The first US Numismatic Society
savitale
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Kind of a cool, short article on the first numismatic society in America.
3
savitale
Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
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Interesting article.... Not surprising that they were in NYC... It was a major city and hub of business. Cheers, RickO
Very interesting article.
Looks like Charles Ira Bushnell was a member of the New York Numismatic Society in 1855.
What's very interesting is when a coin or medal is attributed to Bushnell, he's often the earliest known provenance. Was he just so early or did he not keep records of who he purchased from, or both?
Here's the newspaper clipping from the article.
Here's one of Bushnell's coins and one of his medals.
1829 Large Cent - N-6 Large Letters
grade: PCGS MS66BN POP 2/0 (1/0 variety) CAC
provenance: Charles Ira Bushnell, Ed Urban, Roy Edgar "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.
It would be nice to note Bushnell's name on the insert pedigree for this coin, like it is with the medal below.
(c. 1880) Declaration of Independence Medal
engraver: Charles Cushing Wright;
grade: PCGS SP63 POP 0/1/0
provenance: Charles Ira Bushnell, Thomas Harrison Garrett
What's interesting about this medal is that T. Harrison Garrett bought it for $36.00 so presumably Bushnell got it for even less. Think about what $36.00 can buy today!
Here's a question. If the New York Numismatic Society of 1855 was only Charles Ira Bushnell, was it still a society?
No. Just like I wouldn’t consider a collection of one coin to be a collection.
LIBERTY SEATED DIMES WITH MAJOR VARIETIES CIRCULATION STRIKES (1837-1891) digital album
It's still a very interesting article and discovery.
It would be great to discover some other members of this society.