I have a few memories of Henry from probably 20 to 35 years ago. I was sad to learn of Henry’s passing when I just Googled his name.

I too lived in Brooklyn not too many miles from Henry’s house. He always loved to talk about his new coin books, but for me, my memories of him are more in the area of his love for coins, as I was and still am a dealer in primarily U.S. coins.

He loved to show his Mercury dime collection, the gem ones he put away years ago before most collectors even were concerned with FULL SPLIT BANDS. Henry said to me “I used to cherry pick all the FSB Mercs as no one else cared.”

Many dealers ran the other way when they saw Henry coming, not because they didn’t like him, but because you knew once you started talking to Henry, it was a 30 minute to 2 hour commitment. If he saw me he would say “Bob, come here I want to show you something”. Two hours later I said “Henry I have to go”.

Henry always called me “Bob” one of the people I would let do so. He was the best and will be missed. Here I thought of him, Googled him and found out the sad news. I just wanted to call and say HI! Henry again.

Bye, Henry.

When I still had my fabric store, a fellow came in and asked if I bought coins. I affirmed and he took out about 30 or so coins and Civil War Tokens. My jaw dropped when I looked at the VF 1794 half cent. We agreed on all the others and I told him NUMEROUS times that I would take the 1/2 c and sell it for him on consignment; I couldn't afford it. Numerous times he said that he looked it up and that it was worth $50! Numerous times I told him that it was worth "a hell of a lot more than that". He finally asked me if I want it for $50 or not -- that's what he wants for it. You know where it is.

I was in line for a photo ID at a Grand Central Convention and someone up the stairs and around the corner called out; "Kam! Kam Ahwash! Has any one seen Kam Ahwash?" He was standing right behind me. I am 6' tall and he was about 5'3" maybe 5'4". I turned around and took a quarter step forward, and with Kam's nose about embedded in my chest called back: "Kam? NOPE, I don't see him." About 20 of us laughed aloud. Kam was the BEST!!! No one was nicer or more fun to be around. He had a SHARP sense of humor and loved to share OUR hobby. He is missed by all who knew him no matter how much time passes. Another who will be spoken of highly - MANY MANY years from now.

I seem to have missed the earlier discussion about Don Taxay. Sometime in the early/mid 70s I went to the American Numismatic Society to ask about a 1915 cent I had just bought as a proof. Doc Brady, I think, said that only a few people could tell which ones are or aren't proofs. He then called me back and told me that Don was upstairs in the library on the second floor, and that he was one of the few. I excused myself and asked him about the coin. His eyes lit up and he pronounced it Proof. I thanked him profusely. He was a delight to meet. I THINK we met a few more times but it's been a LONG time.

Regarding the most important numismatic books, I would nominate Taxay's books on "The U.S. Mint and Coinage" followed by his book on Commemoratives ONLY after Dickinson and Walter Breen's Encyclopedia. When I moved I took them with me in my hand luggage; they were that important to me.

being a New Jorrker with only about 1600 volumes in my library, about 600 numismatic, I can speak of this affliction. Not being a "natty dresser" (euphemism for slob), I had one of the workmen in my building convert a 5 foot closet into book shelves. This provides 90 feet of book shelf space. Of course double deep. I also have books in my "linen" closet, and three free standing book shelves - one double deep. Other books are in milk cartons in the kitchen. Thank goodness I don't cook or I might have a problem.

There are only a few on my file cabinets. Let's not leave out those stored in my 82-year-old Mom's apartment. There are none in the bathtub -- there are three suit cases there.

None on the bed unless I am doing some research. Yes, I do use them. There are also clippings from Coin World, mostly from the last 31 years in those file cabinets sorted by category.

We have been talking about the "rarity" of the early Numismatist issues. Has every one forgotten that the ANA republished them in microfiche format in the 1980s? The reader they sold with the set is LOUSY and not a good unit. Of course I found a better reader AFTER I bought the one from the ANA. Any one wanting further info just tell me and I will excavate the info from my mess err den.