Q.David Bowers
On May 7, 1883, Frossard wrote:
The chief object of the present is to tell you that I received a telegram from the owner of the "Liber Natus Libertatum Defendo," reverse with eagle on segment of globe, asking me to withhold the coin if not sold (for the present).
On May 8, 1883, Frossard reiterated on both colonials which he had placed with Garrett: The "Liber Natus Libertatum Defendo" with the reverse eagle on segment of globe is the property of the gentleman who during the last three years has gradually disposed of his coins through me at private sale. He sent this with a large and unique Washington medal in silver, and before a positive price had been fixed, telegraphed me to withdraw the piece. I have not since heard from him but will no doubt.
The Virginia shilling is the property of Mr. Cyrus Lawrence of 31 Broad Street, New York. He told me that he wants $100 net for it, which is too much. If you had found the piece to be perfectly satisfactory, I would suggest that you offer me $50 for it. I will communicate to him the offer and we can then ascertain if he feels disposed to sell and what his lowest price is.
Frossard's invoice of May 14, 1883 offered:
I send to you per express this day the largest and finest selection of coins I have ever sent on approval, being the entire invoice received by me from Europe, except duplicates, poor coins, or such that I know that you already have ...
Enclosed in the invoice were $73.50 worth of Roman bronze coins, $606 worth of ancient and modern gold coins, $191.50 worth of Greek silver and bronze coins, and $663 worth of modern silver coins, for a total invoice value of $1,534.
The price on the Virginia shilling proved inflexible and on May 18th, 1883, Frossard advised Garrett:
Mr. Lawrence does not wish to take less than $100 for the Virginia shilling, and as in the event of his not selling at this price he will probably make a present of the piece to our New York Numismatic Society, it would be well perhaps to let him have his way. I do not consider the price of this piece worth $100 as it is not a Brilliant or even Uncirculated piece, and I have no doubt that at some future time you will be able to buy one perhaps better for less money. There is no hurry about returning the piece, (if returned). You can do so when you send back coins (as I suppose you will) from my last invoice.
Frossard presented a new opportunity to acquire an interesting rarity in his letter of May 23, 1883:
I have the cents, types only, of Honorable George M. Parsons for whom I have been selling many coins at private sales during past years. There is a 1793 wreath (No.4 in the monograph), sharply struck, nearly Proof, and bright red, just as it fell from the dies; also a chain 1793 nearly the same condition, but I should want $300 for the former and $150 for the latter, and even then I could not afford to sell unless a few of the others were taken, so as to assure me that I would come out whole, but I would take $750 for the entire lot and will send you a complete list if you desire to buy it.
About that 1793 wreath-Messrs. Haseltine, Cogan, Smith, Sampson and others to whom I showed the piece at a recent sale all concurred in the opinion that it is without exception the finest cent of this type that they ever saw.
As a footnote to his May 24, 1883 statement Frossard wrote:
If you are a bidder tomorrow at the Haseltine Sale for the 1804 silver dollar I hope you will be successful at a reason-able price. I have not one bid on this.
Garrett made his selections from the Parsons list and they were invoiced to him on June 13, 1883:
I send you today per express . . . medal of Washington as far as I know unique $125; 1793 chain and wreath, the two at $425; these are the property of Hon. George M. Parsons, and I quote his prices. It may please you to see them, even if you do riot buy. In succeeding months several invoices went from Frossard's, including on October 4, 1883 an invoice offering several coins which the owner "claims to have purchased from the Montemono cabinet sold abroad." His cover letter for the February 2, 1885 shipment also requested:
If you have two starred [reverse] cents of 1794 I hope that you will send me your duplicate. My customer is a gentle-man who at the time of my October 2-3 sale telegraphed (dispatch received too late) to buy the set of 1794 cents at $500! He is very anxious to have me make up another set and I am on a fair way of accomplishing the task, but unless I can secure the" starred" from some cabinet like yours I see no prospect of placing that rare variety in the set!
Exactly one year later, February 3, 1886, Frossard offered Garrett:
... a unique willow tree shilling seen by Crosby and pronounced genuine by him, which I would like to submit to you before offering elsewhere. The shilling has been in the same collection for 30 years and has never been offered to any prominent collector. The price asked is $100. I may offer for it a little less.
Correspondence with John W. Haseltine
John W. Haseltine, born in 1838, was one of America's most prominent numismatists during the late 19th century. From his store at 1225 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, he offered coins at fixed prices and also catalogued auction sales. From 1869 to 1898 nearly 100 collections were described by him and offered for public competition. Included were properties of J. Colvin Randall, Joseph]. Mickley, Harold P. Newlin, Sylvester S. Crosby, William]. Jenks, and Dr. Edward Maris. Haseltine is most remembered for his "Type Tables," which gave die varieties of United States silver coins and which described part of his sale con ducted on November 28-30, 1881.
Many coins from Haseltine auctions were acquired by T. Harrison Garrett.