GEORGE JOSEPH BAUER (1870-1961)

George Joseph Bauer (1870-1961), was born on September 15, 1870, son of Marcellus Bauer (1841-1914), an Alsatian immigrant trained as a butcher, and Frances Egerer Bauer (1850-1936), a native of New York born of a father from Bavaria and a mother from Prussia.

Bauer was a life-long resident of Rochester, New York. He is especially noted as being one of the foremost authorities on ancient Greek and Roman coins and for owning one of the best collections in the world.

From birth he inherited a rich European cultural background and a love of ancient Greek and Roman numismatics connected to that world. Since the 1870’s, Rochester, New York is ranked 7thamong the most active cities in America in the field of numismatics, home of Henry Augustus Ward’s famous Ward’s Museum. According to his various published biographical sketches he began coin collecting at age 12 years old, i.e., in 1882 when he was a student at St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

In September 1888, he attended the International Fair and Exposition held at Buffalo from September 4th to 14th, and was awarded first prize for his collection of ancient coins being given the copper medal “Awarded by the Buffalo International Fair and Exposition, 1888”. The 1889-1890,City Directory of Rochester, New York listed young George as a coin dealer at 73 Front Street.

He joined the ANA in April 1892... As a coin dealer he ran ads in earliest issues of The Numismatist.

On January 4, 1912, George J. Bauer, together with Dr. George P. French, George A. Gillette, Louis G. Amberg, Harry H. Yawger, Joesph A. Koeb, and nine others met at Hotel Rochester, Main Street, Rochester, New York, and founded the Rochester Numismatic Association. Perhaps following the example of the 18th century "Tuesday Club" the newly founded Rochester Numismatic Association (RNA) scheduled their meetings to be held on the first and third Tuesday of every month, except July and August, which was held only once per month. The RNA soon joined the ANA and was recognized as one of the first branches and designated "local branch two".

Sometime between 1922 and 1932 he had Alphonse Anton Kolb (1893-1983) design his 34 mm bronze or nickel store card. On the obverse : bust head of the Sicilian Naiad Nymph of Syracuse Arethousa facing left wearing a pearl necklace framed by four circling dolphins, an idealized version of an ancient Syracusan coin. Reverse legend : GEORGE J. BAUER/NUMISMATIST/ROCHESTER, N. Y./A.N.A./LIFE MEMBER No.4/A.N.S.-R.N.A.

He was elected to the Board of Governors of the ANA in 1922, and became Life Member No. 4 at that time. He was elected 17th president 1930-1932 at the ANA Convention at Buffalo. He attended all of the ANA Conventions from 1912 until 1960 except two, when his wife died in 1951 and once when he was seriously ill.

He planned on attending the August 1961 ANA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. While preparing an exhibition for the Rochester Numismatic Association’s meeting, he fell at his home at 1462 Culver Road, and broke his hip on May 16, 1961. He was rushed to Park Avenue Hospital for an operation to set his hip. He died on Thursday, May 25, 1961 in Park Avenue Hospital, Rochester, New York, from post-operative complications. His funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. He is buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

His remaining collection of coins was sold posthumously by his estate through Lester Merkin on November 20, 1968. George J. Bauer was inducted into the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame in 1969.

To read the complete article, see:
BAUER, GEORGE JOSEPH (https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/bauer-george-joseph)

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