The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 17, April 23, 2006, Article 7

1957 ANA CONVENTION 1913 LIBERTY NICKEL EXHIBITOR MYSTERY

Alan Weinberg writes: "More from Barry Jablon on his department
store coin shop experiences! I didn't know Samuel Wolfson owned
a 1913 Liberty Head nickel. I know he owned an 1804 dollar which
I watched auction for $29,000 by Stack's...I attended the Wolfson
sales, but I don't recall a 1913 nickel. Perhaps I'm wrong."

[I remembered the Stack's Wolfson sale but didn't have a copy handy.  I
didn't remember him as having one of these nickels, either.  I checked the
pedigree lists in the new 1913 nickel book and Wolfson is not listed.  Next
I reread Barry's note for some clues. There were Philadelphia ANA
conventions in 1941, 1957, and 1969.  He left the coin company in 1962, so
we're talking about the 1957 convention.  I don't have ready access to my
library or I'd try looking for a reference to a 1913 Liberty Nickel exhibit
in Philadelphia, perhaps in The Numismatist or Numismatic Scrapbook.  Does
anyone have a 1957 convention program handy?  That's another place to look.
This is what makes numismatic research fun.

Anyway, having come to a dead end I did the obvious and rechecked with
Barry.  He writes: "After forty-nine years, my memory could be playing games
with me. I'm sure one of the gentlemen at the counter was Wolfson. As I
wrote, I'm not sure who the other "well dressed gentleman" was. It could
have been the actual owner of the 1913 Liberty Nickel. Regardless, they had
a good time trying to make me crazy."

Owners of genuine 1913 Liberty Nickels in 1957 included the Norwebs, Edwin
Hydeman, Lou Eliasberg, George Walton and J.V. McDermott.  Of this group my
money would be on McDermott, who often exhibited his coin.  But I never
heard of him having his nickel encased in a Lucite holder.  Could the
"well-dressed gentleman" have been banker Eliasberg?  Can anyone confirm for
us who the mystery exhibitor was, before the rest of us go crazy, too?
Thanks. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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