The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 42, October 2, 2005, Article 20

COIN COLLECTING REMINISCENCES

The September 2005 issue of Penny-Wise, the official
publication of Early American Coppers, Inc. reprints an
article that originally appeared in The New York Times
Magazine supplement on Sunday, October 20, 1901.
It was later reprinted in the November 1901 issue of The
Numismatist. Edward Groh, a founder of the American
Numismatic Society, and Ebenezer Gilbert were interviewed
for the article. Gilbert mentioned "the Steigerwalt variety of
the '94 cent" which Chuck Heck discusses in a commentary
at the end of the article. Here are a couple excerpts from
the Times article:

"When I started to collect coins," he said, "it was perfectly
possible for one to make a fine collection of the different kinds
of American money simply by keeping a sharp lookout on
the currency of the day. ... Take the 1804 cent for instance.
One was sold in this city not many months ago for $200. I
remember finding a half-dozen of those very coins when I was
a boy, simply by examining change that passed through my hands."

During the civil war Mr. Groh made his famous collection of
copperheads, which he has since presented to the New York
Numismatic Society. There were about 3,500 pieces in all,
representing every State, town, and business house in which
such coins were issues.

"It wasn't necessary to approach a dealer for one of them,"
said Mr. Groh, "I simply gathered specimens of those about
me as they were issued, and I corresponded and traded with
collectors in all our Eastern towns and cities. Then after the war
I traveled through the West, collecting and trading as I went."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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