Abe Kosoff: Dean of Numismatics

"I learned to admire his keen insight, his ability to adapt himself to the task at hand, his willingness to adjust to the personality problems involved when committee members disagree. He had the knack of bringing matters to a head, yielding when necessary, but being firm when firmness is required.

"We cut through a lot of red tape by means of simple telephone conversations. We found ourselves in agreement more often than not, and when we disagreed we found ways to solve our problems quickly and satisfactorily. The impact which the Grading Guide had had upon the hobby is so great that I want it well publicized that Ken Bressett did so much to make it possible."

As founder of the PNG, and as a long-time member of the ANA, many times Abe Kosoff sought to further cooperation between the two entities. While support of the dealer members of the PNG was actively sought in the 1960s, at a time in which the ANA had strong needs for funds to help with building the Colorado Springs Headquarters Building and other projects, by the late 1970s, the ANA was feeling its own muscle. Coins had become "big business," and rather than being grateful for what help members of the PNG and other dealers had given and could give, the ANA was seen by some as taxing dealers for all they were worth.

Abe Kosoff wrote about this on many occasions. He reminisced how he had "helped the ANA many times earlier when they were in need of an auctioneer for their annual convention. But, now, in the late 1970s the ANA apparently was suggesting that fees approaching $100,000 should be given as a "donation" for the auction privilege! As it turned out, soon thereafter the bidding for the ANA privilege crossed the $300,000 mark! The size of these figures prompted a group of coin auctioneers-Rarcoa, Superior, Stack's, and Paramount-to form their own group, which conducted a series of sales dose to the main-scheduled ANA events.

In 1978 Abe Kosoff wrote:

"Let me give you some background concerning ANA auctions. I have conducted eight such auctions between 1942 and 1968. The first of these in Cincinnati in 1942. The agreement was that I should make up the convention deficit. It came to $300. A similar agreement in 1946 in Davenport, Iowa resulted in a $600 payment. The Buffalo 1947 committee 'held me up' for $1,000, and I believe that the 1953 Dallas and 1958 Los Angeles payments were at the same level. It rose to $1,500 in Chicago in 1966 and in San Diego in 1968. I might add that on six other occasions I turned down the offer to run the ANA convention auction for a song.

"It has always been my contention that ANA officers should be delighted to obtain the services of a reliable auction house to offer a fine catalogue of nice material. It owes it to its members-and for many years that was the primary consideration. I maintain that it still should be-but it isn't, not anymore.

"I recall that in one year a $5,000 bid was made by another firm which was in the doghouse with the ANA for good cause. The bid was rejected, and a $1,000 bidder was accepted. I'm afraid that this wouldn't have happened today. I'm afraid that the ANA may be seriously considering bids for the ANA auction assignment for the wrong reasons. I hope that I am wrong-but if price is to rule, I'm afraid that an awkward situation in inevitable. Price must not be the primary consideration. We have enough problems with some of the professionals without affording them the vehicle for wholesale rip-offs-namely the ANA auction sale. After all, collectors have a right to assume that the firm which has been selected to receive the auction has the blessing of the association."

Abe Kosoff's words of wisdom were not heeded, and in following years the auction firm bidding the highest amount was the winner. Many criticisms resulted, as Abe Kosoff predicted. "The ANA is 'for sale,' " a leading coin auctioneer commented.

In 1955 and in the decade or so following, the PNG Day, a get-together sponsored by dealer members of the PNG, held a day prior to the ANA convention, was a highlight of the show. Later, the PNG came in for its share of attacks, both by ANA Board of Governors members and by some dealers who were not PNG members, some of whom had applied unsuccessfully for membership to that group. "Perhaps some of them fear the consequences of such membership, for the PNG is hard on those who violate its Code of Ethics," Abe Kosoff suggested. In any event, Abe Kosoff rose time and time again to be the defender of the PNG and of PNG Day.

At the Numismatic Association of Southern California convention held in Los Angeles, January 25-27, 1979, Abe Kosoff was recognized for 50 years as a professional numismatist. Leading the ceremonies at the banquet was Coin World editor Margo Russell, who prepared a publication, The Abe Kosoff Collection of Memories, especially for the went. This 12-page tribute was distributed to each guest at the banquet.

In attendance were members of the Kosoff family, collectors and dealers, family friends, and others who played a part in Abe's career. The applause was loud and long for a man who had come to be known as the dean of American professional numismatists.

On January 27, 1979, Clifford Mishler, publisher of Numismatic News, named Abe Kosoff as recipient of the Numismatic Ambassador Award. 'We all owe you a measure of thanks for the degree of success we enjoy in our stations of the hobby," stated Cliff Mishler on behalf of the Numismatic News staff and 46 previous recipients of the Numismatic Ambassador Award. "Your past guidance has contributed so much to making our hobby the large fraternity it has become in recent years. You are a true gentleman in every sense of the expression," Misher continued. You always have time for anyone, or anything, without ever allowing the natural human feeling of impatience to surface. You have so honored the hobby through years of selflessly caring for its needs as they surface, that any honors we might bestow can never be counted as anything more than tokens of our gratitude."

In August 1978 Abe Kasoff entered into his 50th year in the numismatic profession. This advertisement from "The Numismatist" observes the occasion and also offers for sale a rare trial piece.