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RIP MILES STANDISH

wondercoinwondercoin Posts: 16,997 ✭✭✭✭✭

I met Miles for the first time around late 1997 when I asked for a meeting with him and Rick Montgomery at PCGS to discuss my idea of bulk grading silver Mint State “modern” Roosevelt dimes for the PCGS collection I was building. I “pitched” submitting large quantities of handpicked coins of all the different dated Roosies in my series in my quest to “bulk” grade one or two MS67’s of each date (there was no full band designation at the time). I just needed them to approve granting me a minimum grade of MS65 or MS66 on the coins depending upon the date.

After they stop laughing at me (as bulk grading at that time was reserved for mostly Morgan Dollars, Walkers and select classic gold coins), they approved my request and Rick told me to work directly with Miles on my project. This started my roughly seventeen year business relationship with Miles where he graciously taught me more about the “coin business” than anyone on this planet.

Miles was truly available to share his time and knowledge nearly 24/7 virtually every day of every year! He personally grew my business with PCGS over the years by at least 20x! He had a great sense of humor, as sharp a business mind as anyone, and was one of the greatest professional graders to ever grade coins at both PCGS and NGC. His speed and accuracy of his coin grading was simply incredible.

Miles, along with his lovely wife, Andrea, created the Standish Foundation For Children and was a great philanthropist for the past many decades. A read of his “wiki” page only begins to tell the story of this great man. He was a dear friend to many, many people.

I developed a personal friendship with Miles over the years and got to enjoy special times with him in Hawaii, at his home in Austin, TX and even at a Championship playoff game in Chicago watching his beloved Cubs. We had recently spoken about planning a trip together to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. I wish I had spent more time with him over the past few years.

Thank you Miles for all the time you dedicated to me, for all of your help over the past couple decades and your friendship. I will miss you greatly pal!

Mitch

Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
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Comments

  • logger7logger7 Posts: 9,015 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 11, 2023 7:48AM

    Thanks for this, I'm shocked and saddened. I didn't know he passed, do you have an obit on him?

  • joeykoinsjoeykoins Posts: 17,492 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :'(

    "Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!

    --- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.
  • FloridafacelifterFloridafacelifter Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Gone way too young- my heart and prayers go out to his family and friends- we had many good chats about coins and other things!

  • divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,688 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @wondercoin I'm very sorry for your loss.

    My condolences to his family and friends.

    Donato

    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set

    Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,203 ✭✭✭✭✭

    my condolences to his family and friends, rip

  • KliaoKliao Posts: 5,685 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very sad to hear the news. Condolences to his family and friends.

    Collector
    91 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 56 members and counting!
    instagram.com/klnumismatics

  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,734 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 11, 2023 9:01AM

    Wow, I am in shock!! He wasn’t very old!!

    WAAAYYY too many of us leaving too soon!!

    Condolences to his family and friends and may he Rest In Peace. :'(<3

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • Jzyskowski1Jzyskowski1 Posts: 6,650 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Oh my
    A true legend. Such an amazing volume of numismatic knowledge and a wonderful legacy for so many collectors. I never met him but I feel as though I know a bit about him from following his work.
    Thoughts to those who knew him personally and ofcourse his family. Thanks 🙏

    🎶 shout shout, let it all out 🎶

  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,397 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :'(

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 14,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is terribly sad, shocking news.
    My condolences go out to all of Miles' loved ones and friends.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • NeophyteNumismatistNeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,106 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Really sorry to read this. My sympathy for all friends and family. :'(

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • tyler267tyler267 Posts: 1,305 ✭✭✭✭

    My thoughts and prayers are with Miles family and friends. A real loss to the hobby.

  • pointfivezeropointfivezero Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Just returned from spreading my Mom's ashes in Kansas. Very sad news which will extend my grieving process.

    RIP, Miles.

    Tim

  • Downtown1974Downtown1974 Posts: 6,989 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very sorry to hear of this.
    A terrible loss for the coin community.

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,294 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very sad news. I never had the opportunity to get to know him, but I know how influential he was in the hobby. My condolences to friends, family, and colleagues.

  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,344 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Condolences to his family and friends.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • GoBustGoBust Posts: 605 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So sorry for your loss wondercoin. Clearly another legend in numismatics has left us.

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    RIP

  • mark_dakmark_dak Posts: 1,144 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Although I have never met MIles, everyone who has had the opportunity to know him has expressed similarly positive experiences..A true legend in the hobby, he will be missed. Thoghts and prayers to his family and friends.

    Mark

  • shortnockshortnock Posts: 427 ✭✭✭

    Another legend, lost. Sympathy to the loved ones he leaves behind.

  • alaura22alaura22 Posts: 3,562 ✭✭✭✭✭

    RIP Miles
    always it seems the good die young :'(

  • GRANDAMGRANDAM Posts: 8,759 ✭✭✭✭✭

    RIP MILES,,,,

    I talked with him a few times on bulk submissions.

    How old was Miles?

    GrandAm :)
  • labloverlablover Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sad news indeed!!!!!!!!!! :'(

    "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
  • logger7logger7 Posts: 9,015 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @GRANDAM said:
    RIP MILES,,,,

    I talked with him a few times on bulk submissions.

    How old was Miles?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_"Miles"_Standish

  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,644 ✭✭✭✭✭

    One of the good guys for sure. So sorry to hear this.

  • privatecoinprivatecoin Posts: 3,634 ✭✭✭✭✭

    RIP Miles. In his honor I'm proud to have just won this one recently,

    Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc

  • skier07skier07 Posts: 4,358 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’m sorry. I didn’t know Miles but may he RIP.

  • MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,585 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am in shock! He was a great guy!

    Fall National Battlefield Coin Show is September 11-12, 2025 at the Eisenhower Hotel Ballroom, Gettysburg, PA. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,545 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sad. People like Miles always made me think that there's still hope for this world.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,289 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very sad news. Way too young.

    RIP Miles. My condolences to your family


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • ChangeInHistoryChangeInHistory Posts: 3,089 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very sad news for the hobby. Condolences to his family and friends.

  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,241 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Damn shame. Seems like a few of these threads lately, sad and kind of depressing. Prayers to his family and friends.

  • morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I couldn't believe what I was reading earlier this morning when I started seeing several Instagram posts about Miles. I really thought it was a joke when I saw the first post about it and then I started seeing several more posts. He was one of the best in the industry, and will be missed by many. Condolences to all friends and family.

    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
  • KkathylKkathyl Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 12, 2023 5:34AM

    I will wear a yellow ribbon at the Fun show to honor my dear friend. and remember to donate The Miles Standish foundation for children if you want to help. I’m devastated. Kathleen Long


    Best place to buy !
    Bronze Associate member

  • CoinRaritiesOnlineCoinRaritiesOnline Posts: 3,681 ✭✭✭✭

    This is just shocking. RIP Miles.

  • RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,553 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is very sad news. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

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

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Condolences to family and friends. RickO

  • GoldbullyGoldbully Posts: 17,926 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ttt........in case anyone missed this sad news.

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,735 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm sorry to hear this. :(

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,731 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm sorry to hear this.

    Condolences to his friends and family as well as the many in the hobby who will miss him.

    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • TyrockTyrock Posts: 311 ✭✭✭

    Sorry to hear this today.

  • kazkaz Posts: 9,265 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very sad news. My condolences to his friends and family.

  • Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sorry to hear this, my condolences to his family RIP my friend he will be missed on and off this board.



    Hoard the keys.
  • GRANDAMGRANDAM Posts: 8,759 ✭✭✭✭✭

    OK, everybody is thinking it,,,,,,,, Miles was 59 years old so what happened?

    Did he have an accident,,,,,, health problems?

    Some will probably say it is wrong for me to ask but there are a lot of people here who cared about him so I feel it is only natural to wonder what happened.

    GrandAm :)

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