A Brief Observation about the Ford Collection Part 1

ColonialCoinUnion

The catalog includes some amazing rarities, and some incredible condition rarities - but it also includes some nice-but-not-spectacular XF examples of some coins.

Ford, who presumably had the means the buy whatever he wanted and chase down the 'finest known!!!!' of just about anything in a "Registry Set" mentality apparently didn't collect that way. He was evidently satisfied with nice problem free collectable examples of some types and didn't feel the need (or maybe didn't see the value) in upgrading every coin from XF to AU to Unc. to Choice to Gem, etc. etc.

291fifth

Apparently he was a collector who could think for himself.

TheNumish

There was a series of videos of interviews with famous coins dealers and Ford was one of them. If I remember correctly he says coin collecting has gotten way off course. It's about the history, not about getting every date and mint mark or buying the finest quality of a certain series. That's why his collection is full of things like Indian Peace Medals and historically significant items. He has no respect for the new generation of dealers. He detests that dealers can make a good living trading plastic and not know anything about the history of the coins. Very opinionated guy. I haven't seen the catalog yet but I bet it's more like seeing a museum for sale than a coin collection.

dorkkarl

ford was a collector, & bought what he liked. in reality, "grade" is a minor consideration to a collector of mr. ford's ilk. we could all learn something from him.

K S