I did something yesterday I swore I'd never do!

Aethelred

I bought a copy of Breen. I figure since he is long dead, I'm not doing anything to help his sorry a-- so I'd buy it. It is a great book and Breen knew his coins.

lordmarcovan

The Complete Encyclopedia?

I bought mine at a good price a few years ago, from the late, great Coinut.

Breen did know his stuff.

I bought his book for numismatic reasons- his former personal proclivities are of absolutely no interest to me.

It's sorta like listening to certain kinds of music- there are a lot of bands I like to listen to, but I'd just as soon not see their videos, because of the way they look. If I buy their CD, it's 'cause I like the music.

Aethelred

Good point Rob!

mepot

there was an extensive thread about Breen a while ago,the next weekend I bought a copy of the complete

encyclopedia at a yard sale for $18.00.Didn't realize how good of a deal I got until I looked on the internet

for a copy.He was a nut-case,but he sure knew his coins.A very interesting book to look through.

Cockney

Mepot, I search the threads for Breen but got nothing... Would you link the thread. I would like to read about the fellow

Russ

<< <i>He was a nut-case,but he sure knew his coins. >>



He was more than a not case. He was a pedophile.

Russ, NCNE

Aethelred

A quick Google search yielded this:

Walter Breen (September 5, 1930(or possibly 1928?) - April 28, 1993) was a numismatist best known in coin collecting circles for writing Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins and U. S. Half Cents Encyclopedia. Walter Breen was a coin genius, able to keep thousands of facts about coins in his head. He also co-authored "California Fractional Gold".

The Breen numbers from his Encyclopedia are widely used to attribute varieties of coins.

A troubled individual in his personal life, he died in prison in Chino, California after pleading guilty to child molestation. The numismatic community was greatly shocked by this turn of events.

He reportedly wrote or co-wrote Greek Love under the pseudonym J.Z. Eglinton. This book attempts to justify sexual relationships between adult men and young boys.

Walter was married to science fiction writer Marion Zimmer Bradley in 1964. They separated in 1979. She apparently had some knowledge of his personal inclinations.

Cockney

Thanks Aethelred......I used Netscape and leanred more about Mr. Breen than I can to know......But thank you anyway

Aethelred

He was a real scumbag!