Don’t mess with Hard Times Token collectors... Or Else! ( A John J. Ford story by QDB)

Broadstruck

Here’s a story I read 2 years ago and forgot to post, it's by QDB on page 14 of the Dice & Hicks 2008 Stack’s auction catalog.

Enjoy!


“In the mid 20th century Hard Times Tokens became a passion the passion for many leading numismatists, with John J. Ford, Jr. and Donald Miller perhaps being the best known. At a memorable New Netherlands auction in the 1950’s a collection of Hard Times Tokens was scheduled to cross the auction block, including rare varieties of Low-1, with the portrait of Jackson. A catalog was prepared by Walter Breen and John Ford of New Netherlands Coin Company, of which Ford was co-owner. The sale was held on the rooftop facility of the New Weston Hotel in New York City, in an assembly room, next to which there was a bar. Miller well lubricated an with a fighting spirit, was set to capture a number of rarities for his own account, while Ford made it known that he was going to be the leading buyer. On the terrace near the bar Miller grabbed Ford and pushed him partially over the railing, high above the streets below. The present writer (QDB) and another bystander grabbed Miller and pulled him away, much to Ford’s relief. Others rushed to hold Miller, and eventually calmed down. The sale proceeded, and record prices where set.”

chaze215

Sonorandesertrat

Wow. Just think what might have happened if some different people were nearby---Miller might have had help.

Justacommeman

LotsoLuck

Ahh the good old days when you could shove your competition off a building

johnny9434

interesting story . when coins meant collecting in those days ( and was different as well )

Broadstruck

<< <i>Ahh the good old days when you could shove your competition off a building >>

savoyspecial

Broadstruck, Early Copper guys can get rowdy as well........the following text is from Stack's treatment of the recently offered 1793 'Strawberry Leaf' cent:




>>>As noted above, the most famous (though perhaps not the most recent) case of numismatic fisticuffs revolved around a specimen of this precise variety. As described in Carl Carlson's superb November 1978Numismatist article entitled "Strawberry Leaves and Shiners," the ANS example of the NC-3 was the root of a physical struggle between two of the most respected dealers of their era: Ed Frossard and Lyman Low. When the Merritt-Haines-ANS specimen was presented for public sale in December 1894 as part of Frossard's 130th auction, for some reason Lyman Low called Frossard a "liar," though what he lied about is not recorded. Two later recollections of the scene have survived and both describe how Frossard and Low ended up rolling around on the floor until pulled apart by Harlan P. Smith, who lost a diamond stick pin in the fracas. A.G. Heaton noted the "two numismatic sages were soon mixed up on a dusty floor in a manner that would have made football adversaries envious of their combative qualities until, in a badly circulated condition, they were dragged apart by dismayed spectators." Charles Steigerwalt, who sold the piece offered today to Dr. Thomas Hall after the Parmelee sale, noted in a 1911 piece that the Parmelee specimen "described as 'good' was really 'fine' and the best known" and went on in the sale article to state that Frossard and Low "rolled around on the floor of the auction room, trying to kick each other." Notably, Carlson chose to illustrate his article with a photo of this exact specimen, taken from the 1897 Crosby plate.>>>

savoyspecial

of course since Lyman Low litterally wrote the book on HTT we will give that one to your side as well

MidLifeCrisis

Great stories.

Broadstruck

<< <i>Broadstruck, Early Copper guys can get rowdy as well........the following text is from Stack's treatment of the recently offered 1793 'Strawberry Leaf' cent:




>>>As noted above, the most famous (though perhaps not the most recent) case of numismatic fisticuffs revolved around a specimen of this precise variety. As described in Carl Carlson's superb November 1978Numismatist article entitled "Strawberry Leaves and Shiners," the ANS example of the NC-3 was the root of a physical struggle between two of the most respected dealers of their era: Ed Frossard and Lyman Low. When the Merritt-Haines-ANS specimen was presented for public sale in December 1894 as part of Frossard's 130th auction, for some reason Lyman Low called Frossard a "liar," though what he lied about is not recorded. Two later recollections of the scene have survived and both describe how Frossard and Low ended up rolling around on the floor until pulled apart by Harlan P. Smith, who lost a diamond stick pin in the fracas. A.G. Heaton noted the "two numismatic sages were soon mixed up on a dusty floor in a manner that would have made football adversaries envious of their combative qualities until, in a badly circulated condition, they were dragged apart by dismayed spectators." Charles Steigerwalt, who sold the piece offered today to Dr. Thomas Hall after the Parmelee sale, noted in a 1911 piece that the Parmelee specimen "described as 'good' was really 'fine' and the best known" and went on in the sale article to state that Frossard and Low "rolled around on the floor of the auction room, trying to kick each other." Notably, Carlson chose to illustrate his article with a photo of this exact specimen, taken from the 1897 Crosby plate.>>> >>

kaz

Fun read!

coinsarefun

I'm givin' ya fair waning now Broadstruck..........................
If you get any where near me at a HTT auction..........I'm just sayin'

and you to LotsoLuck!!!!...............Step away from the auction!!!

Broadstruck

<< <i>I'm givin' ya fair waning now Broadstruck..........................
If you get any where near me at a HTT auction..........I'm just sayin'

and you to LotsoLuck!!!!...............Step away from the auction!!! >>