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Who is the best collector of all time?

GazesGazes Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭✭✭

Simple question. My vote--John Jay Pittman. He was not a man of enormous wealth but was not only passionate and dedicated but knowledgeable. Had to mortgage his house to travel to Egypt for an auction. Used a budget to buy extraordinary coins and in the end had a $30 million dollar collection some years ago.

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Comments

  • originalisbestoriginalisbest Posts: 5,971 ✭✭✭✭

    Did Farouk own all 5 '13 nickels at one time? I know Eric Newman did. My vote would be for Virgil Brand.

  • sellitstoresellitstore Posts: 3,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, it depends on how one defines "best".

    Who assembled the "best" collection? Who gave back the most to the hobby? Other criteria?

    What makes one the "best" collector?

    Collector and dealer in obsolete currency. Always buying all obsolete bank notes and scrip.
  • 3keepSECRETif2rDEAD3keepSECRETif2rDEAD Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ...easy peasy ;)

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,507 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Caesar. Even Jesus made mention of his collecting status.

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would have to say.......me.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 15, 2018 12:33PM

    @JBK said: "Best Collector" is not a label I would want to have to bestow. Best at what?"

    The forum is DEAD today so maybe this discussion is just for grins and a way to recognize collectors. Perhaps it just means "Best at collecting coins."

  • CoinstartledCoinstartled Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Tetromibi said:
    Me. I'm awesome. ;)

    Also, how cool is it that he was able to mortgage his house and go to Egypt to bid on coins? He couldn't have been married, right? Not a snowballs chance my wife would let me go to Egypt for an auction...much less mortgage the house for coins.

    Never know, she might buy the ticket.

    ;)

  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 10,425 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jesbroken said:
    King Farouk of Egypt, 8500 gold coins, all 5 1913 Liberty Nickels, complete set of St. Gaudens double eagles including the 1933. Hundreds of U.S. pattern coins, many of which were unique. It goes on and on.
    Jim

    how hard is it to be a coin collector on a king's salary? Eunuchs be bringing you coins on silver platters all day long. Poor guy had it rough

  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 10,425 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Insider2 said:
    @JBK said: "Best Collector" is not a label I would want to have to bestow. Best at what?"

    The forum is DEAD today so maybe this discussion is just for grins and a way to recognize collectors. Perhaps it just means "Best at collecting coins."

    I hereby nominate insider2 as best collector of forum disagrees . When you do your acceptance speech don't forget to thank Bill

  • GazesGazes Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @sellitstore said:
    Yes, it depends on how one defines "best".

    Who assembled the "best" collection? Who gave back the most to the hobby? Other criteria?

    What makes one the "best" collector?

    each person can define "best" however they like. I chose Pittman because his collection and pedigree have long survived after him. He did it on regular salary. Cared about condition before it was fashionable. Plus he was very knowledgable and unbelievably passionate. And to the best of my knowledge was one of the few collectors who never sold a coin.

  • ElmerFusterpuckElmerFusterpuck Posts: 4,775 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Whoever assembled the Tyrant collection has to be in the running.

  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,243 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @bronco2078 said:

    @jesbroken said:
    King Farouk of Egypt, 8500 gold coins, all 5 1913 Liberty Nickels, complete set of St. Gaudens double eagles including the 1933. Hundreds of U.S. pattern coins, many of which were unique. It goes on and on.
    Jim

    how hard is it to be a coin collector on a king's salary? Eunuchs be bringing you coins on silver platters all day long. Poor guy had it rough

    Exactly my point. King F had a great collection, but was he a numismatist? (Maybe he was, I don't know). Did he inspire others or add to the body of knowledge? Or did he just have one kick-arse auction after he was gone.

  • msch1manmsch1man Posts: 809 ✭✭✭✭

    I’d have to say Ford would be in the running...though not everything he collected would be considered a coin depending on how strict your definition is...and certainly none federally issued. I recently bought a copy of the Ford auction catalogs and the breadth of that collection is hard to wrap your head around.

  • BillDugan1959BillDugan1959 Posts: 3,821 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm partial to giving the all-time laurel to Virgil Brand. Brand had both quality AND quantity.

    Mrs. Norweb is certainly a contender in the more recent division.

    To respond to an earlier comment, Mr. Pittman had a wife and at least one child in the early 1950s (when he went off to the Palace Auction Sale).

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jesbroken said:
    King Farouk of Egypt, 8500 gold coins, all 5 1913 Liberty Nickels, complete set of St. Gaudens double eagles including the 1933. Hundreds of U.S. pattern coins, many of which were unique. It goes on and on.
    Jim

    My pick also.

  • specialistspecialist Posts: 956 ✭✭✭✭✭

    too many to name

    Mrs Norweb

    I am NOT kidding-TDN

    My all time #1 pick is a tie-Lord St Oswald (not his real name). OMG, I buy EVERY one of his coins. Ted Nafztger-there will NEVER be another copper set like his

  • CoinstartledCoinstartled Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 15, 2018 2:41PM

    Col Green. Deep pockets of course but had an insatiable appetite for hoards of rarities.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,674 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @msch1man said:
    I’d have to say Ford would be in the running...though not everything he collected would be considered a coin depending on how strict your definition is...and certainly none federally issued. I recently bought a copy of the Ford auction catalogs and the breadth of that collection is hard to wrap your head around.

    Ford was "ethically challenged." That has to count for something.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BruceSBruceS Posts: 1,356 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am in the Newman camp, what he left behind and contributed to the hobby will teach and be enjoyed for many years to come.


    eBay ID-bruceshort978
    Successful BST:here and ATS, bumanchu, wdrob, hashtag, KeeNoooo, mikej61, Yonico, Meltdown, BAJJERFAN, Excaliber, lordmarcovan, cucamongacoin, robkool, bradyc, tonedcointrader, mumu, Windycity, astrotrain, tizofthe, overdate, rwyarmch, mkman123, Timbuk3,GBurger717, airplanenut, coinkid855 ,illini420, michaeldixon, Weiss, Morpheus, Deepcoin, Collectorcoins, AUandAG, D.Schwager.
  • ColonialcoinColonialcoin Posts: 724 ✭✭✭✭

    I would place Hillyer Ryder and F.C.C. Boyd WELL ahead of Ford as far as colonial collectors go. Check out the pedigrees in the Ford sales. Ford relatively added a small handful of coins to the phenomenal collections of Ryder/Boyd. Ryder was brilliant. He was buying varieties of colonials in all sorts of series before many reference books were written.

  • OnastoneOnastone Posts: 4,097 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Dead or alive? Who is or who was? Collecting coins or hoarding coins? Pittman, Newman, Farouk, Ford, the Ocean, or Insider2..........too many to choose!!!!!!!!

  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Eliasberg gets my vote.

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,527 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If Mr. Hansen reads this thread he may find some extra motivation in his current collecting efforts.

    How about the Smithsonian. It has a fairly nice collection of US Coinage.

  • mustangmanbobmustangmanbob Posts: 1,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    King George V, as he "owned" 23%+ of the total land mass of the world, and the "stuff" in it, larger than anyone else in history.

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,766 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The most entertaining was probably Buddy Ebsen.

  • cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,181 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It depends on what your definition of "best collector" is. Best collection? Biggest contribution to numismatics?

  • cwtcwt Posts: 292 ✭✭✭

    IBill Jones has to at least be in the running for sharing both his enthusiasm for the hobby as well as his knowledge.

  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,017 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Eric Newman

    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • tommy44tommy44 Posts: 2,312 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Gazes said:
    Simple question. My vote--John Jay Pittman. He was not a man of enormous wealth but was not only passionate and dedicated but knowledgeable. Had to mortgage his house to travel to Egypt for an auction. Used a budget to buy extraordinary coins and in the end had a $30 million dollar collection some years ago.

    I gotta agree with @Gazes just because I was fortunate enough to rub shoulders with him at the Rochester Numismatic Association meetings when I lived there from 1973 - 1975. He always had a smile on his face, would share his knowledge with anyone who seemed interested and was just a "regular" guy. Years later up until his death I would run in to him at ANA conventions and he would be there with his big smile, shake my hand and act as though he actually remembered me.

    it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide

  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,741 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @originalisbest said:
    Did Farouk own all 5 '13 nickels at one time? I know Eric Newman did. My vote would be for Virgil Brand.

    No. He did have 2*, ( he was bidding on one, when he bought another. Although he was he winning bidder, he never actually took possession of the second)

    Eric did not own all 5 either. He got them in a partnership. Not sure he really owned more than the single finest.

    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,850 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The best is the one having the most fun at it. It could be a kid stuffing change into albums or some high-roller super-secret stealth buyer. You can have a perfectly good challenge and plenty of fun at any price point.

  • HydrantHydrant Posts: 7,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 15, 2018 10:17PM

    @Boosibri said:
    The average guy filling albums from change 50 yrs ago.

    The most insightful and intelligent post that I have EVER read on this forum.

  • privaterarecoincollectorprivaterarecoincollector Posts: 629 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Number 1: Garrett
    Number 2: Eliasberg
    Number 3: Norweb

    not even a question.

    All of them built over multiple generations within the family.

  • OnastoneOnastone Posts: 4,097 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Alright, so those are the best collectors of all time....who are the best collectors here in the forum? And do dealers count? Are they actually collectors too or are they just buying and selling? I suppose you could be both. But does a true collector really keep selling prized coins? Should the term be DEALLECTORS?

  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,243 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @thebigeng said:
    Ahaa.... the IRS!

    Along those lines, maybe the Secret Service. They've "collected" a couple dozen 1933 Double Eagles.

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Who is the best collector of all time?

    Just look in the mirror everyone :smile:
    Have a great day :smile:

    Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko

    Bad transactions with : nobody to date

  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I will second the mention of the Norwebs-Mrs. Emery May Norweb and her husband, Ambassador R. Henry Norweb. interestingly, they were friends socially with the Pittmans. even though the Norwebs formed an amazing collection of United States coins their primary interests were World coins and it led to a great and varied collection.

  • coin4salecoin4sale Posts: 375 ✭✭✭

    @Gazes said:
    Simple question. My vote--John Jay Pittman. He was not a man of enormous wealth but was not only passionate and dedicated but knowledgeable. Had to mortgage his house to travel to Egypt for an auction. Used a budget to buy extraordinary coins and in the end had a $30 million dollar collection some years ago.

    I concur. JJP for breadth and scope. In addition to his magnificent US collection, Pittman's World coin collection had tens of thousands of different coins. He collected world coins by date and country and he had individual rarities never even seen by others. He did this when others were not even looking or aware. I fully believe the level of comprehensiveness could not be done again in today's day and age, no matter how much $ one had to throw into the endeavor.

    FYI, Most people only saw his collection that was auctioned in 3 separate sales over 2 years, and assume this was the entire collection! Not so . He had tens of thousands of other rare coins, token and medals that didn't make it into the sales! I know bc i bought thousands of coins from the family and have thousands of 2x2 holders with his hand writing to prove it....

    BT&C
  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 10,425 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @bidask said:
    Eric Newman

    He was great in that tv show Rat Patrol

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A question without an answer..... Sure, a lot of opinions have been offered...and with degrees of justification. However, there are no defining parameters, and without such information, no degree of finality can be achieved. Greatness can be defined in several ways... volume, quality, content... and then we can add things such as intellectual contributions and character. This is not something that can be defined by a competition such as sports - which, only defines the best at that moment. I believe that those (such as mentioned above) form a collective in the hobby that demonstrates many notable achievements - and certainly worthy of comment. Cheers, RickO

  • TiborTibor Posts: 3,660 ✭✭✭✭✭

    In this day and time for the QUALITY of his
    collections I vote for TDN !!! I would be a buyer
    of a coffee table book of the collections he has
    put together.

  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,393 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 16, 2018 2:38PM

    @specialist said:
    too many to name

    Mrs Norweb

    I am NOT kidding-TDN

    My all time #1 pick is a tie-Lord St Oswald (not his real name). OMG, I buy EVERY one of his coins. Ted Nafztger-there will NEVER be another copper set like his

    Naftzger is a reasonable nomination. St Oswald was small time. But if you like St Oswald, you would have loved Sarah Sophia Banks.

    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.

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