Who has been (and, still is?) the GREATEST influence on Numismatics?
braddick
Posts: 23,972 ✭✭✭✭✭
Interesting question arose on a different thread regarding men who have changed the coin collecting landscape over the last 50 years or so.
Who do you think?
No poll, that would only leave to chance a failure to leave off someone you feel strongly about.
What one individual has done more to change (for the better, or not) Coin Collecting the way it is seen today?
Who do you think?
No poll, that would only leave to chance a failure to leave off someone you feel strongly about.
What one individual has done more to change (for the better, or not) Coin Collecting the way it is seen today?
peacockcoins
0
Comments
But I would say that it depends on the area of coin collecting: US Gold, Morgan Dollars, Lincoln cents, etc... Will look for the replies in regards to these areas.
Todd
800.954.0270
Keeping in mind that you asked about people who "changed" coin collecting (without specifying positively or negatively), here's my thoughts:
QDB, previously mentioned, is a good candidate with his research and writing. Ironically, as the inventor and pioneer of certified grading, AH started a chain of events that has had a huge impact on numismatics. I don't know who can be credited with the State Quarter program, but 20 years from now, I think we'll all look back and marvel at the great influx of collectors it created. Sure, many are here for the short term but the number that stick with the hobby will still represent a large percentage increase in (ultimately) "serious" collectors. The internet has also hugely changed coin collecting and the way collectors buy coins and sell their duplicates (I guess Al Gore gets credit for that
WH
peacockcoins
WH
peacockcoins
Tyler
Louis Eliasberg
Q. David Bowers
LaVere Redfield....I think the Redfield hoard went a very long way in making Morgan dollar collecting as popular as it is today...
I can't say any collector really had the most INFLUENCE, regardless of the magnitude of the collection. QDB is a worthy candidate, but in my mind it would be for lifetime achievement. Breen also wrote prodigously, with an amazing amount of detail, but in his case I'd give the nod for reference work. Sheldon's scale is certainly important, but we already had coin grading (just in different terms).
Krause made it possible for collectors to transact with others directly, to get news about the hobby in a timely manner, and also published a large number of reference books that probably wouldn't have otherwise been done. I think, in total, those have had the most influence on the hobby.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
jmho
Jr
Yeoman for the Red Book in 1946-1947.
Whitman blue books starting 50 years also revolutionized an inexpensive way to collect and display coins.
The founder of Coin World in 1960.
Dave Bowers, the Boy Wonder of Numismatics in the 1950's and for many years thereafter.
James Ruddy for Photograde.
Sheldon for the 70 point scale (but he did more than 50 years ago too, I thought)
The Hunt Brothers who attempted to corner the silver market in 1979-1980 which still affects us more than anyone today.
The GSA of the Federal Government who was the true creator of the first certified slabbed grade coin back in 1972?????????
Hall, the first to at least attempt to guarantee the grade of the certified slabbed coin in 1986.
The internet and Ebay.
So much and more to choose from.
I concur with Kranky that Chet Krause is probably the single-most influential person in the last 50 years. Following him, I agree with Wayne that Alan Hager might rank second--for both good (apparently he "invented" the graded slab, though I would be interested in an unbiased view of who invented the graded slab) and for ill (with the current fleecing of newbies via coins graded to a different standard). However, if Hager was not instrumental in inventing the graded slab, then I presume David Hall was, and so in this case I would rank him second. Indeed, Hall might bump Hager even if Hager didn't truly invent the graded slab because PCGS has shaped collecting over the last 16 years so that it is an almost entirely different hobby. I also agree with Wayne that the state quarters are truly important, and for these I suggest David Ganz likely should take most credit. So, I rank David Ganz third.
Q. David Bowers and Walter Breen are giants, but I don't see them shaping the hobby nearly as much as the three Kranky and Wayne (and I) mentioned. Bowers has contributed immense amounts of "popular" writing and Breen contributed almost as much technical research. But if Bowers hadn't been attracted to coins, perhaps Don Taxey would have stayed in numismatics and filled Bower's niche. Similarly, if Breen hadn't existed, Julian would be an outstanding substitute.
K S
I see your point about Hall's influence in "running" with the idea of the graded slab being greater than Hager's influence of "inventing" the graded slab. (I tend to disagree with Oreville about the importance of the GSA's slab--yes, the GSA slabbed their dollars, but I look at that as a slight variation on the mint's slabbing of proof sets, ever since the SMS in 1965. The key idea was to grade the coin with a recognized grade and then encapsulate it so that the grade would travel with the coin, which the GSA did not do.) But don't forget Hager's alleged negative influence in recent years. But, Greg, now that I ponder your point, I think I would rank David Hall as the second most important person in the last 50 years.
Mark
He was supposedly a much better promoter than a numismatist, but he put coin collecting on the map, big-time with his ads, marketing and salesmanship.
He got people to check their change and to look at and think about coins, in a way that no one had, up until that time and that no one has, since. He truly laid the groundwork for those who followed after him.
and mehl came to rochester ny and the club let him join the rna rochester numismatic association without the usual three member readings the only person to do so in the history of the club! as the club officers felt mehl was one of if not the top pre emement major forses in numismatics at the time!
sincerely michael
I have an equally strong opinion that Dave Bowers is the most influential numismatist of the second half of the 20th Century. Dave's prolific output of books and catalogs have stimulated both long term collectors and newcomers for nearly 50 years now. And he is absolutely a walking coin encyclopedia. His numismatic knowledge so far exceeds mine that I remain in constant awe whenever I'm around him.
I also think that the second most influential numismatist of the last 50 years was Harvey Stack. He has been very instrumental in grading issues, ANA happenings, government new issues, PNG initiatives, etc., and of course his firm has sold many great collections. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned his name.
I do suppose it depends on how you define your terms. If you talk about research, then Walter Breen made a big contribution (even though his personal sins were despicable), as did R.W.Julian and many others.
David Hall
Greg
"Blue Whitman"
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein