Q. David Bowers
Always a booster for the American Numismatic Association, Abe Kosoff devoted many paragraphs to the ANA and its different activities not only to National Coin Week but also to various conventions and other gatherings, forthcoming elections, articles in The Numismatist, and other topics. At the time, few other dealers were helpful and many leading dealers avoided mentioning the ANA in print-perhaps their customers would become too smart, or at least this is what be Kosoff opined.
It was back to the mail bid sale format for the September 1949 issue of the Numismatic Gallery Monthly, but a few fixed price items were also included, specifically a Lord Baltimore shilling in Extremely Fine condition at $65, a Chalmers six pence in Very Fine condition for $150, and a 1783 Chalmers three pence in "superb" condition for $125, or the trio for $365.
Abe Kosoff noted that he was headed on a cross-country trip to visit friends, pick up consignments, and to conduct other business. From their Beverly Hills location, Abe Kosoff and Abner Kreisberg lad constant contact with radio and television personalities, In September 1949 they noted that the (ay Kyser Show was "the present number one coin publicist."
B. Max Mehl visited the Wilshire Boulevard offices of the Numismatic Gallery and said, "Lovey, lovely." Abe Kosoff and B. Max Mehl were to maintain a close relationship over the years, and when the noted Texas dealer died it was Abe Kosoff who liquidated his numismatic properties.
Years earlier, in 1944, Abe Kosoff and Abner Kreisberg purchased F. C. C. Boyd's collection of United States patterns, probably representing the finest group ever put together to that time. Among the issues was a double eagle in an envelope marked "1861-S $20-counterfeit?"
Abe Kosoff studied the piece carefully. It did not appear to be a counterfeit, however the reverse die was quite different from the regular. The obverse looked just fine. Boyd stated that he had paid $150 for it, and that's what he wanted when the collection was sold. After the patterns were in the Numismatic Gallery safe, the 1861-S was forgotten. Years later, Abe Kosoff read an interesting article in The Numismatist. Described was a cache of gold coins which was unearthed in Texas. The entire group had been given to the American Numismatic Society in New York City. The description of one of the coins prompted a memory-it seemed to describe the "1861-S counterfeit?"
Subsequently, Abe Kosoff took his coin to the ANS and compared it with the example they had acquired. Both were identical. However, the Society had no further information as to the piece and why the reverse was slightly different from that found on regular issues.
Wayte Raymond was then contacted and viewed the piece. Puzzled, Raymond said he would ask "a young man who does research for me whenever I need it"-probably Walter Breen, who was beginning his numismatic interest at the time.
The matter was delved into, and Wayte Raymond subsequently reported that a new reverse design by Anthony C. Paquet was struck in pattern form in 1860. In 1861 a few Paquet-reverse pieces were struck in Philadelphia, but in San Francisco 19,250 were minted. It was determined that the narrow rim on the Paquet reverse, which was distinguished by having tall letters on the legend, caused die breaking problems. The dies were recalled, and coins on hand were melted. However, communication with San Francisco involved a delay, for telegraph lines had not been extended completely to the West Coast by that time, and many of the 1861-S San Francisco pieces were released into circulation.
Abe Kosoff reported the discovery to Richard Yeoman, author of the Guide Book of United States Coins, and soon it was listed in that reference. Over a period of time publicity was disseminated, collectors looked at their 1861-S double eagles, and numerous other examples surfaced.
In November 1949, Abe Kosoff reported the itinerary of his September and October trip, which began with a stop in Las Vegas. I'll put my money not in them."
From there it was to Salt Lake City via Zion National Park. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Shultz put on a fried chicken dinner for Abe and Molly, then in the next day they were visitors to the Mormon temple. "Norman Shultz, incidentally, is quite a golfer and bowls like a champ. His big problem is getting his golf score down and his bowling game up."
In Denver a visit was paid to Dr. and Mrs.Whiteley, whose collection was then given to the Numismatic Gallery. Some conversation was exchanged with Dan Brown, and then Abe and Moly headed for Omaha for a visit with the Judd family, a round of golf, and talk about pattern research. Davenport, Iowa saw a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Gettys, then on to Chicago for a visit with Glenn Smedley and Earl Brown, followed by time with the Bebees, Greens, and others, then an appearance at the Chicago Coin club to greet Henri Ripstra, the Sheldons, Harold Klein, Harry Boosel, Bill Mertes, Sam Carlson, Lee Lewitt, Mike Powills, and other friends. Abe Kosoff entertained the group with a talk concerning California coin clubs and numismatic personalities.
Before leaving Chicago, a visit was made to the Museum of National History, under the directorship of Major Lenox Lohr, a prominent collector of pattern coins. Detroit furnished a short stop, hen it was off to Lima for the Ohio State Numismatic Association convention and visits with Sol Kaplan, Tim Shroyer, and other friends.
At one hotel, a bellboy announced: "CASTOFF, calling Mr. Castoff," which amused Abe Kosoff, so he mentioned it in the Numismatic Gallery Monthly, noting: We've been called lots of things but I am still too young, much too young, to be cast-off!"
The itinerary then continued to Erie, Buffalo, Jamestown, and finally to New York City, by which time 4,000 miles had been traveled.
"At the New York Coin Club meeting, and with Damon Douglas presiding we were greeted by george Blake (honored with the ANA Medal of Merit), Vernon Brown, Charlie Ryan, Harold Bareford, Oscar Schilke, Tom Morris, Leonard Kusterer, Charles Wormser, Henry Grunthal, W.C. Blaisdell, Homer K. Downing, John J. Ford, Jr., Ray Gallo, Sylvia, Sprog, Steinberg ... Phew! Did I forget someone? Art Kagin was a visitor too and was kidded a bit by the big city sharpies."