The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 15, April 11, 2004, Article 13

THE SPORT OF NUMISMATIC NAME-CALLING

  This week in the Colonial Numismatics email list, Ray
  Williams wrote the following after reviewing Kolbe's
  catalog of the John J. Ford Library, Part One: "I scanned
  through the catalog on line.  It is filled with much information.
  I noticed that the personal communications gave me a better
  view of the famous numismatists.  I think we look back and
  see these people that we respect as all being honest nice
  guys, concerned with altruistic intentions only.  Although
  there may have been a couple like that, I don't believe it
  was the case in general.  It is obvious that there were varied
  personalities and egos then, as now.  Information from some
  individuals was respected while the information from others
  was kept suspect."

  John M. Kleeberg added: " ... it's surprising what you learn
  about the old time numismatists.    The American Numismatic
  Society has the personal papers of Howland Wood, and he
  received correspondence from virtually all the great Canadian
  numismatists - McLachlan, Leroux, Breton, Sandham, S. S.
  Heal.  The correspondence is a hoot.  The letters to Wood
  consist in   of ninety-five percent absolute venom: Canadian
  numismatists badmouthing other Canadian numismatists.  You
  pick up one letter by S. S. Heal, and you read, "McLachlan
  is a stupid old woman and sew up your pockets if you ever
  run into Dr. Lees and Leroux lives one step ahead of the law..."
  and then you pick up a letter by McLachlan, and he says much
  the same things about all the other Canadian numismatists.
  After page after page of abuse, you come to a bit where the
  correspondent says, "Oh, by the way, Brother Howland, I
  think this is a new variety of the Ships Colony and Commerce
  token, and here's a rubbing."  So that's the one nugget of
  actual numismatic content.  This abuse is part of the sport.
  This listserv is the parquet of the Grand Court of Versailles
  compared to what you can read from the great Canadian
  numismatists.  It's amazing that they accomplished so much,
  considering how much time they spent attacking each other.

  If you ever want another good laugh, ask to see Henry
  Chapman's book of "Men Reported Bad" in the ANS library.
  It's remarkable how many great names bounced checks off
  Henry Chapman or his informants: Dr. George French,
  Benjamin P. Wright, John F. Jones ("slow pay"). Numismatics
  - the study of monetary objects struck, usually, in metal, paid
  for by monetary objects written, usually, on rubber."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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