California Medalists Society and Jack Hecht

Zoins

Is there any information on this Society, including records of their proceedings, who were the members, etc.?

Did anyone know Jack Hecht?

I've run across the California Medalists Society in 3 places on Hiber and Kappen but have found no ohter info, aside from an advertiser listing in a 1950 issue of The Numsmatist.

There are 3 references to the California Medalists Society in H&K.

1950 CALIFORNIA STATEHOOD CENTENNIAL - HK-503, HK-504

https://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/California_Statehood_Centennial.html

Hibler & Kappen wrote:
Medals: First issue below was Official Medal, sponsored by state Chamber of Commerce Centennials Committee after unsuccessful efforts to have U.S. commemorative half dollar struck; issued by California Medalists Society, trade name of Jack Hecht, San Francisco committee member, and his associates. Latter also issued 1948 and 1949 medals. Struck by Irvine & Jachens, Daly City, CA; obverse die said cut by Fred Johnson; reverse die same as Type I octagonal dollar of 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. Issue limited to 3,000 Bronze pieces, 1,000 being 24K Gold-plated; sold for $1 and $2.50, respectively.

• Cert: https://www.pcgs.com/cert/38595057

1948 CALIFORNIA GOLD DISCOVERY CENTENNIAL - HK-496, HK-497

https://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/California_Gold_Discovery.html

Hibler & Kappen wrote:
Medals issued by California Medalists Society, San Francisco, at request of state Chamber of Commerce; struck by Irvine & Jachens, Daly City, CA from dies said cut by Fred Johnson.

1949 CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH CENTENNIAL - HK-500, HK-501

https://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/California_Gold_Rush_Centennial.html

Hibler & Kappen wrote:
First medal below issued by California Medalists Society, San Francisco, designer and striking firm unknown; struck also with loop for use by American Numismatic Association as 1949 convention badge.

Here's the advertising listing in the 1950 The Numismatist:

https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/530276?page=81

Zoins

Turns out Jack Hecht was the President of the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society (PCNS) from 1951 to 1952:

http://mail.pcns.org/documents/Centennial_Pub.pdf

Zoins

Here's an intro from Jack Hecht published The Numismatist:

https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/46436/page/3

Jack Hecht said:
You know, folks, we often say about women that our wives are one in a million. Unfortunately we don't have so many good words about the men, at least our wives don't have that many, and weather men don't have too many good words. I'd like to tell you about one fellow who is not quite one in a million, — we don't have a million population here in San Francisco. He is one man who in my opinion has probably been the most outstanding man here in San Francisco. I'd like you now to meet the Honorable George Christopher, Supervisor of San Francisco.

DCW

"Unfortunately we don't have so many good words about the men, at least our wives don't have that many, and weather men don't have too many good words."

What in the world is he saying here?
🙄

coinsarefun

I have been searching for one ever since I saw one about 8 years ago. The only thing I knew is that it was associated with
PCNS. I can ask someone what he knows about this person but I have a feeling that’s about all the info there is.
I wonder who the lucky person is that owns this 0ne.
.
I speak to Michael Wehner several times a month he was PCNS president 2000-2003, 2007.

291fifth

It looks like 70+ years may have wiped away the story behind this organization.

ZoidMeister

@coinsarefun said:
I have been searching for one ever since I saw one about 8 years ago. The only thing I knew is that it was associated with
PCNS. I can ask someone what he knows about this person but I have a feeling that’s about all the info there is.
I wonder who the lucky person is that owns this 0ne.
.
I speak to Michael Wehner several times a month he was PCNS president 2000-2003, 2007.

.
Great thread and information @Zoins .

I managed to find and acquire a "Zoid" quality example of one of these. It would definitely slab as "details" if I were to send it in. It has a bit of environmental issues on the reverse, but its nice and inexpensive enough for me . . . . .

Z
.

.

Zoins

Awesome! Coingrats! @ZoidMeister!