Andrew Mason Smith (born Anders Madsen Schmidt) - Collector, Scholar, Author

Zoins

Andrew Mason Smith is a great collector and author of his time.

The two 1884 Trade Dollar pattern coins in copper were presented to him.

Of note, he fought in the Civil War and was in the same GAR post as Colonel Oliver Bosbyshell and Captain John Haseltine.

Pete Smith wrote in American Numismatic Biographies:

Smith enlisted April 22, 1861, to serve with the 13th Indiana Regiment. He received a disability discharge October 2, 1862. Later he joined the Navy and served with the Mississippi Squadron. He was at Vicksburg when the city was captured. He participated in the Red River Campaign and was discharged July 8, 1864. He joined the Second California Regiment and was discharged May 10, 1866.

Two days earlier he became a citizen of the United States. He was a salesman in Oregon Territory. He worked with a survey party on the Transcontinental Railroad. In 1871 he was a watchman at the train station in Ogden, Utah. He met a Danish woman on her way to California. She would become his wife.

Smith married Botilla Elberg April 17, 1872. They had six children although two were stillborn and two died in infancy. Botilla also outlived her two adult children.

Smith became a wine dealer in Salt Lake City in 1872. By 1875 he felt he had outgrown that city and moved to Philadelphia. After an initial failure, he became successful and started a coin collection. He was a member of the same GAR post as Colonel Oliver Bosbyshell and Captain John Haseltine. He was also a member of the Masons.
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In his collection was the unique 1884 proof set struck in copper. The existence of the set is an indication of his former close association with officials at the mint.

Here are some articles:

• Andrew Mason Smith - NNP Biography
• The Challenging literature of A. M. Smith
• A.M. Smith—A Pioneer of American Numismatic Bibliomania
• A.M. SMITH'S ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE U.S. MINT

1884 Trade Dollar in Copper - Post-Mint Private Silver Plating - Judd-1732, Pollock-1943 - PCGS MS60 - Andrew Mason Smith, Dr. E.J. Linkner specimen

• https://coins.ha.com/itm/a/1254-4444.s
• https://www.pcgs.com/cert/83662091

Zoins

In his collection was the unique 1884 proof set struck in copper. The existence of the set is an indication of his former close association with officials at the mint.

A great accomplishment seems to be reassembling a set like this, only one of which can be done privately now.

Zoins

Here's a catalog of his from the E-Sylum article:

https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n05a18.html

ricko

Very interesting. What a life he led.... From a young immigrant chicken seller, to soldier, sailor, salesman, wine dealer and coin collector/author. Would love to have met him and shared lunch and drinks. Cheers, RickO