Pedigrees: Names of the past vs. names of the present and future
RYK
Posts: 35,797 ✭✭✭✭✭
Those of you who do not care about pedigrees should stop reading this post now. 
In reading Allison Frankel's book, Double Eagle, one gets a history lesson in 20th century numismatics, with all of the great collectors and famed dealers coming and going. It occurred to me that in the past, all of the great collections of the past were named for their owner (ie. Eliasberg, Clapp, Woodin, Parmalee, Norweb, etc.) In contrast, many, if not most of today's named collections, are named after dealer helpers/sponsors (Legend Seated Dollars, Park Avenue Saints), grandchildren (Joshua and Ally), cutsie expressions (IPOTAD collection), favorite football stadiums (Three Rivers ), vacation spots, golf courses, etc. You get the idea.
My question is when did this transition take place and why? Is it in part because we have so many named collections? Is this in part because of the popularity of registries? Is it because individuals are more concerned today for their own personal security? Are these mostly ephemeral names that do not matter anyway?
In reading Allison Frankel's book, Double Eagle, one gets a history lesson in 20th century numismatics, with all of the great collectors and famed dealers coming and going. It occurred to me that in the past, all of the great collections of the past were named for their owner (ie. Eliasberg, Clapp, Woodin, Parmalee, Norweb, etc.) In contrast, many, if not most of today's named collections, are named after dealer helpers/sponsors (Legend Seated Dollars, Park Avenue Saints), grandchildren (Joshua and Ally), cutsie expressions (IPOTAD collection), favorite football stadiums (Three Rivers
), vacation spots, golf courses, etc. You get the idea.My question is when did this transition take place and why? Is it in part because we have so many named collections? Is this in part because of the popularity of registries? Is it because individuals are more concerned today for their own personal security? Are these mostly ephemeral names that do not matter anyway?
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Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
If there is, then they are free to name their collection whatever they want
In the meantime, having a "name" collection simply doesn't put you in the same ballpark as the "classic" name collections.
(yeah, yeah, I am aware of the collection with the 1822 half eagle, 1804 dollars, etc.).
I think there is another factor going on here - this is a more informal generation than our forebears. Folks used to actually wear (gasp!) coats and ties at coin shows. We have no problem with cutesy names, etc. It is considered perfectly OK to name your collection the "Pink Triangle Collection" or whatever you want. Such a thing would have been considered downright wierd 50 years ago. Today it is quite an accepted mark of personality.
We are a more frightened society.
This in part due to the migration to large cities and a media that informs us of every theft and crime.
We begin to believe that secrecy is necessary.
I only have one left, because I noticed that as early copper became popular to collect, the early pedigrees were fetching really good money, and I needed some of it to pay bills.
Anyways, I think that those old pedigrees that really meant something became a tool to use today, and it is working very well. Today, a coin that is held for even a short time strictly for its profit potential gets a pedigree attached to it if comes from the inventory of a well known collector or dealer. I guess everyone has to decide for themselves whether that so-called pedigree deserves a premium.
<< <i>I'll bet the world has no clue one family OWNS TWO 1804 $1 >>
This is quite public information. See:
Link 1
Link2