Famous Coin Collections
Collecting coins can become both addictive and interesting. While we all collect them, there are certainly some famous coin collections that stand above all others.
Famous Coin Collections
Numismatics, or the studying and collection of coins, has been around since the Middle Ages. Early coin collectors included many of the Roman Emperors, such as Julius and Augustus, to name a few. In fact, coin collecting quickly became known as “The Hobby of Kings”. Pontif Boniface VIII is also known to have collected coins during the Middle Ages. Petrarch, an Italian poet, was an avid collector as well. Elector Joachim II began the Berlin coin cabinet in Bradenburg, and Frederick the Great later added to it.
The American Numismatic Association was founded in 1891. It currently boasts 28,000 members and is dedicated to furthering both the study of coins and increasing the popularity of collecting. Coin collecting has continued to gain popularity. The first international coin collectors convention was held in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. It is said that more than 40,000 people attended the convention.
T. Harrison Garrett began collecting coins in the 1860's. The Garrett Collection was continued by his son, John Work Garrett and was known for its high quality. Among the coins was a very rare and desirable gold Brasher doubloon which sold for $725,000. The entire collection sold for $25 million.
John J. Pittman is one of the most well liked coin collectors. He was born in 1913 in North Carolina. Although he was not a wealthy man, he bought rare silver and gold coins as his modest income would allow. He became very knowledgeable on the subject in order to buy rare and history-rich coins. Perhaps equally important was the enjoyment he got from collecting. Pittman spent approximately $100,000 on his entire collection over his lifetime. However, the collection sold for over $30 million.
Another famous collection is the Eliasberg Collection, also known as the U.S. Gold Coin Collection. Begun by Louis Eliasberg in the 1930's, the collection contained one of every U.S. Coin listed in “The Red Book”. This astonishing task was complete by 1950. The collection was eventually sold for over $12 million. The Bass Collection, begun by Henry Bass in 1965, is known as the finest collection of U.S. Gold coins. It sold for over $38 million. Ed Trompeter collected U.S. Gold proof coins during the 1980's and 90's. An 1872 Amazonian set is one of the crowning points of his collection.
