Abe Kosoff: Dean of Numismatics

Among quarter eagles, Lot 1110, an Extremely Fine 1808, fetched $450; Lot 1111, a prooflike 1821, sold for $235, Lot 1183, an 1848 CAL., Gem Uncirculated, fetched $600; and Lot 1346, an Extremely Fine 1911-D, realized $52.50.

Three-dollar gold pieces were highlighted by Lot 1399, a Proof 1875, which sold for $4,500. Half eagles included a number of scarce pieces.

Lot 1947, an Uncirculated 1821, realized $650; Lot 1951, an Uncirculated 1826, sold for $500; and an AU example of the rare 1829 small date, Lot 1953, went to a buyer for $8,400.

Lot 2330, which sold for $3,100, consisted of a set of three commemorative half dollars from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Offered were copper, silver, and gold strikings, no specimens of which bore the "S" mintmark. Apparently the set was produced at the Philadelphia Mint from the dies before the mintmark was added.

After the hammer fell on the last lot in the Melish Collection, Abe Kosoff noted that together with the more than $45,000 realized from the T. James Clarke large cent collection sold a few days earlier, he had sold during that month coins amounting to $212,212.60.

Gold coins were featured in the August 1956 issue of Kosoff's Coin Bulletin, which went to press just before Abe headed for the American Numismatic Association convention in Chicago. Proof 1885 gold dollars was offered at $37.50, while a Proof 1907 quarter eagle was listed at $70, a Proof 1870 $3 at $175, and many different dates of double eagles, Very Fine to Extremely Fine condition, could be obtained from about $44 to $70. Jewelry on hand from the old Antique Gallery division of the Numismatic Gallery was gathering dust, so Abe Kosoff noted:

"For over two years I have been holding the stock of fine jewelry as a result of a division of partnership assets. Obviously, it is dead capital and I would like to put it to work. The stock consists of rings, bracelets, brooches, charms, etc., also some antique pieces and some interesting old garnet jewelry. You can have a piece AT COST and I'll take coins in trade. Tell me what you would like and if I have something I'll send it. No obligation to keep it, of course."

Abe Kosoff invited readers of "Money Talks" to join him in viewing a special treat:
"The Eliasberg Collection will be on exhibit at the Northern Trust Company in downtown Chicago during American Numismatic Association convention week. If you haven't seen it-see it. I'm going just to see some of my old friends-the 1822 half eagle, the 1841 quarter eagle, the 1913 Liberty head nickel, the 1873-CC without arrows dime, the 1854-S half eagle-and lots of others. It is the most complete collection ever put together."

Another item told of a troublesome situation:

"It is time to stop misleading advertising in the Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine and The Numismatist. Several 'burned' collectors demand that dealers do something about it. I am glad to say that the Professional Numismatists Guild has taken the initiative."

In the same category: "Dealer R.H. Burnie makes the news-with a new gimmick. He gets a 50 % deposit on bids for non-existent coins, 'sticking' dealers and collectors for over $30,000. Burnie is now rarer than the 'coins.' It's stuff like this that makes it important to look for the Professional Numismatists Guild emblem when buying or selling. No, I am not the West Coast dealer whom Burnie 'hooked' for $5,000. My copy of Burnie's fictitious auction list was filed in a round wastebasket "