David Akers: An Appreciation

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RYK
RYK Posts: 35,801 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I had heard that he was ill and just saw this memorial blog on Doug Winter's site.

Link

Dave was a GIANT in the coin landscape. I had the privilege of meeting him on a couple occasions at the big shows. I remember him schooling a group of us on the Garrett 1815 $5.

RIP

image
My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132

Comments

  • CoinRaritiesOnline
    CoinRaritiesOnline Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭✭
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    Oh no -- I hadn't heard.

    I agree. David Akers is one of the all-time greats.
    John Agre

    Coin Rarities Online
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    When I first started to seriously collect U.S. gold coins in the early 1980's, I bought Dave Akers six volume set of gold coin books---each volume was dedicated to a different denomination of gold coin. He was truly a great numismatist and a true scholar. He'll be sorely missed.image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • RichieURich
    RichieURich Posts: 8,640 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I am very sorry to hear that news. I remember Dave Akers represented the buyers when the Childs 1804 dollar was sold for $4.14 million. I even got his autograph on my auction catalog.

    Dave Wnuck is correct, Dave Akers definitely one of the all-time greats!

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • bidask
    bidask Posts: 14,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A true Hall of Famer......he was a giant in the hobby....
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • EagleEye
    EagleEye Posts: 7,677 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    He will be sorely missed. A numismatic great!

    image

    image
    Rick Snow, Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Inc.Check out my new web site:
  • Lakesammman
    Lakesammman Posts: 17,696 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wow - that is truly sad. Thanks for letting us know. image

    Very nice memorial/remembrance by Doug.
    Gone but not forgotten: IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal, CoinsAreFun.
  • tradedollarnut
    tradedollarnut Posts: 20,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    He was truly one of the great dealers - a great set builder. One of the highlights of my numismatic career was when Laura called me up from FUN and said he was selling a few seated dollars from his personal collection. Needless to say, I couldn't jump fast enough:

    image
    Early Dollar Set
  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,189 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wow. Like Dave, this is the first I have heard of his passing. Losing folks like this is like losing a library of knowledge.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • PCGSCustomerService
    PCGSCustomerService Posts: 77 ✭
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    A little background on Mr. Akers from our 'Board Of Experts' page:

    David Akers started collecting coins in 1949. After graduating from Notre Dame, obtaining a Masters degree in mathematics from Oregon State, and serving as a U.S. Army combat artillery officer in Viet Nam, David became a full time coin dealer in 1971. He was President of one of the largest and most influential dealerships of the 1970s and 1980s, Paramount International Coin Corp

    Between 1975 and 1982, David Akers published a six volume analysis of U.S. gold coins that is considered one of the key references for the market. He conducted numerous very important auctions, including the three part 1997-99 sale of the legendary John J. Pittman collection. He was one of only two dealers to ever receive all three of the Professional Numismatists Guild's three top honors: the Robert Friedberg Literary award, the Abe Kosoff Founders award, and the PNG Lifetime Achievement award. David Akers was considered one of the top rare gold experts of all-time.
    PCGS Customer Service
  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    very sad-

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • Sonorandesertrat
    Sonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A real loss.image
    Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA

    RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'

    CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
  • CoinJunkie
    CoinJunkie Posts: 8,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    From everything I've heard, the man was a class act and a legendary collector/dealer.

    RIP, Mr. Akers.

    My Roosevelt Dime Registry Set
  • MidLifeCrisis
    MidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,617 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A significant loss to the hobby.
  • roadrunner
    roadrunner Posts: 28,374 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It was probably Dave Akers that ignited my thirst for rare date gem seated quarters in 1975. The fire was already kindled, but Dave's purchases for Paramount at the
    March 1975 James A. Stack sale left a mark on me. That was my first big time auction even if I didn't yet have a clue with how to price these top tiered coins.
    He successfully picked off several underrated key date coins in superb gem...for example the 1865-s and the 1901-s. From that time on I was hooked. While I never did
    get the opportunity to build a relationship with him, I watched everything he did from that point on with great interest, especially the offerings in the ANA Apostrophe sales from
    1979 to 1989. Some of my best purchases during that era came from those sales. The Paramount offerings were usually chock full of amazing seated and Barber coins. It was
    more than coincidence that my best coin ever, and one I had waited 11 yrs for, also came from Paramount's session of Auction '86 (ex-James Stack sale).

    Surely one of the greats....and a huge loss.
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • Coinosaurus
    Coinosaurus Posts: 9,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Sorry to hear this. I met him a couple times, wish it had been many more.
    Newman Numismatic Portal, www.NewmanPortal.org
  • oreville
    oreville Posts: 12,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    David was one of my top five heroes in our hobby.

    This is hitting me hard.

    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • crypto79
    crypto79 Posts: 8,623 ✭
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    Nuts
  • DrPete
    DrPete Posts: 1,497 ✭✭✭
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    One of the Great Ones has passed. I am truly sad. Not only did he have the tremendous knowledge of gold coins, he was encyclopedic about other series as well, including my favorite, Barber Halves. He helped Dr. Steve Duckor build the best set of Barber Halves that will ever be built. David Akers had a passion for quality and a great eye.

    He will be greatly missed.
    Dr. Pete
  • RYK
    RYK Posts: 35,801 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Laura Sperber (Legend) asked me to post the following:

    David Akers is someone whom I always aspired to be like. There has been no other dealer who has had the wisdom, grace, and talent he did. He is the last of a breed of special dealer who has built many of the FINEST EVER collections. His legacy in numismatics will last forever. My prayers are with him.
    My Box of 20: https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/box-20/ryks-gold-box-20/17132
  • Unknown
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    This content has been removed.
  • ColonelJessup
    ColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A very sad day for all of us who knew him. And for those of you who will not. You could say it was his knowledge; I would say it was his generosity with it. And with himself.

    I'm lucky; I might have 100 DWA stories to tell.

    It's easy to talk about the triumphs. There were many. They thrill, and then they pass. We shared with each other a few more personal stories of parallel frustrations and even failures and these are what I will carry with me longest.

    What many may not know of was Dave's strong ongoing concern with aiding returning vets who needed succor and care to recover from war-induced trauma.

    Check out the dictionary. He's listed under "M".... for mensch

    image
    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • mrearlygold
    mrearlygold Posts: 17,862 ✭✭✭
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    RIP image

    Coin's for sale/trade.


    Tom Pilitowski
    US Rare Coin Investments
    800-624-1870

  • jhdfla
    jhdfla Posts: 3,030 ✭✭✭
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    image

    So sorry to hear this, my condolences to his family.
    SeatedQuarters
  • Ed62
    Ed62 Posts: 857 ✭✭
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    What a shock!! Had the great honor to talk with him at the Boston ANA. He seemed to be in fine form then.
    Ed
  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    RIP David, my prayers and best wishes to you and your whole family
  • saintguru
    saintguru Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭
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    David and I were very close. He was my second mentor, along with Steve Duckor. Dave was a brilliant, BRILLIANT mind. He was a no BS grader, he had a wonderful dry sense of humor and he told you the truth whether it was good or bad. To know Dave was to have the entire US coin archives with you. I have met every biggie of this era and NO ONE comes remotely close to coin recall than David. He could remember buying 5 Gem $1 gold coins in 1962, tell his exact feeling if they were truly notable, and when and how much they sold for. He knew every great gold coin and every great gold collector. In the 50's Dave was THE man. No one was close and his knowledge just kept expanding. His stories of cold "walk-ins" were beyond anything anyone has ever heard; the little old ladies with a box of ultra-rarities wanting to know their value...and David would get them every penny they were worth! He was in the highest echelon of integrity!

    To have David say, "That's a great coin" was the most complimentary thing a collector could hear. I've had some B+++ coins that he would casually say "that's good", so "great" was a monumental accolade.

    A great guy, A Viet Nam vet, a superb "genius" in his trade and a wonderful man to sit at dinner with and hear stories that were historic! I will miss my friend, we will never see another like him. I choose to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. Numismatics was blessed to have David as it's TRUE GURU.

    Jay Brahin
    image
  • streeter
    streeter Posts: 4,312 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice sainty.

    The guru's guru.
    Have a nice day
  • lcoopie
    lcoopie Posts: 8,875 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    a good mentor is hard to find

    LCoopie = Les
  • telephoto1
    telephoto1 Posts: 4,966 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A real loss to the numismatic community...he was one of the good ones. RIP

    RIP Mom- 1932-2012
  • GeorgeKellogg
    GeorgeKellogg Posts: 1,251 ✭✭
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    Our hobby has lost one of its shining stars.  David Akers was universally respected and always had the time and inclination to share freely of his knowledge.

    When I was new to gold coin collecting (in 1982), it was common to hear someone say (when describing the rarity of a particular gold coin):  "According to Akers...".  I acquired my set of Mr. Akers landmark series on the analysis of gold coin auction records and referred to them often.  When my Dad was collecting Philadelphia Mint half eagles from 1838-1861 (mirroring my Dahlonega collecting interest), I made him a reference notebook of Mr. Akers' critiques of the 1838-1861 P-Mint issues.

    I was fortunate enough to attend the first John Pittman auction.  The collection had been marvelously cataloged by David Akers and the production values of the catalogs were second to none.  I am glad that I was able to tell Mr. Akers how much I cherished the catalogs when I spoke with him following the sales.  The prices realized were "off the charts," due in no small part to Mr. Akers' masterful skill.

    We will miss him, but his influence will live on for many years to come.
    "Clamorous for Coin"
  • Justacommeman
    Justacommeman Posts: 22,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    We lost a giant. May he rest in peace. MJ
    Walker Proof Digital Album
    Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
  • STEWARTBLAYNUMIS
    STEWARTBLAYNUMIS Posts: 2,697 ✭✭✭✭
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    THE GREATEST NUMISMATIST OF THE LAST FIFTY YEARS

    A true friend and someone for whom I had the utmost respect. When he told me something about numismatics I listened to him.David was Paramount Rare Coin Auction company in the 1980's before there was PCGS. David catalogued the John J Pittman collection of US and foreign coins.

    Some of you do not know but David is almost exclusively responsible for assembling what could be the finest quality collection of
    Early US coins ever assembled which is the Pogue Family Trust Collection. And it is not on the PCGS Set Registry

    Stewart Blay
  • tradedollarnut
    tradedollarnut Posts: 20,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It's a testament to the man that that's the only collection I'd pay to see....
    Early Dollar Set
  • AUandAG
    AUandAG Posts: 25,050 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I never met the gentleman. I don't own any of his writings. BUT I DO KNOW HIS REPUTATION.

    Enough said, sad, RIP and prayers to all his friends and family.

    bobimage
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • Julian
    Julian Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭
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    I was deeply saddened to hear of Dave's passing. I knew that he was ill and had very serious surgery, but I had always hoped that he could recover.

    I knew Dave since the early 70's and our relationship was very cordial. In 1973, Dave and Max Humbert, of Paramount Intl. Coin Corp., traveled to meet Mike Brownlee, the partners of Tennessee Exchange, and myself, in Springfield, TN to complete the purchase of Dr. John Wilkison's unique collection of US gold patterns. Mike and I had traveled there a month earlier to examine and get a brief option to market the collection. Tennessee Exchage was very close with Dr. Wilkison and was his agent for the transaction.

    Dave jumped on the project enthusiastically, engineered the purchase, wrote and produced one of the finest reference books, in all of US numismatics, on US gold patterns and proceeded to market the collection. PICC ultimately traded the entire collection to A-Mark for a quantity of Redfield dollars.

    As previously stated in this thread, he was the consummate numismatist and was one of the driving forces behind the Apostrophe Auctions. His books on US gold coins still have relevant information on those series.

    He will be greatly missed as a numismatist, son, brother, husband and father, as he was very devoted to his family.
    PNG member, numismatic dealer since 1965. Operates a retail store, also has exhibited at over 1000 shows.
    I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.

    eBaystore
  • 123cents
    123cents Posts: 7,178 ✭✭✭
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    Very said news for the coin collecting community. My prayers go out to his family and friends.
    image
  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    agreed that is a great loss. best wishes to him and his family
  • JazzmanJAB
    JazzmanJAB Posts: 1,032 ✭✭✭✭
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    David Akers Guest Book
  • lloydmincy
    lloydmincy Posts: 1,861 ✭
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    Possibly the most knowledgable (and humorous) experts in the world of numismatics. I was one of the fortunate ones to have spent some time with him during lunches/ dinners etc. and when he spoke, I was on my toes with full attention. As time went on, I noticed his name and writings, opinions, etc. was all over the place. This is very sad to me for I had recently thought of carrying a tape recorder to document his experience/stories. They were too unique, detailed and enjoyable to explain second-hand - with an unmatched memory of his involvement with coins from even 40 years ago. I just knew he would be, irreplacable.

    My happiest memories of David will be the times when I would tell him or show him a coin I liked (and he did not), and his opinion would not be short of jokes, sarcasm and poking fun at me!!! RIP David.
    The Accumulator - Dark Lloyd of the Sith

    image
  • TwoSides2aCoin
    TwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,217 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Not knowing any greats personally, it's heartwarming and heart wrenching to see the outpouring of love from men I have very deep respect for. image
  • saintguru
    saintguru Posts: 7,728 ✭✭✭
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    << <i>Possibly the most knowledgable (and humorous) experts in the world of numismatics. I was one of the fortunate ones to have spent some time with him during lunches/ dinners etc. and when he spoke, I was on my toes with full attention. As time went on, I noticed his name and writings, opinions, etc. was all over the place. This is very sad to me for I had recently thought of carrying a tape recorder to document his experience/stories. They were too unique, detailed and enjoyable to explain second-hand - with an unmatched memory of his involvement with coins from even 40 years ago. I just knew he would be, irreplacable.

    My happiest memories of David will be the times when I would tell him or show him a coin I liked (and he did not), and his opinion would not be short of jokes, sarcasm and poking fun at me!!! RIP David. >>



    image

    He would give us a good hearted rip if we bought a dubious coin. And Mincy and myself were VERY discriminating with out selections. And what a wry, dry, sometives vitriolic wit!
    image

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