The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 25, June 20, 2004, Article 21

HERB MELNICK: LIKABLE GUY

  Responding to last week's items about dealer Herb Melnick,
  Dick Johnson writes: "Don't believe everything you read on the
  web!  I knew Herb Melnick. He WAS likable and a mentor
  to me in many ways.  When my partner, Chris Jensen, and I
  had purchased 64,000 medals from Medallic Art Company,
  we tried several methods of selling them (outright sales,
  advertising, coin shows). It was Herb Melnick who suggested
  we try an auction and he volunteered to call the auction.

  It worked! Our first Johnson & Jensen auction had only
  307 lots, but virtually everything sold.  So we had Herbie call
  a second, then a third, until his death in 1982.   He did this at
  a time when he was calling auctions for his employer, NASCA,
  in addition to being a freelance auctioneer to major coin firms
  at prominent coin shows (even as far afield as Hawaii!).

  I first met Herb in 1972 when he joined with five other
  numismatists to organize the Maccabee Mint. Herb showed up
  in the offices of Medallic Art Co to plan their first medal,
  "Genesis." We were fast friends thereafter.

  I was unaware of the John Ford/Herb Melnick conflict. Chris
  and I were in NASCA's offices in Rockville Center many
  times. [Herb not only called our auctions he also consigned to
  us.]   Ford showed up often too since he lived nearby on
  Long Island - it seems he always wanted to use NASCA's
  photocopy machine! (He didn't have his own?)

  I would say these heated conversations were the Sparing of
  Giants, not the conflict of adversaries!   Both could have gruff
  exteriors, but I personally knew both men deep down as pussy
  cats! You had to earn their respect over time. Yes! But once
  you did that, either one would do anything for you. Treat them
  with respect and they treated you likewise.

  I must relate one Herb Melnick anecdote.  Herb had perfect
  timing at the auction podium.  At a major auction a very
  expensive gold coin was up for sale. Bids came fast and furious.
  Tension was heavy.  Herb wanted some comic relief.  After
  another round of multi-thousand dollar raises he said: ?You
  know, of course, it's filled with chocolate!.?

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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