Q. David Bowers
An auction sale held on August 21st and 22nd, 1941, was jointly catalogued by Abe Kosoff and Hans M.F. Schulman and was staged at the Numismatic Gallery at 42 East 50th Street. Hans Schulman, who had arrived several years earlier as a refugee from Nazi oppression in the Netherlands, continued the tradition of his family numismatic business. His facilities at 545 Fifth Avenue, New York City, were patronized by collectors and dealers alike.
Apparently it was intended to draw floor bidders from Philadelphia, for the inside front of the catalogue thoughtfully published train schedules between that city and New York, noting that the riding time was one hour and 40 minutes and that trains left Philadelphia every hour on the hour. Emphasis was on ancient and world coins, although an 1856 United States Flying Eagle cent in Choice Proof grade at $51.50, a Proof 1877 Indian cent at $14.25 (described as "dull" and further noted as "rarest of the Indian cents catalogues at $20 and going higher"), an 1888 Proof gold dollar at $8, and other pieces attracted notice.
Coins of ancient Greece included "several coins of rarity and superb style." An "exquisite didrachm" of Campania, Neapolis, with head of nymph right on the obverse, a man-headed bull on the reverse, BMC-58, fetched $14.25; a didrachm of Lucania, Croton, 420-390 BC, with the obverse depicting an eagle on an olive branch, the reverse a tripod, Very Fine, fetched $37; and a stated of Lucania, Locri, Epezephri 326-300 Be, with a head of Zeus, was knocked down for $37.
A collection of talers of Saxony, which had been illustrated in the Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine in March and May 1941, was described in two pages. In the second section of the 82-page offering, a number of important colonial early American coins included a Standish Barry 1790 threepence piece, specific condition not stated, at $22; a 1783 Chalmers sixpence, About Good, $23; a 1652 Massachusetts Oak Tree threepence, Very Fine, $27.50; a 1787 New York Immunis Columbia cent, "Uncirculated with steel color, a gorgeous extremely rare item which we value at $35," $26.50; New York 1787 cent, "Liberty seated to left, with a beautiful olive," Extremely Fine, $26.15-undoubtedly "beautiful olive" was intended to mean "beautiful olive surface;" 1792 silver half disme, Fine, $42.50; and a 1792 WASHINGTON BORN VIRGINIA copper, Very Fine, $34.50. An offering of Canadian tokens included numerous pieces realizing less than $1 each, plus a few scarcer pieces such as Breton-537, a rare bridge token, at $34.50. An 1858 Canadian cent described as "Perfect Brilliant Proof" fetched $4, while an 1876 Canadian cent described similarly brought $4.40.
Auction Sale No. 11 was conducted at the Numismatic Gallery, 42 East 50th Street, at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 1941. Included were diverse coins, medals, and tokens highlighted by Peruvian coins from the Guttag Latin American Collection.
In what must have been a commentary on the slow-paying practices of certain competitors holding auction sales, the inside back cover of the catalogue contained a mini-essay, 'When is a Sale a Sale," which noted that consignors "have a right to expect to get cash or payment within a reasonable time." Abe Kosoff noted that he would pay in full within 30 days of the date of the sale, concluding that "a sale is a sale WHEN YOU GET PAID."
Friday, December 12, 1941, just a few days after the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was the sale date for Auction Sale No. 12 held at the Numismatic Gallery. Featured were rare coins "and a collection of numismatic books sold by order of the American Numismatic Society," to which other items had been added. Abe Kosoff was justifiably proud of the ANS consignment and noted in an introductory page:
"You are not to be bored by our crowing about successful sales, highest prices, prompt settlements, and square dealings. Nor will we boast that we have been selected by the American Numismatic Society, one of the largest and greatest of its kind, to conduct the sale of their books.
"We think it advisable, however, to bring out this one point. The Society is merely disposing its duplicate volumes with the intention that the-funds realized will be used to obtain material needed for their fine exhibit. Any inquiries concerning the Society or its exhibits will receive attention if directed to us."
The sale was a modest one, with most lots bringing under $5 each with numerous lots unsold or passed. The most expensive items on the prices realized list were a gold aureus of Nero, Ceres standing on the reverse, at $100; a gold aureus of Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius, "a choice specimen," for the same price; an 1835 Bavarian gold commemorative crown "showing the monument erected by the queen, where she bade farewell to her son, King Otto of Greece-this was struck in 1903 for Count Ferrari and was the only one made," at $100; and the most expensive lot in the sale at $177.50, a 25 romans piece of Persia, Naser-ed-din Shah (A.H. 1264-1314, equivalent to1848-1896 A.D.), with bust in tall hat facing.
Among the items sold were various United States Proof sets containing the bronze, nickel, and silver coins. Sample prices: 1870 $32, 1871 $42.50, 1881 $21.25, 1889 $15, 1900 $15, 1901 $14, 1902 $13.75, 1903 $14.65, 1904 $14.50, 1905 $8.15, 1906 $8, 1907 $9, 1908 $9, and 1936 $6.15.
The last part of the sale catalogue was devoted to United States stamps attributed to Scott's numbers.
Years later, Abe Kosoff wrote about the December 12, 1941 sale, held in the shadow of the attack on Pearl Harbor:
"Recalling those difficult days is not pleasant yet there they were. One wasn't quite sure what to do-and most of us thought we should go along with our work, while an assessment of the situation was being made by our national leaders. It was still a little early-only five days previous we were hit. We knew America was hurt, but not how badly. After all, Pearl Harbor was not Washington D.C.
"Too, while we were surprised by the air attack, we had been geared for war even if only to supply our European allies. So, the American people, the people on the street, had confidence that in the end all would work out well. Many had expected that sooner or later we would be in the war in Europe, and now they rationalized that we got in through the back door.