The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 49, December 2, 2007, Article 4

REVIEW: THE WILLIAM A. ASHBROOK DIARIES 1905-1920 BY JEFF REICHENBERGER

E-Sylum reader Jeff Reichenberger of Oshkosh, WI published
an interesting 20-page monograph earlier this year titled
'Charter Legacy: Numismatic Chronicle from the Diaries of
William A. Ashbrook, 1905-1920'.  He was kind enough to send
me a copy this summer, and I read it with interest on my
last flight back from London.

Printed on 8 1/2 x 11 inch glossy white stock, the monograph
is nicely designed and well illustrated.  There is one photo
for nearly every page, and each page contains two columns
of text surrounded by a gold border.  The layout is quite
attractive.

So who was William Ashbrook, and why is he important to
numismatics?  A coin collector from Johnstown, Ohio, Ashbrook
was a member of the American Numismatic Association Board of
Governors, a United States Congressman, and Chairman of the
House Coinage Committee.  Through Ashbrook's efforts the ANA
obtained its Federal nonprofit charter.

Ashbrook kept a diary for over fifty years; the period from
1905 to 1920 encompasses the height of his interest in coins.
The diaries were published in four volumes beginning in 1930.
One of the first numismatic entries is enough to make today's
collectors drool.  Dated December 13, 1907, Ashbrook writes:
"The new St. Gaudens double eagles are just out and are at
a premium.  I got ten today."  Reichenberger notes that
these were likely the MCMVII high relief circulation issues,
worth today between $15,000 and $25,000 apiece.  Two days
later he writes "Collecting coins is my diversion now."

He moved quickly in forming his collection, buying more double
eagles and one dollar and three dollar gold coins from the U.S.
Treasury.  On January 21, 1908 he wrote "I paid $10 today for
a 1799 and an 1804 U.S. penny and now I have the complete series."

Ashbrook tussled with President Roosevelt over the 'In God We
Trust' issue.  After Roosevelt ordered the motto removed from
coins, Ashbrook began receiving letters of protest from
constituents.  He introduced a bill to restore the motto.

On February 11, 1908 Roosevelt appointed Ashbrook to the
Assay Commission.  This proved to be another opportunity
to add to his collection.  Mint Director Frank Leach "let
each member have two of the double eagles and one of the
rare eagles of the fifty lot... The members did not care
for their coins and let me have them."  Reichenberger notes
that the "rare eagles" (of which he had as many as eleven)
are selling today for $100,000 to $250,000 apiece.

Ashbrook was dogged in his search, as this entry from
January 21, 1913 shows: "Went through another bag of quarter
eagles today, but in the examination of 20,000 coins, did
not find one that I wanted."

I could go on but I'll stop here and allow readers to mine
their own set of numismatic gems from this interesting pamphlet.
Ashbrook rubbed elbows with many of the top dealers and
collectors of his day, including Dr. John Henderson (ANA
President 1910-1911), Farren Zerbe, Henry Chapman, William
Hesslein, J.C. Mitchelson, Charles Deetz, Dr. George French
and others.  In 1909 he went to the White House to present
medals with President Taft to Wilbur and Orville Wright.

The back page carries key features I always look for in a
numismatic publication - reference citations and complete
photo credits.  All in all a very nicely done work - I only
wish there were more monographs like it. The cost is $8
postpaid to U.S. addresses.  For more information, contact
Jeff Reichenberger at jkreichenberger@hotmail.com.

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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