Q.David Bowers
Further, the letter contained a reference to some medals in which Garrett was interested:
My agent in sending me the Commune Medals which I added to Palmer Sale wrote as follows: [Translated from the French-"Struck from day to day during the siege; despite the horrors of the war and of the famine, the enthusiasts assembled daily and awaited the striking of new ones in this complete and unique series. "] Nevertheless I had previously obtained other Commune medals, but of different workmanship and size-some satyrical against Napoleon III & William of Prussia. One which I kept and now have in my small cabinet is a trial impression of an obverse on a lead planchet: Pegasus in the center, around which in 2 lines:
Cheval Pegase, ne du sang qui jaillit de la tete de Meduse/Paris affame devore sa chair pendant que repose 0 a Muse." [While the Muse was sleeping, starving Paris devoured the flesh of the horse Pegasus who was born from the blood which burst from Medusa's head.] RF Siege de Paris 1870. This is in allusion to the horse flesh diet of the Parisians during the siege.
In regards to colonial coins, immediately upon receipt of your order I communicated the same to the owner, adding on my own responsibility that the gentleman who wants 'to buy might possibly accept a compromise of $875 (halfway between your offer and his price), if you would authorize me to sell at this figure. Up to this evening I have not heard one word from him, but if you should accede to this, telegraph to me and I will telegraph to him and get a final assent or denial. In the meanwhile, and until I see that no understanding can be reached, I will not sell a piece out of the lot you wanted, while you of course are not under obligation to take them, and this arrangement you will, I am sure, consider very fair.
The 1854 and 1855 Proof sets (the latter lacks the quarter) I will sell you for $150. It seems to be an open secret that $100 has been offered for a perfect set of 1855 in a coming sale, hence the price may not be deemed extravagant ...
Frossard notified Garrett, on April 4, 1883, that his offer was accepted. Your dispatch was duly received but I could not then accede to your offer of $850 for the lot of colonial coins. This morning I am in receipt of a communication from him authorizing me to accept the amount suggested by me to him as a compromise, $875. This concession on his part brings you so near together that unless I hear from you to the contrary, I will send you the lot on Friday at the price of $875, together with a fine selection of coins in gold and silver from a lot just received.
I really think you are getting a most desirable lot of coins at very low rates. I am sure Smith could have got $1,000 for the doubloon alone through Scott at a public sale, and several dealers have assured me that they have customers who would pay $700 for this piece.
On April 5, 1883, the Brashet doubloon and other pieces were invoiced to T. Harrison Garrett at $875 net, together with an assortment of world coins. On April 12, 1883, Frossard wrote:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 10th with a draft of $875 in full for the colonial coins. Please accept my thanks and my congratulations on your securing this really rare lot at what must be considered very fair figures.
In a separate communication Frossard further noted that the Brasher doubloon had earlier appeared in the Charles I. Bushnell Collection, sold by the Chapman Brothers in 1882 as lot 872. The NE sixpence sold as Bushnell lot 141, the Carolina elephant piece as Bushnell lot 185, the Fugio cent with the names of the states as Bushnell lot 726, and the Vermonts 1785 as Bushnell lot 740.
On April 17, 1883, Frossard sent a selection of ancient coins and world coins to which the following footnote was appended:
Have you a Virginia shilling? 1774? A gentleman of Wall Street, New York, put one in my hands for sale. Condition is Very Fine. He wants $100 for the piece but I should be pleased to transmit any offer for the same.
Whenever the occasion presented itself, T. Harrison Garrett would upgrade the quality of coins in his collec-tion. Thus in April he sent a group of unneeded pieces of lower grades to Frossard who replied on April 24th with offers. Included were such issues as silver dollars of 1794, 1799, 1800, 1847, 1850, 1859, 1861, 1862, 1866, 1871, 1872, 1873; trade dollars of 1873, 1876 and 1878; a half dollar of 1796, and many other issues. The Virginia shilling was shipped April 25, 1883 with these comments:
The piece belongs to a Mr. Lawrence, a New York banker, who took it in payment of an old debt. Having seen the prices at which this sold he wants $100 for the piece which I think, considering its condition, is too much. If you want it, make an offer which I will communicate to him ...
I should be pleased to attend any of your bids at coming sales in New York, especially in the sale of H. G. Sampson which will contain very fine cents and desirable foreign crowns. Having catalogued these for him I can personally vouch for the correctness of the descriptions. On purchases amounting to $100 or more I charge a small sum, and I buy at the lowest possible rates and always endeavor to do my customers full justice. I do not attend all New York sales, but do so whenever I have sufficient bids to make it any object. The Sampson Sale (catalogue not yet out) I shall certainly attend.
In his next letter, April 30, 1883, Frossard offered an interesting rarity:
The Virginia shilling was the property of Mr. Cyrus W. Lawrence, member of the New York Numismatic Society, a Wall Street banker, and a gentleman of the highest honor. I believe he got this piece from a coin dealer. Of course the piece is guaranteed. I did not examine it with the same care as I would had it come from some other quarter. Anything suspicious about it? If so, pray return it and I will examine it myself again and let others examine it.
I have here for sale a Colonial coin of the highest rarity and in Very Fine condition. See Crosby page 321, cut 64. Obverse with Indian "Liber Natus Libertatum Defendo." Reverse with Neo Eboracus" and eagle on section of globe, [reverse B].
On page 322 Mr. Crosby says "We can call to mind but three with reverse B. but can place only those of Mr. Appleton and Mr. Bushnell."
Now on turning to the Bushnell catalogue I cannot find this coin; it certainly is not lot 886 or 887; it is 888 with another reverse, so that either Mr. Crosby erred in stating that Bushnell had it, or the coin was taken out before the sale and is now in Mr. Parmelee's cabinet, which is quite probable.
If you want this I will agree not to offer it elsewhere for the present. Price is not yet fixed, yet it will probably be not less than $250.