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The Top Error Coin Collector Pedigrees!

ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited March 19, 2023 9:18AM in U.S. Coin Forum

Error coins can be beautiful and are often unique.

Given how many great ones are out there, I was wondering who had the great collections?

The provenances I'm aware of are few and far between (alphabetical by first name):

  1. Dr. A.K. Berry
  2. Tommy Bolack
  3. Dr. Conway Bolt
  4. Don Bonser
  5. Mike Byers - trackable via Mint Error News
  6. Mike Chambers
  7. Milt Cohen
  8. Ray Czahor - trackable via auction catalogs
  9. Chris Talbot Frank - been looking for an easy way to track provenance
  10. Natalie Halpern
  11. Frank Leone
  12. Mike Maloney
  13. Larry Rausch
  14. Dr. Phillip Spear
  15. Michael Sussman

Any other known collector pedigrees?

The following is from @FredWeinberg:

«1

Comments

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Are you talking only current, or past collectors also?

    If past, then I'd say Dr. Conway Bolt was a very advanced
    error collector from the 40's to mid-50's.

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 15, 2020 8:57AM

    @FredWeinberg said:
    Are you talking only current, or past collectors also?

    If past, then I'd say Dr. Conway Bolt was a very advanced
    error collector from the 40's to mid-50's.

    I'm thinking all time and especially ones where coins can be tracked.

    I've been trying to figure out a way to trace EOC's provenance for the "Collecting from Inventory" strategy which I've been taking to mean his entire inventory. I like tracing dealer provenance too, which tends to show up for the highest priced coins.

  • TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Frank Leone for 2 cent pieces.

    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Your first post lists two dealers -

    are you asking for older error dealers?

    Lonesome John
    Natalie Halpern
    and I could add lots more.

    Collectors:
    Milt Cohen
    Dr. Phillip Spear
    Dr. A.K. Berry
    Mike Maloney
    Mike Chambers
    .....lots more

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I was an error coin collector who turned into an error coin dealer.

    I am working with some (unnamed ) error coin collectors who are building some very impressive sets.

    A person or persons with deep pockets could certainly put together a world-class error coin set with what is on the market today.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FredWeinberg said:
    Your first post lists two dealers -

    are you asking for older error dealers?

    Lonesome John
    Natalie Halpern
    and I could add lots more.

    Specifically dealers where we can trace their provenance.

    For examples, Mike's top coins are easy to trace.

    EOC's coins are okay to trace when they are in inventory but I'm not sure how easy they are to trace afterwards. It would be nice to have some way to trace them with his provenance. I think I have an approach but haven't tested it yet

    I know you are a great dealer too, and I've been wondering how easy it would be to trace all the coins with the Weinberg provenance :)

    Collectors:
    Milt Cohen
    Dr. Phillip Spear
    Dr. A.K. Berry
    Mike Maloney
    Mike Chambers
    .....lots more

    Are their collections easy to trace?

    I like Ray Czahor's collection because they are on Stack's with his name against them.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Some, but not all, of Milt's and Chambers coins are traceable.

    Dr. Berry's great Ike Dollar Error Collection was donated to the
    ANA Museum many decades ago, and is still there.....

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I just got off the phone with one ;)

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 15, 2020 10:26AM

    @ErrorsOnCoins said:
    I just got off the phone with one ;)

    Is this collector known? Or anonymous?

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 15, 2020 10:27AM

    No, the client is anonymous like most all I deal with.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 15, 2020 10:28AM

    @ErrorsOnCoins said:
    Anonymous like most all I deal with.

    Of course, the error coin dealers all know who collects what.

    Then that collector may not quality for this list as this is for provenances and pedigrees, such as ones that will end up in auction catalogs of great coins. Most anonymous collectors don't have have a provenance / pedigree though it is possible to use an anonymous collection name like the Knoxville Collection or Missouri Cabinet.

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I personally never follow provenances and pedigrees.

    I follow coins and I know some who have them.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 15, 2020 10:40AM

    @ErrorsOnCoins said:
    I personally never follow provenances and pedigrees.

    I follow coins and I know some who have them.

    Nothing wrong with that and that's a fine way to collect, but it still means there's no provenance / pedigree. Usually, it just mean they show up as dated sales venues in the provenance chain, or not at all.

    I edited the title to make it more clear.

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So many of these coins go back and forth many many times between different dealers and different clients.

    It would be hard to follow the chain of custody IMO.

    Some do hoard for a generation so that may be more what you are thinking of.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 15, 2020 10:44AM

    @ErrorsOnCoins said:
    So many of these coins go back and forth many many times between different dealers and different clients.

    It's a fun way to track great coins. It's common for non-errors and I think it would be great for it to become popular to trace great error coins. For example, this Donald Partrick coin was cataloged in Rulau. Okay, it's an overstrike, but an off-center one ;)

    It would be hard to follow the chain of custody IMO.

    That's what makes it fun. It makes coins from Byers stand out. For example, I have a piece that has a Byers-Julian provenance chain.

    Some do hoard for a generation so that may be more what you are thinking of.

    Not necessarily. I care about anybody that can be traced, even things like Knoxville Collection :)

  • ByersByers Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    😃😃😃

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • seanqseanq Posts: 8,568 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Many coins, especially cents, are traceable back to Lonesome John because they have turned orange and purple from his "special sauce".

    I would add Michael Arconti to your list, he had an amazing collection of large cent errors that went to auction in the early 00s. There was a well illustrated catalog that is definitely worth looking for if you want to track the provenance.

    Sean Reynolds

    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2021 4:41AM

    @FredWeinberg said:
    Collectors:
    Milt Cohen

    Is Milt a collector or dealer?

    I just ran across what seems to be Milt Cohen's dealer token?

    Does the ANA still have "Error Day"?

    And then a Google search turned up his pre-CONECA catalog on Mint Error News:

    https://minterrornews.com/features-11-14-06-milt_cohen_collection.html

  • ByersByers Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Many of Milt’s mint errors are traceable in Natalie’s catalog that was featured in Mint Error News.

    Milt purchased many mint errors from me. It was sometimes difficult to determine if the purchase was for his collection or resale. Overall I would classify him as a collector.

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2021 8:47AM

    Good to know @FredWeinberg and @Byers!

    It would be great to match up coins in the catalog to Milt's provenance today, via PCGS TrueViews :)

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Don't know if I'm not supposed to do this here,
    but one of my coins to be sold by Heritage
    next year is the 1873 Shield Nickel struck on
    a Cent Planchet - with the NGC label saying:

                     "Farouk-Weinberg"
    
          (it's also Ex-Zabriskie Sale, 1909)
    
    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2021 8:59AM

    @FredWeinberg said:
    Don't know if I'm not supposed to do this here,
    but one of my coins to be sold by Heritage
    next year is the 1873 Shield Nickel struck on
    a Cent Planchet - with the NGC label saying:

                     "Farouk-Weinberg"
    
          (it's also Ex-Zabriskie Sale, 1909)
    

    That's great Fred! It's okay. We certainly talk about other King Farouk coins months before the sale, like the 1933 DE. Of course, if we talk about a coin before the sale, we need to guess how much it will sell for ;)

    Hopefully all 3 names, Zabriskie, Farouk and Weinberg will be on the new insert!

  • ByersByers Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It’s ok Fred😉

    Here is the article published years ago in Mint Error News:

    https://minterrornews.com/features-10-12-04-shield_nickel_on_cent.html

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Byers said:
    It’s ok Fred😉

    Here is the article published years ago in Mint Error News:

    https://minterrornews.com/features-10-12-04-shield_nickel_on_cent.html

    Great article! Amazing that @FredWeinberg's had this coin since 2004!

    Here's the PDF issue it appears in:

    https://minterrornews.com/issue8.pdf

  • ByersByers Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zoins

    Fred’s Shield Nickel on a Cent planchet is lovely. The Mint Error News article shows it in a PCGS MS 62 holder. It’s now in a NGC holder obviously, and I believe the grade is MS 64.

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Lindy, you've been one of the really nice, and FUN
    folks to talk to over the years.

    And, you know what you like, appreciate the rarity of
    those items; understand how they're minted, and in
    my opinion, really enjoy the error coin segment of numismatics.

    Kathy and I love getting your emails, and the scarce
    occasional phone call!

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • Mr Lindy Mr Lindy Posts: 979 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2021 3:22PM

    Argh, my comment got trashcanned here yet again.
    Glad you saw it so it was not an absolute total waste of my time.
    Frustrating...

  • ByersByers Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fred- you’re still in the office?

    Thought you would already be in Maui.

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • 2ltdjorn2ltdjorn Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭

    I know of a mediocre collector from west tn

    WTB... errors, New Orleans gold, and circulated 20th key date coins!
  • ByersByers Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @easternwoods

    That’s a nice off-center Bust Half Dollar with a great provenance!

    mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 11, 2021 2:04PM

    @Treashunt said:
    Frank Leone for 2 cent pieces.

    Here's a catalog of "Sam Thurman's Cud Collection: Quarters through Dollars" by Frank Leone.

    Was Sam Thurman a famous error collector too?

    Photo is from Jon @SullivanNumismatics :)

  • @Zoins said:

    @Treashunt said:
    Frank Leone for 2 cent pieces.

    Here's a catalog of "Sam Thurman's Cud Collection: Quarters through Dollars" by Frank Leone.

    Was Sam Thurman a famous error collector too?

    Photo is from Jon @SullivanNumismatics :)

    Sam Thurman had a massive cud collection, which was sold (part or all of it) to Frank Leone, who wrote the book. A handful of dealers sponsored the book (including myself), and about 1,000 copies or so were printed. Unfortunately, that's the only guide to come out so far from the collection; hopefully more will come out down the road.

    www.sullivannumismatics.com Dealer in Mint Error Coins.
  • TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @easternwoods said:
    My 1811 Bust Half Dollar 25% Off Center XF 45 PCGS is from the Milt Cohen Coll. what do you think ?

    amazing!

    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • @easternwoods said:
    My 1811 Bust Half Dollar 25% Off Center XF 45 PCGS is from the Milt Cohen Coll. what do you think ?

    A superb off-center bust half. That far off and in that nice a grade is super tough.

    www.sullivannumismatics.com Dealer in Mint Error Coins.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 18, 2023 9:42PM

    From the Michael Sussman collection:


  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭

    From the Larry Rausch collection:

  • gonzergonzer Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fred mentioned Natalie Halpern from NY; at the 1973 Error-O-Rama I cherrypicked four 1973 broadstruck Lincolns from her that in reality were broken collar errors. She was very surprised that she missed that. I later sold her my '69-S double die.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 19, 2023 8:20AM

    @gonzer said:
    Fred mentioned Natalie Halpern from NY; at the 1973 Error-O-Rama I cherrypicked four 1973 broadstruck Lincolns from her that in reality were broken collar errors. She was very surprised that she missed that. I later sold her my '69-S double die.

    Here's one from Natalie!

    Ref: https://coins.ha.com/itm/half-cents/1829-b-1-c-1-off-center-au58-pcgs-our-eac-grade-au50-pcgs-35267-/a/1348-3233.s

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 19, 2023 9:20AM

    This one is pedigreed to: Dr. Conway A. Bolt; Numismatics, Ltd.; Kenneth M. Goldman; George Szykir (7/1980); James R. McGuigan. Conway Bolt is an error collector but I'm not sure if the others are errors collectors or half cent collectors that happened to get this coin.

    Ref: https://coins.ha.com/itm/half-cents/1795-plain-edge-no-pole-b-5b-c-5b-low-r4-struck-over-a-1795-s-76b-cent-ms66-red-and-brown-pcgs-our-eac-grade-ms66/a/1348-3038.s

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FredWeinberg said:
    'Error Day' at the 1977 ANA was in honor
    of the ANA having for the first time, a
    separate category for Mint Errors in their
    display area. There is another token issued,
    by Arnie Margolis, I believe, that also
    'commemorated' this milestone.

    Milt Cohen (passed away approx. 15-20 years ago)
    was a very advanced major mint error collector, and
    his collection, as shown in the catalog above, was an
    event, handled by Natalie Halpern, another N Y city
    error dealer.

    I met Milt at the very first Error-A-Rama in June 1967,
    as well as all of the notables in the hobby at that time.

    I was running Collectors Clearinghouse at that time, and I remember sitting at the error meeting that day with Bill Fivaz. He was showing me his new purchases, and he handed me a high grade 1857 F.E. Cent with some odd raised metal in the fields and said "What do you make of this?" We had seen these in low grade at Clearinghouse over the years, but had never been able to figure them out.
    I studied it for a while and kind of zoned out of the meeting and suddenly an image popped in to my mind and I said to Bill "Those are clash marks from a Seated Liberty half or quarter obverse die." Bill got back up off the floor and looked at the coin and said "Your right." That was the first attribution of a dual-denomination clash mark.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 31,499 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It is not a Pedigree yet as the collector still wishes to remain anonymous, but my former employer, Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., has been building a fabulous error collection for a client that I am occasionally consulted on.

    I tipped them off to the 1903 Morgan Dollar Die Cap that Fred revealed in this thread:

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/884052/13-year-acquisition-time-finally-die-cap-morgan-dollar/p1

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • MWallaceMWallace Posts: 3,832 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zoins said:
    Error coins can be beautiful and are often unique.

    Given how many great ones are out there, I was wondering who had the great collections?

    The provenances I'm aware of are few and far between (alphabetical by first name):

    1. Dr. A.K. Berry
    2. Tommy Bolack
    3. Dr. Conway Bolt
    4. Don Bonser
    5. Mike Byers - trackable via Mint Error News
    6. Mike Chambers
    7. Milt Cohen
    8. Ray Czahor - trackable via auction catalogs
    9. Chris Talbot Frank - been looking for an easy way to track provenance
    10. Natalie Halpern
    11. Frank Leone
    12. Mike Maloney
    13. Larry Rausch
    14. Dr. Phillip Spear
    15. Michael Sussman

    Any other known collector pedigrees?

    The following is from @FredWeinberg:

    What's the denomination? The True View page says "Denominations: Various". At first I was thinking maybe Golden Dollars, but they're only one denomination.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Mike – that’s a Sac. dollar scrap piece that came from the Denver mint -
    Some times the PCGS label will say various but that’s a data entry mistake – not ‘various denominations’

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • MWallaceMWallace Posts: 3,832 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @FredWeinberg said:
    Mike – that’s a Sac. dollar scrap piece that came from the Denver mint -
    Some times the PCGS label will say various but that’s a data entry mistake – not ‘various denominations’

    Thanks.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,811 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 20, 2023 11:11PM

    @FredWeinberg said:
    Mike – that’s a Sac. dollar scrap piece that came from the Denver mint -
    Some times the PCGS label will say various but that’s a data entry mistake – not ‘various denominations’

    Thanks for the info @FredWeinberg! That's one of my favorite scrap pieces.

    Do you happen to have a link to the TrueView for your off-center Morgan dollar (cert 16060721)? I wanted to use that one but it looks like the coin was re-certified quickly so I can't get the TrueView anymore.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t have the link to the true view of that 1880 off-center Morgan dollar heritage sold last summer.

    At the February Long Beach show last month the collector who bought the coin from the Heritage auction, came up to me to say how much he loved the coin and how surprised he was that it went for under $100,000 – it was great to talk to a Collector who appreciated it For his collection

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors
    for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 21, 2023 7:06AM

    Last night I bought a top error coin that Mike found. Double pedigree.

    I also bought back a coin that I used to own that I bought from Jon originally. Jon to me to a collector to auction and back to me :)

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