Q.David Bowers
Collins wrote again on December 30, 1884:
I find I can do nothing in the way of business through Dr. Massamore, and take the liberty of addressing you myself and in the hope that I will receive the courtesy of a reply.
The four pattern 1878 eagles and half eagles are for sale. I don't know any buyer. Do you want them cheap and what will you give? Will take $120 for them.
Nearly two years later, September 14, 1886, Collins still owned the sets and wrote again concerning them:
I have within a few days come into positive and undeniable information that but two sets in gold were ever struck of the almost unique pattern (Barber & Morgan designs) 1878 eagles and half eagles-one of which I sold Mr. Parmelee and the set I submitted for your purchase through Dr. Massamore and which I still own, and in time expect you to buy for the superb collection I heard you are making. Even the Mint Cabinet does not contain these extremely rare patterns in gold, theirs being copper Proofs only, and in copper in all there were not over eight sets struck-two only in gold, Mr. Parmelee's and mine.
I have no use for them and would like you to own them, will sell for $125 and give bond to buy them back at $100 any time, should more than these two in gold turn up. The dies and hubs are destroyed I know.
I can satisfy you as to the commercial value of my guarantee.
I have had and can produce three separate offers from dealers at $75, $85 and $100 respectively, but for certain reasons I prefer you to have them even though I get an offer of $125 from either of the three.
I fear you think me a little importunate but it is not from being pecuniarily pushed I can assure you, and judging from the prices patterns sold for at Maris's sale, these four gold patterns are cheap at $250, and time will certainly enhance their value.
Correspondence with Edouard Frossard
Edouard Frossard was born near Geneva, Switzerland in 1838. Following his education in France he came to America. During the Civil War he served with distinction, was cited for bravery, and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Following the war service he became a language teacher in Irvington, New York, while at the same time dealing in coins, an interest which began in the year 1872. From that point onward he catalogued more than 150 auction sales for himself, W. Elliot Woodward, Bangs & Co. and Sampson. During his career he offered collections belonging to George W. Merritt, Lyman H. Low, George Parsons, Captain Andrew Zabriskie, Joseph Hooper, Ferguson Haines, Frank Bowman, and Howard Newcomb, among others.
At one time he was editor of the Coin Collector's Journal, which was published from 1876 to 1888 and was, together with the American Journal of Numismatics, one of the leading numismatic periodicals of the time. During the 1877-1885 period he also produced his own publication, Numisma, a listing of coins for sale interspersed with spicy comments on coin collecting, mint activities, and other topics of interest. Doing business from his home at Irvington-on- Hudson, he shortened his first name and was known simply as Ed. Frossard.
Frossard contributed many articles to the American Journal of Numismatics and The Numismatist. In 1879 he published his most memorable work, A Monograph of the United States Cents and Half Cents. With Hays, in 1893, he produced Varieties of United States Cents of the Year 1794, followed by Franco American Jetons. In 1899 Frossard died of complications from rheumatism.
An extensive correspondence between Ed. Frossard and T. Harrison Garrett took place during the mid-1880s. Selected excerpts from these letters are given below, beginning with Frossards' response, on September 11, 1882 to a telegram from Garrett received that same day:
Your telegram reached here this p.m. and in compliance with your request I send tomorrow a.m. a package containing the major part of the rare coins advertised in the September Numisma. Since the orders are coming in I will ask you as a personal favor to return as soon as you possibly can such coins as you may not wish to purchase. Make up a package of those you know you shall not want and return at once; those you wish to think about, etc., keep not over 3 or 4 days, and by doing so, you will greatly oblige me. I never wish to press my customers, but in this instance the orders will come in every day and each expects to receive whatever he orders without delay.
I add the rare 1838-O half dollar advertised in the July Numisma and the 1836 Proof half. These you can retain as long as you please.
Under the supposition that you may make a pretty large selection I will offer you a concession of 21/2 % on the gold if you take $100 or more of 5% on the silver if you take $100 or more and 71/2 % (on the silver) if you take $250 or more.
I will state that it will be difficult to duplicate a large number of the coins sent, even abroad. The large pieces all came from a small collection abroad bought entirely by me and made by a gentleman who collected only from and over the double crown size, and he was a long time in forming this collection.
On January 4, 1883, Frossard wrote:
In a few days I shall receive a fine invoice of large and beautiful coins, and as soon as it is at hand I will forward a number for selection.
In the American gold series I may have what you want. I mentioned as in stock a $50 1855 round California, $2.50 and a $5 Bechtler, a 1796 eagle and half eagle, etc. During this period Frossard had sent numerous invoices to Garrett. Most were composed of world coins with occasional American issues interspersed. On January 18, 1883, one of the offerings included:
Silver Immune Columbia [cent] 1785. This specimen believe to be the finest one known as Parmelee wanted to exchange it for his and get something in the trade. I got this from the Legras Collection about 18 months ago, sold it to a gentleman for about $70, and he now relinquishes colonial coins for American medals, and I got it back. $65.
On January 19, 1883, Frossard sent a lengthy invoice of world coins, prefaced by the following comment:
I regret the delay in replying to your favors. Three catalogues of coin sales to prepare, Numisma for January besides 4 or 5 hours each day devoted to my ordinary occupation as a teacher have completely filled up my time.
I have nothing or next to nothing in cents at present, except my set of 1794 cents, not for sale, but add to the lot forwarded today from New York by Adams Express a few very rare and fine colonial coins...