Q. David Bowers
"We were repeatedly cautioned that jewel thieves from Europe were common in and around North Africa. Now that so many foreigners were coming to Cairo for the Farouk sale, these thieves were being seen in the area, and again caution was the word. With these thoughts in mind, picture the situation of a group of us congregated in the lobby of the hotel prior to finding our separate ways to our dinner rendezvous. We notice a slick looking character sitting in the lobby, eyeing us, one person after the other. He was reading what appeared to be a paperback. As I passed him I noticed that it was a French edition of Reader's Digest, and he was holding it upside down!
"Sol and Vivian Kaplan were joining us that evening. We hailed a taxi, but before leaving, Sol left the three of us in the taxi, returned to the reception desk in the lobby, told the clerk where we wanted to go, and had him write the directions in Arabic. Then Sol got back in the cab, and away we went.
"Arriving at the restaurant, we were seated comfortably, ordered a cocktail and were handed attractive menus. Absorbed in this procedure, I did not notice someone being seated at the table behind me. After a while, Sol looked up only to find the curious 'reader' of the French Reader's Digest sitting right in back of me!
"It could have been coincidence-and we had sort of dismissed the idea that we should be concerned, but we sort of half remembered it as well! We returned to the hotel, we made some inquiries, and it appeared that our 'dining companion' had a room right next door to my daughter, Sonnie.
"The plot thickened. For a few days we did not see him around. But one day at Koubbeh Palace, where the auction sales were held, we recessed about noon for the three hour siesta when we had lunch and chewed the fat. As I reached the lawn where the caterers had a bar, food, and desserts for our convenience, I saw our friend at a table, shaded by an umbrella, fondling a highball.
"I got hold of Hans Schulman and asked if he knew the gentleman. 'No, why do you ask? I told him what had been going on for a few days. 'Come with me,' says Hans and we went to see a Maj. Gaafer, who was in charge of the coin auction operation on behalf of the Egyptian army, which controlled the country. I related my story to him. The major then assigned a secret policeman to me. He drove me from the palace to my hotel. He picked me up in the morning. But, wait, I must tell you of my first meeting with a security policeman.
"The day after I told Maj. Gaafer my story, I arrived early for the morning auction session. Most of the participants were outdoors, sunning themselves, waiting for the announcement that the sale would soon begin. This usually was done over 1 loudspeaker system. I went to the washroom. As I was leaving, a short, well-dressed gentleman stepped into my path leading to the exit. His hand vas inside his coat; we were alone in this room. I was anxious to be out of there, but the doorway was blocked. Out came his hand; he extended a card telling me that he was from the secret police. He was to be attached to me for a few days. He told me that two operators, a man and a woman, had been assigned to follow the man involved. A few days later he told me that the man had disappeared, 'Probably he used a false passport, although all exits from the country have been alerted - that was his story. I wonder.
"Well, we were getting into the swing of things. We were all delighted that the dapper auctioneer, Mr. 'Lee' (Levy), handled the sale so efficiently. We started the bidding in Arabic, but followed through in English, French, German, or Italian, depending on who was bidding. We always knew where we were and what the bid was at each point. The sale continued.
"The rare Hawaii gold half dollar dated 1884, a quarter of 1884, an eighth dollar at 1883 all bought as part of one of the lots for the equivalent of $432, which with the surcharge added came to $453.60, not bad. A considerable offering of gold coins of Mexico attracted attention, although not it extraordinarily high prices. A unique 8 reals of Morelos, 1813, in gold, went for $250 to Emile Bourgey; the 8 escudos, 1823, with hooked-neck eagle fetched $180, Augustine 1, 8 escudos 1822, grouped with three other 8 escudos pieces, went for about $300. A group of 37 coins, including 13 of 2 escudos, 141 escudos, and 10 1/2 escudos went for $250. I bought the rare 60-peso gold piece of Benito Jaurez dated 1916 for about $650 and the 20 colones of 1925 of San Salvador for $130.
"After the first 179 lots came the United States sold coins. I bought Lot 180 for about $2,500, and here's what it included: double eagles of Philadelphia from 1850 through 1863 inclusive, the last coin being a Brilliant Proof, plus New Orleans Mint double eagles from 1850 through 1861 inclusive, plus San Francisco Mint coins of the same denomination from 1854 through 1863-36 coins in the one lot. Before I could congratulate myself in acquiring the lot we were bidding on Lot 181, which I also bought, for about $2,250. There were 34 double eagles in that lot, including several Proofs, seven different Carson City Mint issues, and others. Next came Lot 182, which I acquired for about $4,500. The 35 coins in that lot included Proof double eagles from 1877 through 1881, 1883 through 1890, a group of San Francisco coins, a handful of Carson City issues, and the rare 1879-O. What a lot!
"When Lot No. 185 came up it was announced that the 1933 double eagle was being withdrawn. I believe that there had been a request from the United States government that the coin be turned over to it because it was illegally released. Probably the reason for the withdrawal, however, was due to the urging of United States bidders, because there was no way we would be permitted to import the coin into the States. To my knowledge, the coin was never returned to the American government, and its present whereabouts is a mystery. The balance of the lot, 16 coins, contained scarce double eagles from the 1920s and early 1930s and fetched $8,400 to Spink.
"I bought a lot of $10 gold pieces, six coins, 1795, 1796, 1797 small eagle, 1797 large eagle, 1798 over 7 with four stars facing, all for $1,500!
"John Jay Pittman bought a sleeper, Lot 188, $10 gold coins of 1838, Brilliant Proof, plus two pieces of 1839 and 1840, for less than $600. Lot 198 went to Sol Kaplan for $868; it contained the following $10 gold pieces: 1858, 1858-O, 1858-S, 1862-S, and 1862 Proof. Here's one that I still can't believe:
I bought Lot 205 for $840. It had the 1874 and 1875 Brilliant Proof eagles, the latter being one of the really great rarities of American numismatics. Another unbelievable buy was Lot 224, the last of the eagles. It included the 1916-S, the 1920-S, 1926, 1930-S, 1932, and 1933-all six for about $1,100! Well, that finished the first day's sale and a good day's work was represented. A large group of scarce coins was sold in a manner not designed to fetch the best prices, and buyers enjoyed a number of bargains."