Abe Kosoff: Dean of Numismatics

'The possibilities are tremendous: collecting patterns may be done on a type basis, series basis, or year basis. You can get a few interesting items, a nickel with rays dated 1865, two-cent piece of 1836 or one of 1863 with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST (not used on regular coinage until 1864), or an 1863 cent with L on ribbon, or 16 different designs of the 1873 trade dollar-or lots of other things. I would be glad to go into more detail with you-would love it in fact!

"The standard work on the subject by Adams and Woodin is used as reference. The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine has published new standard prices for patterns beginning in the February 195': issue. Patterns are generally struck in Proof condition. With each item from the Farouk Collection there will be a card in which I attest that this coin described is sold to you and is from the Farouk Collection."

Sample offerings included an 1838 half dollar, AW-74, $225; 1839 half dollar AW-93, $300; 1859 Indian cent, AW-312, the transitional with the reverse of 1860 ("my recent sale offered one and I was surprised at the number of bids"), $17; 1861 half dollar, AW-347, $35; 1866 double eagle, regular dies in copper, AW-528, $75; and AW-581 the 1866 nickel pattern with the portrait of Lincoln, $350.

The listing of United States patterns, including many issues from the Farouk Collection, which was initiated in the July 1955 issue of Kosoff's Coir Bulletin, was continued in the August number. In addition, coins were offered in many other series samples: 1859-D AU gold dollar $127.50; 1861 Proof gold dollar $67.50, an Uncirculated version of the same coin $11, a Very Fine example $9, 1899 Uncirculated gold dollar $17; 1852-D Fine quarter eagle $27.50; 1872 Proof quarter eagle $127.50 1903 Uncirculated quarter eagle $14; 1911-D Extremely Fine quarter eagle $59; 1929 Uncirculated quarter eagle $10; 1872 $3 Brilliant Proof $145 1843 Proof half eagle $395; 1856-C Fine half eagle $17; 1907 Proof half eagle $85; 1909-D Uncirculated half eagle $13; 1799 Extremely Fine eagle $97.50; 1906 Uncirculated eagle $29; 1932 Al eagle $40; 1850 Very Fine double eagle $67.50 MCMVII (1907) High Relief double eagle, Uncirculated $157.50, and another with a slight edge bruise for $137.50; 1920 Uncirculated double eagle $112.50; 1928 Uncirculated double eagle $47.50 and 1929, 1931, 1932 Uncirculated pieces of the same denomination for $515, $400, and $450.

The title page of "Kosoff's Coin Bulletin," July 1955, offered an example of the rare 1854-5 half eagle and noted that items from the T. James Clarke Collection had been acquired.

A forthcoming auction sale was announced in the September 1955 issue of "The Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine." Featured were items from the Clarke, Williams, Hester, and other collections.