In remembrance of Speety, Mark Petty

STONE

A year ago today we lost one of the youngest and most active numismatists these boards or this hobby has ever seen, Mark Petty (aka Speety)



I was pleased to call Mark a great friend on these boards despite never being able to meet him in person. While we grew
up just a couple hundred miles away (Mark in Ohio, myself in Chicago) our [coin show] paths never quite crossed. But we
talked a lot about coins on these boards, sending each other messages about updates to our collections, questions about
different coins, and just about life in general. No doubt you knew Mark was very intelligent once you began talking with him.

Mark was especially fond of the COMPLETE Seated Dollar collection he assembled with his dad Stephen. When this
numismatic duo acquired their last coin, the coveted 1870-S Seated Dollar (as shown below), it was only the 7th time a
complete collection of Seated Dollars was known to have been assembled. And the two of them didn't build a modest
collection of Seated Dollars either, aiming for AU and MS specimens whenever possible (as shown in the poster Mark made
below). Mark was generous enough to send me one of these posters, which now proudly hangs on the wall in my room.
Speety's Seated Dollar Collection thread

Mark also dabbled in Bust coins, and this is where my own interest piqued! I recall a PM I received from him, relatively
shortly before his passing, sharing that he had picked up an E and L counterstamped 1825 quarters from auction with
very little bidding competition. He ended up with a great deal on those two coins.

Mark was active in his local numismatic organizations back in Ohio, and was finishing up an internship with StacksBowers in NY.

In remembrance of Mark, please share a story (or two) and/or a Seated Dollar.

DUIGUY

TennesseeDave

R.I.P.

blu62vette

Nothing to share but very nice remembrance.

RYK

I first met Mark when he was a kid at a CSNS show in St. Louis several years ago (2007 or so). We were both attending the LSCC meeting but did not know each other was in the room until after the meeting. I did not see him again until 2010 at the spring Baltimore show, and by that time, he was all grown up. We had some communications both on the forum and in PMs. He was a bright star among the YNs, and the hobby is lesser place without him.

DorkGirl

TomB

Good post, STONE; and terrible loss for numismatics and Mark's family.

123cents

I never got to meet Mark but we PM each other and talked about Seated Dollars many times. He was a great young man and I miss him very much.

DIMEMAN

I also met Mark and his dad at a LSCC meeting at a large show. Can't remember which one or which year, but I was impressed with Mark's knowledge of coins at such a young age.

What a terrible loss to us and his family.

MsMorrisine

can't believe it hasw been a year

Unknown

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ThePennyLady

It's very sad, but what a nice tribute Winston. Thank you.

tradedollarnut

We were PM maniacs - I think he's still at the top of my list. What a passion for coins!

seateddime

Very Sad indeed.

It seems only fit post another something special

crypto79

Never met Mark although we PMed some. I have had the pleasure of meeting his father who my heart goes out to this day of remembrance. What a loss.

pursuitofliberty

Mark was a fine young man, and as IMO our hobby lost a great ambassador that day



For many of us who were active, Mark's infectious presense on the board was noticable, and for me at least, it was quite a welcome presense indeed.

Honestly, the first few times I read his posts, I didn't pay much mind, just a kid without too much to say but a lot to show. However, as time went on, and his maturity started to grow, I came to appreciate reading his posts.

Anyway, knowing his specialty and having grown to appreciate and respect his candor, I found myself introducing myself to him via PM in July of 2010. I had ventured to purchase a Seated Dollar for my type set, and wanted to ask his opinion. That first encounter turned into 30 something PM's and at least a few emails over the next four or five weeks, where we got to know a little more about each other. During that time he was just finishing the poster that Stone posted, and my PM box still has several of the drafts, with our thoughts (his and mine) going back and forth to what he prefered, what I did, and what his father liked best. Oh, and his thoughts of my purchase are still there too.

When I read the news last year, my heart ached. The loss of a fine, well-mannered, energetic young man is never easy. My children (now 16, 21 and 24) are not far off in ages, and the thought of losing any of them at such a young and promise-filled age tore a hole in me. Maybe moreso when our children are also our good friends ... as mine are ... and as I know Mark and his Dad were.

As I write this, I hope and pray his family is well.

I'll hope too that Mark found a good place, with good fishing, lots of friends, and maybe a few coins to enjoy.


Here's the coin that sparked the first PM ...

LotsoLuck

A very special young man. My heart goes out to his family.

CoinJunkie

A tragic loss. RIP, Speety.

Swampboy

Lovely tribute Stone.

GeorgeKellogg

I didn't know Mark, but have been really impressed by all that I've learned about him. In his honor, this seated liberty dollar is a recent addition to my Carson City Type Set.

Justacommeman

Mark is missed terribly. I had the pleasure of meeting him and he was also a PM favorite. An outstanding young man. That awful feeling learning about his death still remains. I can't imagine how his family feels. RIP Mark..............MJ

pakasmom

Well done, Stone.

Rest in Peace, Speety. Many people miss you...

PonyExpress8

Winston, thanks for your post in remembrance of Speety.

WoodenJefferson

Wonderful tribute...sad to re-visit though.

coinsarefun

He was so very excited to do a short write up and images on My website for the Seated Dollars.......he was a great kid and will always be missed. This will always remain on my website.

We were in the process of doing some updates and never finished

ClosedLoop