The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 50, December 9, 2007, Article 20

MORE ON ROBERT E. HECHT

Kerry Wetterstrom writes: "I read with interest the latest
edition of E-Sylum, and the story on Bob Hecht. While I can't
comment on his shadier side, I do know that he is a serious
numismatist, specializing in ancient coinage. In fact, he
even merits two citations in Elivra Clain-Stefanelli's 1984
Numismatic Bibliography:

2592 Hecht, Robert E. "Some coins of Asia Minor in Boston."
Reprint from Numismatic Chronicle, ser. 7, vol. 4, London,
1964, pp. 159-168, 4 pls.

4415 Hecht, R.E., "Some Greek imperial coins." Numismatic
Chronicle (1968), ser. 7, vol, 8, pp. 27-35, 5 pls.

"Also, if my memory is correct (and lately it's been fuzzy),
he owned a coin and antiquity business back in the 1950s
called Hesperia Arts, based in Philadelphia, that sold ancient
and medieval coins. Perhaps George Kolbe or Douglas Saville
could verify this as Hesperia did publish price lists.

"Finally, Classical Numismatics Group (CNG) is selling Robert
Hecht's collection of Byzantine Lead Seals in their upcoming
Triton XI auction at the New York International in January.

"There is an interesting biography for Hecht on page 284 of
the catalogue, but it doesn't mention his connection to
Hesperia Arts. He may have been just a silent partner, or
I may be totally wrong about his connection to the firm.

"The CNG bio reads in part: 'Robert E. ('Bob') Hecht Jr.,
now 88 years old, is the most prominent antiquity dealer
of his generation. A Baltimore native, his great-grandfather
Samuel Hecht founded the Hecht department store chain in
1857 that grew to 81 stores.'

"All in all, a fascinating fellow! One other interesting
tidbit about Bob Hecht - he is mentioned prominently in
Bruce McNall's autobiography 'Fun While It Lasted', as
Bruce considered him his mentor in the antiquity business.
(Bruce was the owner of Numismatic Fine Arts if his name
is not familiar.)"

[Considering that McNall wrote his book in a jail cell,
I doubt Hecht will be calling on Bruce as a character
witness in his own trial.  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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