The Dr. Daniel W. Valentine commemorative medal, and an act of great kindness
MrHalfDime
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As all collectors and aficionados of the half dime denomination well know, until the publication of the superlative “Federal Half Dimes 1792 – 1837”, by Russell J. Logan and John W. McCloskey in 1998, there was very little available in print on this fascinating little coin. Harold P. Newlin had published a monograph on the early half dimes in 1883 entitled “The Early Half Dimes of the United States”, which covered the series from 1792 through 1805, but which contained little on the Capped Bust series, and essentially nothing at all on the Liberty Seated half dimes. Will W. Neil published an article in “The Numismatist”, official monthly publication of the American Numismatic Association, in August of 1927, in which he listed all of the die marriages, or ‘varieties’, for the Capped Bust and Liberty Seated series known to him at the time. An addenda appeared in a subsequent article in the same publication in December of 1927.
It was not until 1931, however, that Dr. Daniel Webster Valentine, a dentist from Englewood, New Jersey, wrote his all-inclusive volume on the entire half dime series that collectors finally had a reference to guide their collecting pursuits. Valentine’s work was published by the American Numismatic Society, in New York, as part of their ongoing series of “Numismatic Notes and Monographs”, as #48 in that series. Finally, collectors of this frequently ignored, often maligned, but very important series of American numismatics had a comprehensive reference, complete with verbal descriptions and photographic plates of all die marriages known to the author. The Valentine reference collection of half dimes was the most complete collection of United States half dimes, of all series, ever assembled, and remains an accomplishment which has never been duplicated.
Dr. Valentine remains a rather obscure figure in American numismatics, and very little has ever been published about him. I have attempted to accumulate and research any biographical information that I can about this fascinating man who not only collected, researched and wrote about the United States half dimes, but who also published the accepted reference on Fractional Currency in 1924, and who amassed one of the finest and most complete collections of United States Gold Dollars ever assembled.
Daniel W. Valentine was born in New York City on March 7, 1863. He received his D.D.S. from the New York College of Dentistry in 1887. He was married to Ada Belle Colwell, and had two daughters, Marion and Margaret. From 1887 to 1896 he practiced dentistry in New York City, and then moved to Englewood, New Jersey, where he remained until his death on January 24, 1932, at age 68.
Dr. Valentine was President of the New York Numismatic Club for two non-consecutive terms, in 1918 and again in 1920. The New York Numismatic Club issued a commemorative medal in his honor, struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company, with a mintage of just fifty pieces. The obverse contains a likeness of Dr. Valentine which is the only known portrait of him in public hands.
As a serious student of the half dime series, I long ago endeavored to acquire one of the NYNC Valentine medals for my half-dime-related collection. I searched the offerings of numerous token and medal dealers on countless bourse floors for several years with no success. I inquired of numerous specialty dealers about the medal, and placed want lists with some of the most prominent token and medal dealers in the country, but to no avail. I knew that with a mintage of just 50 pieces, my search was going to be difficult, but I had no idea that it would take me nearly a quarter century to prevail.
Recently a couple of friends, who are also half dime collectors and members of this forum, informed me that they had seen one of the Valentine medals on eBay a few months before, and inquired why I had not bid on it. I have no idea how I missed it, but I was stunned to learn that I had come so close, only to be disappointed. What were my chances of ever having that opportunity again?
One of these good friends who understood my near obsession with obtaining that medal took it upon himself to contact the eBay buyer and asked if he would consider selling it. After a period of time, this friend was able to purchase the medal, and he sent it to me. My long search was over, and the Valentine medal was finally added to my reference collection of half dimes.
Thank you, Barndog, for an act of considerable kindness and thoughtfulness, and one which will not soon be forgotten.
It was not until 1931, however, that Dr. Daniel Webster Valentine, a dentist from Englewood, New Jersey, wrote his all-inclusive volume on the entire half dime series that collectors finally had a reference to guide their collecting pursuits. Valentine’s work was published by the American Numismatic Society, in New York, as part of their ongoing series of “Numismatic Notes and Monographs”, as #48 in that series. Finally, collectors of this frequently ignored, often maligned, but very important series of American numismatics had a comprehensive reference, complete with verbal descriptions and photographic plates of all die marriages known to the author. The Valentine reference collection of half dimes was the most complete collection of United States half dimes, of all series, ever assembled, and remains an accomplishment which has never been duplicated.
Dr. Valentine remains a rather obscure figure in American numismatics, and very little has ever been published about him. I have attempted to accumulate and research any biographical information that I can about this fascinating man who not only collected, researched and wrote about the United States half dimes, but who also published the accepted reference on Fractional Currency in 1924, and who amassed one of the finest and most complete collections of United States Gold Dollars ever assembled.
Daniel W. Valentine was born in New York City on March 7, 1863. He received his D.D.S. from the New York College of Dentistry in 1887. He was married to Ada Belle Colwell, and had two daughters, Marion and Margaret. From 1887 to 1896 he practiced dentistry in New York City, and then moved to Englewood, New Jersey, where he remained until his death on January 24, 1932, at age 68.
Dr. Valentine was President of the New York Numismatic Club for two non-consecutive terms, in 1918 and again in 1920. The New York Numismatic Club issued a commemorative medal in his honor, struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company, with a mintage of just fifty pieces. The obverse contains a likeness of Dr. Valentine which is the only known portrait of him in public hands.
As a serious student of the half dime series, I long ago endeavored to acquire one of the NYNC Valentine medals for my half-dime-related collection. I searched the offerings of numerous token and medal dealers on countless bourse floors for several years with no success. I inquired of numerous specialty dealers about the medal, and placed want lists with some of the most prominent token and medal dealers in the country, but to no avail. I knew that with a mintage of just 50 pieces, my search was going to be difficult, but I had no idea that it would take me nearly a quarter century to prevail.
Recently a couple of friends, who are also half dime collectors and members of this forum, informed me that they had seen one of the Valentine medals on eBay a few months before, and inquired why I had not bid on it. I have no idea how I missed it, but I was stunned to learn that I had come so close, only to be disappointed. What were my chances of ever having that opportunity again?
One of these good friends who understood my near obsession with obtaining that medal took it upon himself to contact the eBay buyer and asked if he would consider selling it. After a period of time, this friend was able to purchase the medal, and he sent it to me. My long search was over, and the Valentine medal was finally added to my reference collection of half dimes.
Thank you, Barndog, for an act of considerable kindness and thoughtfulness, and one which will not soon be forgotten.
They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
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Here are the pictures:
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Dr. Valentine was President of the New York Numismatic Club for two non-consecutive terms, in 1918 and again in 1920. The New York Numismatic Club issued a commemorative medal in his honor, struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company, with a mintage of just fifty pieces. The obverse contains a likeness of Dr. Valentine which is the only known portrait of him in public hands.
Nice medal
Gotta give props to Barndog.
Who couldn't be in love with those little half dimes? They are a work of art in microscopic detail.
Barndog, you rock man
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)
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