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V21 2018 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 31, August 5, 2018, Article 13

READER THOUGHTS ABOUT BREEN AND COIN WORLD

ANA Edition reader Joe Scarlett writes:

Walter Breen is gone and should be forgotten.

Dave Hirt writes:

The post on Water Breen, Stanley Apfelbaum, and his ads in Coin World brought back memories to me. In 1975 I decided to sell most of my coins, and just collect numismatic literature. I chose Apfelbaum's firm to do that.

For some reason, even though there were other consigners, Apfelbaum, and/or Herb Melnick decided to name the sale catalog after me. Soon full page ads started to appear in Coin World, which was MUCH larger at that time. At first I was thrilled to see my name in such bold print but after the 3rd or 4th week, I started to be a bit embarrassed by all that publicity.

However name recognization seems to long endure. A year or two ago my brother from California was deer hunting in Kansas. At a dinner he started to speak with a man next to him. The man asked his name, and he said Ralph Hirt. The man asked about his family, and was told. "I have a brother David" The man then said "Oh, the rich coin collector!!" My brother answered, "Well, I guess Dave is doing ok, but I don't think he is rich.

Great story. Breen may be gone, but he and Apfelbaum were pretty unforgettable characters. Direct memories fade and disappear as generations die off. In the end all we'll be left with are a few physical artifacts and the written word. -Editor

Len Augsburger of the Newman Numismatic Portal writes:

Following up on David Alexander’s note in the last E-Sylum regarding Breen’s use of “piece de merde” in Coin World - an examination of issues from 1965 indicates that Breen’s final installment in the ”Bristles and Barbs” column was in the August 18, 1965 issue, titled “Collectors Should Beware in Buying Treasure Gold.” A check of that and several columns previous did not reveal the existence of “merde,” or any other vulgar language. While there is no reason to doubt Alexander’s memory of his discussion with Coin World staffer Jay Guren, the story may be apocryphal.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
BEARDLESS BREEN ON RADIO WITH 1943 BRONZE CENT (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n30a08.html)
WALTER BREEN AT COIN WORLD AND BEYOND (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n30a09.html)

E-Sylum Leidman ad01new coin


Wayne Homren, Editor

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To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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