Shout out to PCGS - New provenance

Pnies20

Back in June I emailed someone from PCGS and stated that I had acquired a few pieces from a famous collector, Henry Hilgard. In the email I laid out a case as to why I believed he should be recognized on PCGS labels. He agreed!

The coins were purchased raw, directly from Henry, by @habaraca at the ANA in 2010. They have been raw and in a Kraft envelope for probably 50 years.

Henry was most famous for his knowledge and collection of errors including a draped bust $5 gold piece, several full brockages of early coins and many cool off center/double struck bust halves. Henry also had 440 of the 450 Overton varieties.

After I received the coins back from PCGS, I emailed Sheridan Downey, who was a close friend to Henry, and let him know as I thought it would be a bright spot among some other not so fun things going on.

His response perfectly states why remembering provenance is important in numismatics:

Oh my gosh. I never would have guessed. Henry assembled a capped bust collection of over 440 die marriages, nearly all with nice surfaces. Most graded XF or AU. He did not chase UNCs; he would have had no interest in participating PCGS' registry set competition. Henry was loved and respected by all: not so much for the quality of his coins as for his knowledge, wit, kindness and willingness to share his thoughts and information. He was a true Renaissance man, willing and able to converse at any level on a variety of subjects - medicine, biology, politics and religion, as well as numismatics. You probably know that he held a hat full of academic degrees, including an MD and PhD, from such notable institutions Harvard, Stanford and the Univ. of Minnesota.

When his mentor, Elton Dosier, died in 1997 Henry's interest in collecting bust halves waned. His first love was always major mint errors. Henry gradually parted with most of his coins over the next few years. He had no trouble finding buyers. His BHNC friends knew that a "Hilgard" provenance equated with a no-problem coin.

So congratulations to you - and PCGS - for memorializing a wonderful man and astute numismatist.

Kind regards,
Sheridan

While the coins were never set pieces or of any major importance, they are important to me, the bust half community and are the only two with his name!

Davidk7

Can I get the Paulsack provenance on my 1807 and 1819

jacrispies

Great story, and super kind of you to reach out to Sheridan to give him an update. Events like those give us the boosts of energy to make it through the days.

Congrats for adding the only two original coins to your collection!

RichieURich

Henry Hilgard often worked at Sheridan Downey's table at major shows. At one of the shows, my table was next to Sheridan's and Henry was working there. We conversed a bit during lulls in the action, but later in the day he came over to my table and said, I would like to know about the 1825 cud quarters. I had several in stock and showed him those coins, we had a nice discussion and he was very appreciative. He was a true numismatist as well as a fine gentleman and he will be remembered.

Thank you for posting your coins with the Henry Hilgard provenance!

scubafuel

Nobody better to teach him about those cuds! @RichieURich

@Pnies20 That is great that you got the Hilgard provenance added. I have one coin of his and I’d love to add it as well.

Jacques_Loungecoque

You’re a classy gentlemen and a hell of a collector for going this extra mile.

Provenance has never meant anything to me, but I do recognize the emotions, feelings, and respect behind it. I also get a strong feeling in my gut that somewhere Mr. Hilgard is smiling, maybe a tear of joy in his spirit’s eye, knowing that his legacy is a little bit stronger today then it was the day before. And you made that smile! 👍🏻

levinerarecoin

Very cool!

Catbert

It is great that you do his legacy honor.

Pnies20

@Davidk7 said:
Can I get the Paulsack provenance on my 1807 and 1819

If you email PCGS and ask for “Paulsack” and get it, I’ll give you my next paycheck.

Pnies20

Anyone that knew him and would like to share a story is welcome to! Thank you @RichieURich for sharing.

@BustDMs your BHNC number is in the single digits I think. I’m sure you have one.

jesbroken

Congratulations, @Pnies20 for your dedication and for your post. You contribute greatly to the forum and to the hobby.
Jim

pursuitofliberty

Thanks for the update Paul. It's great that you decided to go for it, and that you convinced PCGS to follow the path you laid out. Kudo's to both of you for that.

And I really like that you shared with Sheridan and shared his response here. It's obvious he see's the appreciation too.

You're a good man, and an even better collector. Did I say that? Nah, that can't be right. Actually you're a BUM, but we love you anyway!!

skier07

What an incredible life Henry lived.

https://www.mercurynews.com/obituaries/henry-hilgard/

noenhancedproof

He taught at UC Santa Cruz as well. Go banana slugs!

habaraca

Paul, you make me proud to be your sponsor, and most of all your friend.

WAYNEAS

@Pnies20
I really liked reading your post and thanks for sharing.
It makes me happy that so many forum members here, are willing to give and go the extra mile to bring knowledge to us all.
A effort well done.
Wayne

johnny9434

440 of the 450 overton varities is very impressive to begin with

BustDMs

@Pnies20 said:
Anyone that knew him and would like to share a story is welcome to! Thank you @RichieURich for sharing.

@BustDMs your BHNC number is in the single digits I think. I’m sure you have one.

No, high double digits but that is another story for another day….

I knew Henry fairly well and had many wonderful conversations with him over the years but my favorite personal Hilgard story is………

It was the corn roast at the Detroit ANA at Fink’s house, way out in the boonies. Now, this was before Uber, Lyft and GPS directions. A couple other BHNC members and I grabbed a cab and armed only with a rudimentary set of directions we were off. Now the cable we ended up with had just begun shaving the week before getting his drivers license and his job at the cab company. The trip took WAY longer than it should have with two stops at filling stations for directions. Remember when that was a thing?????

By the time we arrived at the party things were going strong. As I walked in the door there were a number of nuts sitting around a card table in the living room. As I walked by I saw a neat CBD on a felt tray in the center of the table. I mentioned, without breaking stride, I mentioned, “wow, what a great unlettered edge half! Henry just glance up at me as one of the other Nuts blurted out, “No F’ing way!”
I was stopped and asked how I knew about the coin with virtually no inspection. One Nut accused me of previously having been acquainted with the coin. No, I had never seen it before in my life but, as I explained, it was obviously an unlettered edge as it looked like a “Perkins pancake” lying on the pad. It was a larger diameter than normal and the fields fell away from the center towards the edge.

Now, as we all should know, the Castaing machine served two purposes in the minting process. It not only lettered the edge for security purposes but also upset the rims to mitigate wear and contain the striking pressure creating a better coin. So, this coin essentially was struck on a “type one” planchet. Henry later in the day spend some time with me and the coin talking more about the minting process.

Fast forward some years and I saw the coin in the Russell Logan sale. Henry had sold or traded it to Russ and it appeared in his estate sale. I coveted that coin but Henry happily repurchased it for his collection. A few years hence I saw it in an ad by a major error dealer for an exorbitant, in my opinion, price. I put the thought of owning it out of my mind after that. Getting back into our Time Machine and fast forwarding a few more years I was at a Long Beach convention. Henry was at his normal station behind Sheridan’s table. As I was walking by Henry called me over and handed me a coin. There it was! I congratulated Henry on reacquiring it and handed her back to him. Henry gave me an odd look and asked me if I didn’t like the coin. I informed him that it was the single most desirable CBH for me at that time as I again handed her back to Henry. He then asked if I would like to own her to which I replied she was much to extravagant for my budget. “But you haven’t asked the price” replied Henry to which I sheepishly asked, “OK, how much?” Henry came up with a price so reasonable that tears almost came to my eyes. I handed her back AGAIN as at that time in my life I did not have enough funds to cover the purchase. Henry gave her back to me yet again and asked if I could afford her if he gave me “UNLIMITED TIME” to pay him! He continued to tell me that he remembered the Detroit ANA and my knowledge of the coin and told me I NEEDED a to be the next owner of the coin! I gave him the couple hundred I had to purchase a coin at the show and carefully put her in my briefcase.

The next day I was on the airplane on my way home and the thought hit me, what the hell had I done? I spent the most money I had ever committed to one coin with two kids eating up almost all the extra funds in tuition payments. I was pretty deeply in debt with no thought of how to pay it! When I got back I made a trip to the safe deposit box and began stacking things that I could do without to sell raising the needed funds. At the next show I marched up to Henry with all I owed him. He was surprised to see that I had all the money and asked about it. I explained the situation and the thought of owing him for an extended period would have been difficult for me.

So, here she is! Still part of my collection until I find the next numismatist worthy of owning her.

Davidk7

Ok now that I got my funny comment out of the way, it's really cool that you were able to do this, and I hope that this will bring more light to previously assembled Die Marriage Collections! Looking forward to seeing how it all goes!

johnny010

@johnny9434 said:
440 of the 450 overton varities is very impressive to begin with

@BustDMs
Would the set had it previously been graded been officially ranked in the top 5?

lermish

What a great story @BustDMs , thank you for sharing.

drddm

@BustDMs, I don’t know when or where we were but I remember you telling me that story. Henry sounded like an amazing person. I only wish I could have met him (along with so many of the other legendary club members like Elton, Gehring, Swampy, Russ, etc, etc before they passed).

I couldn’t be any happier to be part of the BHNC. The people I have met who have since become great friends is truly the best part of being a member in my opinion.

Dave

Catbert

@BustDMs what a tremendous recollection and makes me appreciate the gracious man he was. I would have liked to have known him. I bet you were honored to be his friend.

Copperindian

@Pnies20: absolutely great read; appreciate you sharing your accomplishment with us! CONGRATS!!!!

Copperindian

@BustDMs: wow, what a great story! So glad, too, you still own the coin!

DoubleEagle59

Great coin!!

It sure looks like you were holding onto it mighty tightly though.

BustDMs

@johnny010 said:

@johnny9434 said:
440 of the 450 overton varities is very impressive to begin with

@BustDMs
Would the set had it previously been graded been officially ranked in the top 5?

Probably not but that was not Henry’s, or my, reason for collecting.

Pnies20

Great story, Brad. Thanks for sharing.

Kove

I don't collect anything close to this, but what a great read!