An active collector and quintessential philanthropist, Harry W. Bass Jr. was a life member of the ANA for more than 30 years. He was awarded the Medal of Merit in 1989 and was inducted into the Association’s Numismatic Hall of Fame in 1998.

Bass’ interest in numismatics began in the mid 1960s. He joined the ANA in 1966 and spent a year studying the subject before he actively began collecting.

Soon after entering the field, he defined his goal - to collect United States-issue gold coins from 1795 to 1933 by date and mintmark, with special attention to die varieties of early U.S. gold.

He made many important numismatic discoveries while creating the most complete collection ever assembled, including many one-of-a-kind specimens.

Of paramount importance in the collection is a set of virtually all known die varieties of early (1795 to 1834) United States gold coin denominations, in the finest condition. (more…)

Born on October 17, 1915, Maynard Sundman, founder of Littleton Coin Company, grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, where a childhood friend introduced him to stamp collecting at age 12. After graduating from high school in 1935, Sundman turned the hobby that had become his passion into a mail-order stamp concern, operating from his parents’ home.

By 1939, the Maynard Sundman Stamp Company had captured the attention of Bostonian H.E. Harris, founder of what was then the world’s largest stamp company. The encounter began a lifelong business relationship and personal friendship. Harris taught Sundman key lessons about the mail-order business, which contributed greatly to the latter’s long-term success.

In October 1945, Sundman and his wife, Fannie, moved to Littleton, New Hampshire, and established the Littleton Stamp Company. Soon their two-room operation in the Opera Block on Littleton’s main street included four employees.

In early 1947, the Sundmans began to offer world bank notes, their first foray into numismatic sales. Within three years, the company had 40 employees. By 1954, its numismatic business increased enough to warrant changing the name of the firm to Littleton Stamp & Coin Company. (more…)

Wayte Raymond was a dealer and publisher who was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut on November 9, 1886. He and his wife Olga were married in 1917. The couple remained childless. Raymond was employed as a bank teller from 1901 to 1912, working for the City National Bank of South Norwalk. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and also a mason. Raymond joined the ANA at age 16 and later joined with Elmer Sears to form the United States Coin Company, conducting 43 auctions sales from 1912 to 1918.

He later joined with James G. Macallister as numismatic catalogers for J.C. Morgenthau and Company, holding over 50 sales. From 1908 to 1950 he held 69 auctions sales under his own name and served the Scott Stamp and Coin Company from 1934 to 1946, handling important clients such as Col. Green. From 1946 until his death on September 23, 1956, he operated New Netherlands Coin Company. Raymond produced his own line of coin albums and also wrote or compiled several monographs, books, and other references. He published Coin and Medal Bulletin from 1924 to 1933, Coin Collector’s Journal from 1934 to 1954, and Coin Topics from 1936 to 1940.

David U. Proskey was a dealer who was born in Wappingers Falls, New York on December 12, 1853. He was married to Madgie Van Houton in 1884 and the couple and three sons and a daughter. He began his career as a coin dealer in 1873, conducting five auction sales from 1876 to 1887. He cataloged coins for J.W. Scott and Company from 1877 to 1886, and later joined with Harlan P. Smith to form New York Coin and Stamp Company. Smith was the financier and Proskey the cataloger. The firm continued in business after Smith died. Proskey himself died on August 16, 1928 and his son, David V. Proskey continued the business.

Assistant Mint Engraver Anthony C. Paquet was born on December 5, 1814 in Hamburg, Germany and emigrated to the United States in October 1848. The cataloger for Sotheby’s and Stack’s said that “he is believed to be the son of one Tuissaint Francois Paquet.” Paquet worked in Philadelphia and New York from 1850 to 1857, before joining the Mint staff on October 20, 1857.

The nature of his earliest work in America is unknown. He remained in the Mint’s service until 1864 and did additional contract work before and after his period of employment. He continued living in Philadelphia until his death in 1882. Paquet is most famous for the 1861 double eagles that are named for him. He also prepared a design modification for the 1859 half dime. While at the Mint, Paquet created several patterns in addition to the 1861 double eagles that he is most famous for, although most of his work was engraving dies for numerous Mint medals. He prepared the dies for the first Congressional Medal of Honor as well as Indian Peace medals for Presidents Johnson and Grant. (more…)

Ephraim Brasher (pronounced Bray-zher) lived just a few feet from President Washington in New York. Washington resided at 3 Cherry Street and Brasher lived next door at 1 Cherry Street. Some sources give the address of Brasher as 5 Cherry Street. Cherry Hill was a fashionable section of New York in the 18th century, located just north of the Manhattan side of the present day Brooklyn Bridge. His business address was 77 Queen Street, not too far north of his home.

Brasher was born in 1744 and lived to 1810, the entire 66 years a resident of New York City. He was married to Anne Gilbert on November 8, 1766. Ann was a sister of another New York silversmith, William Gilbert. Some sources state that Brasher did not have any children with Anne, or with his second wife, Mary Austin, whom he married in 1797, sometime after Anne’s death. Other sources suggest that he did. Indeed, an article by Richard Bagg and Q. David Bowers in the February 1980 issue of The Numismatist, “Ephraim Brasher, Originator of the Famous Brasher Doubloon,” mentions Ephraim’s great-great-great granddaughter, Deborah. This alone would suggest that he did have children. Ephraim and Abraham Brasher both served their apprenticeship with a silversmith, whose name (or names) are not known today. Ephraim took his studies seriously, and today there is beautiful silverware that survives with his counterstamp. Little is known about Abraham or his work, but Ephraim did excellent work and many pieces of his craft are seen in New York and New England museums. (more…)

Walter Perschke was president of Numisco Rare Coins in Chicago. The firm handled five auctions sales from 1980 to 1982. Earlier, Perschke paid $430,000 for his Brasher Doubloon in 1979.