Q.David Bowers
B. Max Mehl once proclaimed that he employed more people than everyone else in the coin business combined.
This was largely the result of his activities popularizing coin collecting with the public. The Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, initially sold for one dollar, was distributed by the millions and listed premiums paid for scarce issues. Mehl advertisements were placed in newspapers, magazines, and Sunday supplements. At one time he even had his own radio program. The American Numismatic Association conferred upon him a special award for the goodwill he created. '
The Waldo C. Newcomer Collection was purchased in installments by Mehl for nearly a quarter million dollars in the early 1930s and was one of the greatest collections ever dispersed. Individual items were sold by price lists and private quotations.
Following many months of illness with a heart condition, B. Max Mehl died at his home in Ft. Worth, in 1957.
Mehl's introduction to John Work Garrett came in early 1920 at the recommendation of Waldo Newcomer, the wellknown Baltimore collector whose holdings were to be purchased later by Mehl. On January 23, 1920, B. Max Mehl sent his initial letter to Garrett:
I am certainly indebted to Mr. Newcomer for his kindness in referring you to me and assure you that I will do my utmost to prove worthy of the kindness accorded me by Mr. Newcomer.
While, as you realize, it is quite impossible to keep a complete stock of all coins at all times, I endeavor to keep an interesting stock on hand. I am pleased to be able to submit you on approval, as per enclosed invoice, a number of the coins from the list which you so kindly sent me, and I shall be pleased to submit to you from time to time such specimens as you may desire to add to your collection. Of course you understand that anything I may send you upon your request or otherwise is sent without the slightest obligation on your part, and any or all of the items submitted may be returned without argument or question.
In submitting the coins, as per enclosed invoice, I remembered well your instructions that you desired only the best possible specimens, and I am sending you the best that I have in stock. Besides these, I have some other rarities, such as the 1802 half dime, some very beautiful United States pattern coins, a selection of which I shall be pleased to send you with your kind permission.
At this time John Work Garrett, having recently acquired the collection from his brother Robert, was endeavoring to fill remaining spaces in the United States date series. The want list included the following:
Half dimes: 1797 13 stars, 1800 LIBEKTY, 1837 bust type with small 5c, 1837 Liberty type without stars, 1846, 1848 large date, 1849/48, 1860, 1863-S, 1864-S, 1865-S, 1867-S.
Dimes comprised the following: 1797 13 stars, 1801, 1802, 1823/2 large and small Es, 1824/2, 1836, 1838 Liberty without stars (actually 1838-O), and 1859 with reverse of 1860.
He also requested twenty-cent pieces: 1875-CC, 1875-S; and quarters: 1819 large date, 1820 large 0, 1824 perfect date, 1827/3 (he already owned an 1827/3, but as it was inventoried simply as 1827 he thought the 1827/3 was a different variety), 1831 large letters, 1836, 1840 with drapery.
He needed also for his collection the following fifty cent pieces: 1795 with three leaves, 1801, 1806 stemless, 1807 face to left with large stars, 1817, 1827 curled 2, 1839 Liberty seated without drapery, 1844.
Garrett also required these silver dollars: 1841, 1842, 1843, 1871-CC, 1872-CC, 1872-S, 1873, 1873-CC. His desires for gold were listed as well. Quarter eagles:
1802, 1836, 1851, 1857. Three dollars: 1854-O, 1855-S, 1856-S large and small mintmark, 1860-S.
Half eagles: 1798 large eagle with 14 stars and large wide date, 1802/1, 1806 with pointed 6, 1807 bust right with small stars, 1808, 1820 with curled 2, 1828/7, 1832 curved 2 and with 12 stars, 1837, 1842 small letters and large letters, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1889.
Many of the items on this want list were not particularly scarce or rare at the time. Some pieces apparently were overlooked by T. Harrison Garrett when the original collection was formed. Others may have become strayed in the meantime, and still others probably were not obtainable in top condition by T. Harrison Garrett, although worn pieces would have been quite inexpensive.
By 1920 there was a great awareness of mintmarks. Although the collection formed earlier by T. Harrison Garrett had very few mintmarks, for there was very little interest in them by numismatists at the time, when the want list was formulated in 1920 selected mintmark issues were included. There seems to have been no particular pattern to this. Perhaps issues that John Work Garrett found interesting formed the basis.
The colonial want list at the time included the following: Fugio cents (no specific variety specified; John Work Garrett personally found the series quite interesting and probably wanted to examine all he could).
1722 Rosa Americana twopence. Vermont cents: 1786 bust left, 1787 bust right, 1787 bust left, 1787 Britannia.
His want list also included Connecticut coppers: 1786 draped bust left, 1787 mailed bust right, 1787 draped bust left, Auctori Plebis (this is not a Connecticut copper but apparently was included in the want list as the design somewhat resembles the Connecticut series).
The Clinton cent, Irish halfpenny with Liberty and Security die, 1795 North Wales Washington halfpenny, Washington Success to the United States, Wood's pieces of 1722 and 1724, Dublin pieces (probably Mark Newby), Pitt farthing, Franklin Press token, and New York Theatre token complete the list. B. Max Mehl eagerly responded to this want list, and on an invoice dated January 23, 1920, sent 69 different pieces and groups. From the listing John Work Garrett purchased the following:
1841 silver dollar "semi-proof" $3; 1842 dollar "semi- Proof, nearly equal to a brilliant Proof," $4.50; 1843 dollar, "semi-Proof, former owner purchased it as a brilliant Proof and paid over $20 for it," $5; 1872-S dollar Uncirculated $8.50; 1844 AU half dollar $2; and numerous other coins, totaling $133.