Gobrecht dollar was available for $725.

A glimpse at Morgan dollar prices for Uncirculated coins is provided by the July 1961 price list: 1878 7 Tail feathers Uncirculated $3; 1878-S $3; 1878-CC $8.50; 1879 $3; 1881-CC $25; 1882 $3.25; 1884-0 $3.50; 1886-S $17.50; 1887-S $10; 1888-0 $4, 1888-S $16, 1889-CC $150; 1890 $2.50; 1891 $3; 1891-S $4.50; 1891-CC $14; 1892-CC P12.50; 1893 $6.50; 1894-S $22.50; 1895-0 $60; 1896-0 $15; 1897 $3; 1897-0 $12.50; 1897-S $4; l898 $3; and 1899-S $12.50.

The same July 1961 price list offered Uncirculated Washington quarters at the following prices: 1932 $7; 1934 $8.50; 1935 $6; 1935-D $19; 1935-S $20; 1937-D $6.50; 1937-S $42.50; 1938 &35; 1938-S $10; 1940 $7.50; 1941 $2.50; and 1942-S $6.

In the field of world coins, an Uncirculated set of Cuban 1, 2, 4, 5, and 10 pesos cost $135, and the 1915 20 peso piece in the same grade was available for $92.50. A 1906 Mexican 5 peso Hidalgo piece was available at $12.50, while a 1926 Guatamalan 20 quetzals coin cost $125.

In July 1961 it was announced that Abe Kosoff was a silver medal honoree and had received the Heath Literary Award for his article, "Money of Hawaii," which had appeared in The Numismatist.

The August 1961 issue of Kosoff's Coin Bulletin commenced with world Proof sets. British sets were offered as follows: 1927 $9; 1937 crown in case $5.75; 1937 set of 15 pieces $30; 1950 $8.25; 1951 $16.50; 1953 $13.50. Prooflike Canadian sets were available as follows: 1952 $13.50; 1953 $12.50; and 1960 $5.25.

An offering of American gold dollars included in Uncirculated 1849 closed wreath for $60 and an open wreath for $65, an 1852 in the same grade for $45, and an Extremely Fine 1855-O at $120, an AU 1859-D for $250, an Uncirculated 1862 at $48, a prooflike Uncirculated 1877 for $165, a Proof 1880 at $275, and an Uncirculated 1889 for $57.50. A complete set of 11 commemorative gold dollars and quarter eagles, Uncirculated, could be ordered for $1,350.

Other gold coins included an Uncirculated 1908 quarter eagle for $27.50 and an Extremely Fine 1911-D for $275, an 1854 Proof $3 with some hairlines at $900, an Uncirculated 1880 half eagle 'or $24 and a 1915 in the same grade for $25, an Uncirculated 1899 eagle for $38.50, and an MCMVII (1907) High Relief double eagle, "Uncirculated but with light rubbing on the knee," for $455.

An 1820 Large cent, Newcomb-13, probably from the Randall Hoard, described as nearly MS-60, was offered at $22.50, an Uncirculated 1864 Small Motto two-cent piece could be ordered for $155, and a Proof 1878 nickel three-cent piece cost $85.

A public auction sale featuring the collections of large cents formed by Edward H. Schwartz, plus selections from the collections of Emanuel Taylor and Raymond Gallo, was held at the Park Sheraton Hotel, New York City, on October 11th and 12th. Interest was strong, and virtually every large cent specialist worthy of the name turned out to see prize pieces sell for excellent prices. Lou Helfenstein, whose own collection of large cents was to make numismatic history when it was sold later by New York City dealer Lester Merkin, helped staff the sale, as did Richard Picker, the well-known specialist in colonial and early United States coins.