REMEMBERING JAMES SKALBE

At our C4 Conventions in Boston, if you stopped at the C4 table, you would find Tom Rinaldo's table on your right and Jim Skalbe's table on the left. While breaking down the C4 table at one convention's end, a young man, pre-teen, maybe 10 years old, approached the C4 table. I always make time for young people (and old ones too). I asked him what he collected and to my surprise, he said, "colonial coins"!

In my excitement I asked him if he brought any with him, and he replied in the affirmative. Looking at what he had, I saw a well worn Massachusetts cent and a few other coppers. Not having my readers (glasses) in reach, I handed a well worn coin I couldn't see clearly enough to Jim and asked if he could see what it was. He took about 10 seconds and replied to the young man, "I'll give you a thousand dollars for it".

"I told the young man to get his father, who was looking at a table about 20 feet away. Jim did end up with the coin. It was a Vermont Ryder 1. I'm sure there are many in C4 who could share stories about Jim. Somewhere I have a few of his old coppers he stamped with his business name. Worth little in the open market, they are of value to me.

I had the good fortune to know and work with Jim Skalbe from his days at Worthy and then even more when he started Colonial Trading Company with partners (I think) Russ Smith (among others maybe, though I only really spent time with Jim and Russ).

Business used to take me to Boston frequently during those days, particularly when the main Institutional Fund Managers like Fidelity where largely based there.

Jim would always manage to dig up some treasure for me about once a year. Some of my most prized possessions came from Jim.

Despite some of his excesses (see below), I always judged him by a very well known event in Colonial numismatic circles.

Then Bowers and Merena sent me three extraordinary New Jersey Coppers for lot viewing before a fairly well known sale to lot view via US Mail. I just couldn't get to the auction or live lot viewing anywhere.

They were famously lost in the mail upon my quick review and return to B&M (see C-4 Newsletter.......). Wowie!!

After supplying the necessary documentation (keep your receipts!) the insurance company and VERY quickly the FBI were on the case. Mail fraud is something the FBI takes pretty seriously!

A year later, before an ANA convention I could not make, I called Jim before the show to see what he was bringing. He sent me one coin to look at. It took a few minutes, but I don't forget too many Condition Census New Jersey coppers. A quick call revealed it walked in the door from a vest pocket dealer.

It turns out (an FBI investigation later), the vest pocket dealer bought it from a pawn shop, who bought it from an airport US Mail handler.

Jim did not hesitate an instant when I pointed him to the auction catalogue and the withdrawn three lots (all three of which were sold by the vest pocket dealer). He was on the phone with B&M in an hour to his personal loss. That was all I needed to know about Jim.

A year or two later, I was able to finally buy the three New Jersey Coppers from the insurance company!

By the same 'token' (ha ha - my vain attempt at humor), Jim lived large. Very large in every way. His girth, his personality, his love of food and drink and a great time.

We often went out to dinner in the best places in town when I was there. Often with Russ and sometimes other local collectors, dealers or friends. Colonial Trading often paid the bill and it was always a long night that I never was able to finish much after dinner.

But I will say, some great rarities like one of the finest Noe 1 Pine Tree Schilling came from Jim. Some fabulous Washington Inaugural buttons including one of the finest Pater Patrie buttons of the movie National Treasure fame came from Jim. A pristine original Stamp from the Stamp Act (go find one). I could go on. They all came from Jim.

He did live a large life, in every way. His death was always a mystery and made me sad. Jim was something for those that knew him and was one of the most knowledgable Colonial Numismatist dealers in the business.

I don't know the circumstances of his passing. Best to respect his families wishes I think. But somehow, I think Jim ended his life like he lived it. In a large way.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
JAMES EDWARD SKALBE (1955-2017) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n04a09.html)

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