Further Revelations Concerning the Controversial “Franklin Hoard” Gold Pieces

By Kagins on Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Filed Under: Coin Show News, Education & Seminars, General Collecting, Press Releases, Territorial Gold

This year’s Society of Private and Pioneer Numismatists (S.P.P.N.) meeting will consist of two presentations, both promising to fascinate all attendees. The first will be a talk from Dr. Robert Chandler titled “Wells Fargo, California’s Varied Monies, and Colorful Personalities.” Dr. Chandler has been the senior research historian at Wells Fargo Bank for 30 years, giving him insight into gold coinage, gold bullion, and the gold market. He has a doctorate for a dissertation concerning California during the Civil War, which taught him to adeptly convert gold coin into greenbacks and back again. A study of the Pacific Mail Steamship’s China trade brought an awareness of billheads stamped “Silver Taken at Market Value Only.” This Chairman of His Majesty’s Bridge Committee to properly designate The Emperor Norton Bridge after its creator, Bob knows more about Imperial Bonds than do Cuddy & Hughes. As an X-Noble Grand Humbug of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampsus Vitus he is skilled at interpreting history properly. Incidentally, Bob has written several books and 60 or so articles concentrating on the 1850s through the 1870s.

The meeting will conclude with a 10-15 minute discussion on another 15 pieces of related USAOG coinage from the controversial “Franklin Hoard”. Some were “discovered” by Paul Franklin; others have pedigrees back to Newcomer; still others are from “out of the woodwork”. Present will be the Pioneer Gold Forum, an assembly of experts joining together to analyze and discuss this important topic.

The annual S.P.P.N. meeting takes place during the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday August 8, 2009 11AM in the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall Room 511B. This meeting is usually for current members of S.P.P.N., but anyone is encouraged to come and listen. The Private and Pioneer Numismatist of the Year Award will also be presented to this year’s recipient.

The Society of Private and Pioneer Numismatists has been a non-profit organization since 1992. Currently, there are approximately 165 members who convene annually during the ANA World’s Fair of Money. Membership is $35 per year and includes a subscription to the Brasher Bulletin, a thrice annual publication that features articles submitted and or written by members and the nation’s leading Private & Pioneer coining experts and historians. S.P.P.N. is operated in Tiburon, CA from the offices of Kagin’s, Inc.

Contact for more Information:
Lena DeMarco Taylor
Assistant Editor
Brasher Bulletin
S.P.P.N.
1550 Tiburon Blvd. #201
Tiburon CA 94920

About the Author

Numismatist Donald H. Kagin has unique credentials as a numismatic authority. He earned the first Bachelor of Arts degree in Numismatics granted by Northwestern University, simultaneously earning another B.A. in history. Graduate and post-graduate studies at Northwestern, Drake University, John Hopkins University, the American Numismatic Society Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Union Graduate School earned Don the first Doctorate in Numismatics ever granted in the United States.