An excellent ANA exhibit most missed
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
There were many fine competitive exhibits at the Philadelphia ANA. The US Mint and some large dealers/auction companies also displayed unusual items (1913 nickels, 1933 Double Eagles, etc.). But most collectors missed seeing one of the most interesting historical exhibits assembled by the Barber Coin Collectors' Society. This was tucked into a recess somewhat away from traffic flow almost behind the Whitman booth. From their web site: http://www.barbercoins.org/ANA2018-exhibit.shtml
The Barber Coin Collectors' Society is pleased to display a major exhibit at the 2018 ANA Convention in Philadelphia, August 14-18. Never-before-seen artifacts from the family of Charles E. Barber will be on display. This remarkable exhibit includes:
- Presidential proclamation naming Charles Barber Engraver, from President
Rutherford B. Hayes, 1880
- Painting of Charles E. Barber
- Six new photos of Charles Barber
- Three patterns by Charles Barber
- Key date Barber coins (5c, 10c, 25c, 50c), Hawaiian coinage, commemoratives
- 1905 passport of Charles Barber
- Memos from mint departments for Barber's Europe trip,
some with his handwritten notes on them
- Diary of Edith Barber of Europe trip of 1905, with key excerpts
- 39-star Flag presented to Charles Barber by President Theodore Roosevelt
- 1906 Mint Assay medal, original case, subject: Theodore Roosevelt
- Letters to Charles Barber from Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Victor D. Brenner
There was a similar exhibit on artifacts from William Barber (Charles Barber's father and 5th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, designer of the Trade Dollar and the Double Dime - twenty cent piece), at the adjacent table of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club.
Comments
I saw the display and it was truly remarkable as RogerB stated. I was unaware that there are no known photos of William Barber, just a medal and a painting, both of which were in the display.
For the trivia fans, the United States never had exactly 39 states, which makes the 39-state flag very rare and unusual.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
I missed that display.
There was an article about this material in a recent issue of Numismatist. It was well-written and quite interesting.
A major effort from John Frost to mount this exhibit, with (obvious) assistance from the Barber descendants. A big thanks to all.
Sadly that article was sort of buried inside magazine
Yep - missed it - shoot.
The exhibit will be on display again at a major show.... Maybe John Frost can post the details. This is something unusual and informative that should not be missed. I understand that after the final exhibition, the family materials go back to two descendants and the display will no longer be possible. (Could ANA Museum arrange a long-term loan? Doug Mudd - are you out there listening?)