Abe Kosoff: Dean of Numismatics

"Some dealers combine the two and become valuable reservoirs supplying both the object and the background. The collector who searches merely for a bargain often finds himself a victim of spurious objects, not the result of dishonesty on the part of the dealer-seller, merely ignorance.

"We who are interested in coins, medals, and paper money take pride in our hobby-it is perhaps the oldest of the hobbies, and has undoubtedly contributed much to our knowledge of ancient and medieval history...

"Coin collectors from all walks of life may delve into the past-may take into their hands an in-animate piece of metal and 2,000 years have stood still."

The "Money Talks" column in that issue noted that the Los Angeles Junior Coin Club was being formed with eight youngsters as the nucleus. Parkyakarkus, the famous radio comedian and star of the Sunday night Mutual Network show "Meet Me at Parky's," sponsored the group. Abe Kosoff volunteered to be its leader.

It was reported that Dr. Judd was working on the manuscript for his pattern book, and that Richard S. Yeoman of Whitman Publishing Company was eager to publish this. It was observed that "this has been going on-and on!" Actually, it was not until 1959 that the book actually saw print.

"Abner Kreisberg is getting injections of orange juice at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel while he and the frau search for a home. He likes the 'scenery.' FLASH. He just bought a swell layout in the valley, San Fernando, that is.

The New York Gallery had been closed, and efforts were concentrated in Los Angeles.
The cover of the October 1948 Numismatic Gallery Monthly featured Abner Kreisberg with famed comedians Lou Costello and Bud Abbott. The trio appeared on the Saturday morning Abbott-Costello Kid Show on the ABC radio network, where Kreisberg presented a set of presidential medals. It was noted that each week a similar set was awarded to a worthy youngster.

To accommodate late evening weekday shoppers, The Numismatic Gallery remained open Monday evenings until nine. While "friend or wife goes a-shopping, you pay us a visit!" suggested the Numismatic Gallery Monthly in October 1948.

The same issue offered a Brilliant Uncirculated 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent for $11, and a Very Fine example for $6. A 1914-D Lincoln cent in Uncirculated grade was priced at $17.50 with the notation "only four pieces available." The special of the month, however, was an Uncirculated 1918-S Lincoln cent for $2.75.

Commemorative coins occupied a full page, with a set of three Cincinnati half dollars, Uncirculated, for $25, a 1936 Delaware half dollar at $2.85, and a complete set of 11 commemorative gold dollars and quarter eagles in Uncirculated grade for $240.

Encased postage stamps, not often featured in the Numismatic Gallery Monthly, made an appearance in this issue. An Ayer's Cathartic Pills 1-cent issue cost $4.50, while a Brown's Bronchial Troches 5-cents cost $5.75, a Drake's Plantation Bitters of the same denomination cost $5.25, and a J. Gault 10-cent issue was offered for $4.25.

Another special offering in that issue was an 1878 Shield nickel, stated to catalogue at $25 in Brilliant Proof, but available for just $19. At the time, the Numismatic Gallery had a vast store of unsold pieces which earlier belonged to David Proskey, then going to Wayte Raymond, then to the Numismatic Gallery (and others). These were leftovers, unsold remainders from the Philadelphia Mint decades earlier.