Pete Smith's question about the largest collection(s) in the U.S. prompted these responses from readers. Bern Nagengast submitted these notes on Jim Johnson and his "poor man's Eliasberg collection." Thanks! -Editor

Bern supplied Johnson's photo and this image of his circulated 1894-S, known as "the ice cream cone dime." Thanks. -Editor

"James G. Johnson was the founding Editor of Coin World's Collectors Clearinghouse page in 1960. I had corresponded with the department for many years before joining it in 1974, and had visited it several times and knew both Johnson and his Assistant Editor, Ed Fleischmann.

"Johnson was known in the hobby for having assembled a complete set of regular issue non-gold U.S. coins in circulated condition, including a well-worn 1894-S dime! He did not care about condition, partly because he had collected for many years on a teacher's salary before hearing loss had forced him to retire from that profession and offer his numismatic services to CW. He did not care how bad a coin was, so long as he had the date and mint mark represented.

"Fast forward to an ANA convention in Denver, where I was working for Harlan Berk. A gentleman came up to the table with an 1802 half dime that was almost slick from wear, but which had become bent a bit in circulation in just the right way that the date was clearly preserved. After looking at it I told the gentleman that the coin was not for us, but that I had once worked with a gentleman whose collection it would have been perfect for.

"After describing the collection I gave the collector's name, James G. Johnson. Startled, the man burst out "That was my father!" We laughed and shook hands and spent a while reminiscing about Jim!"

"I had heard that Jim's son had been slowly disbursing the collection after his mom passed away, and Tom's comment does point to that. I always wondered what happened to the collection. Incidentally I moved to Sidney in 1972 and became acquainted with Margo Russell, Jim Johnson, Ed Fleischman, Marilyn Tiernan, Russ Rulau, Courtney Coffing and the rest of the Coin World staff. And later Tom Delorey and Dave Alexander. And Leroy VanAllen who was not part of the CW staff. (I run in to him periodically at the Sidney Post Office!) I greatly admired all of them for their numismatic expertise and particularly for their generosity in sharing their knowledge."

"E-Sylum reader Franklin Noel called my attention to two items on the websites of grading services.

NGC certified more than 7,500 coins, tokens and medals from over 100 nations from the remarkable collection of Eric P. Newman, a renowned American numismatist. It comprises some of the greatest rarities in all of numismatics, including a 1792 Washington President Pattern gold eagle. (www.ngccoin.com)

"August 17, 2022: Professional Coin Grading Service (www.PCGS.com) has been chosen by Stack's Bowers Galleries to grade the Sydney F. Martin Collection, a cabinet of more than 15,000 rare coins spanning four centuries. The collection consists of many rare and seldom-seen treasures owned by the late Sydney F. Martin, a celebrated collector and author who wrote five books on early American coins.

"These represent the modern era where entire collections are certified prior to auction. The Martin collection had twice as many coins certified as the Newman collection."

"Pete Smith's question got me thinking, Edward T. Newell of ANS fame, upon his death transferred some 87,000+ mostly Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic coins into their collection (1944.100 is the donation prefix). But throughout his lifetime, donated 20,000 more.

"Archer M. Huntington also of ANS fame had his collection of some 37,000+ coins gifted to the Hispanic Society of America, which loaned it to the ANS while in residence at the Audubon Terrace complex. now partially dispersed."

Thanks, everyone! -Editor