RICHARD MARGOLIS (1931-2018)

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 48, December 2, 2018, Article 6

Dick Margolis passed away recently. Among many other achievements he was one of the three founders of the New York International Numismatic Convention (along with Fritz Weber and Bill Selfridge), authored perhaps one of the most important numismatic works of the 21st century, Benjamin Franklin in Terra Cotta, and was one of the most prominent dealers of French and early US medals as well as other world coins and medals. When Dick set up his table at a show everyone would flock to his table to see what goodies he would bring.

MARGOLIS--Richard, a native New Yorker and eminent numismatist who lived in New Jersey for many years, died on November 24. He was 87 years old. He was born on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on April 21, 1931 to Benjamin Margolis, a manufacturer of women's coats and suits and Norma (Germain) Margolis, a housewife. He leaves behind his adored wife Sara, their beloved cockapoo Cookie, his sister Maxine Margolis, brother-in-law Jerald Milanich, and nieces Nara Milanich, Nina Shea, and Sally Roberts.

A graduate of the Horace Mann School, he attended Tulane University and graduated from New York University. Richard was a principal of the N. T. Hegeman Company, a Paramus, New Jersey commercial real estate firm, founded by his maternal grandfather in 1910.

Richard caught the coin collecting bug from a friend at the age of twelve and the resulting fever raged unabated ever since. In 1952 he became interested in the numismatics of the French Revolution and Napoleon, building a collection during the next sixty-two years numbering some 3000 pieces, along with the relevant literature. He has published more than thirty articles on this specialty. In 1973 he published The Silver Crowns of France, 1641-1973 which remains a work regularly consulted by specialists in this series.

A second collection, begun years later, consists of medal and medallions of the late 18th Century, a period which includes medallic works by Jean-Baptiste Nini and Jean Martin Renaud. His magnum opus, Benjamin Franklin in Terra Cotta: Portrait Medallions by Jean-Baptiste Nini at the Chateau of Chaumont was published in 2015. In a review in the Journal of Early American Literature, the volume was called "the most original, scholarly treatment... of this complex subject." The reviewer wrote that the work "will likely stand for the next several hundred years as the definitive study of the masterworks of the Nini pottery at Chateau-sur-Loire. The volume is just an amazing achievement."

Richard, who became a professional coin dealer in 1958, specialized in foreign numismatics of the period from about 1500 to 1960. He carried out extensive research in the Boulton Papers at the Birmingham Reference Library (England), resulting in articles on Matthew Boulton and the Soho Mint in The British Numismatic Journal, the Colonial Newsletter, Spink's Numismatic Circular, and other publications.

Richard and his wife Sara were two of the founders in 1972, and subsequently the organizers for many years, of the New York International Numismatic Convention, an annual gathering of important numismatists which continues to this day.

To read the complete article, see:
RICHARD MARGOLIS Obituary (https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=richard-margolis&pid=190876477)

"The world and ancient numismatic community owe a considerable debt to Richard Margolis. He was the founder of the New York International Numismatic Convention and made it into the leading event that it became. He participated as a booth holder at our first 44 annual conventions and leaves a legacy of good will and respect."

"I had the pleasure of working with him over the years in my role as the Educational Chairman for the NYINC. Richard ran the Societé de l’étude Numismatique Française meetings at the NYINC until a few years ago, when his health started to decline. He was a gentleman and a consummate professional."

"He issued a number of printed fixed price lists in the 1960s and 1970s and possibly at other times, and he held at least one auction, in 1960."

"Dick and his wife Sara, Jim and Ann King and my wife Rita and myself ate too many huge Corned Beef and Pastrami sandwiches from the Carnegie Deli when the NYC shows were held in mid-town. It was Sara who finally convinced the the countermen to throw in extra bread so we could eat them behind our bourse tables and make a minimum of mess. In the evenings Dick became the gourmand that he was and seemed to know fantastic restaurants in every large city in the world. He and Sara recommended a restaurant to us when we were going to visit Venice. It may have been the best meal we've ever had. And not to be forgotten Dick was a fellow Yankee fan!"