Jules Reiver- if you own one of his coins post it here
stevel48
Posts: 149 ✭
On December 16, 1944, Reiver was among those in combat in one of World War II's largest battles that was popularly known as the Battle of the Bulge. Reiver won a bronze star fighting in the battle where around 81,000 Americans were either killed or captured. Henry Fonda later played Reiver in a 1965 movie about the battle.
Here is my recent Jules purchase
1802 $1 Wide Date. B-5, BB-242,
Photos copyright of Heritage coins of course
1
Comments
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
"When he (Jules Reiver) got his men on the bluff over Omaha beach a general came and told him to bivouac his men on a nearby field. He thought a moment and told one of his officers to use another field. His men complained about the cattle in that field -- and what cattle usually leave as souvenirs. He told the men to clean it up and use that field.
The next day the general returned and blew a gasket. Jules told him that the Frenchman who owned the animals was probably there when the Germans were and thus knew where the land mines were. As the cattle were important to the farmer he wouldn't put his animals where there were mines.
The general yelled at him, but later sent word down the line to always use the fields that the animals were in."
NSDR - Life Member
SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member
In the Reiver/Heritage auction sale I was privileged to acquire the following Capped Bust half dimes:
#21961 1829 LM-3/V2 TDS with cud NGC EF-45 Extremely rare
#21995 1830 LM-12/V11 NGC AU-58
#22043 1833 LM-3.1/V4 NCS "UNC Details"
#22046 1833 LM-3.5/V4 TDS with massive cud NCS "XF Details" Extremely rare
#22075 1835 LM-8.2/V5b NCS "AU Details" (Improperly attributed by NCS as LM-8.1)
#22076 1835 LM-9.1/V6a NGC AU-58
#22086 1836 LM-5/V6 NGC AU-58 (Actually AU-50)
These may all be seen at the Heritage Archive site here:
http://coins.ha.com/common/auction/catalog.php?Sale_No=390
The two examples with the huge cuds are two of my very favorite coins, and may have even set records for prices realized for cud examples at the time, although they would certainly exceed that today.
Jules was an amazing man, but a very modest man, who seldom talked about his experiences in WWII. But how many people do you know who have had a feature length movie made of their experiences, and had Henry Fonda play them in the movie. Most of all, though, he was a good friend and a remarkable numismatist who loved to share what he had learned.
166 BHDs & 154 Die Varieties & Die States...
Bust Half Nut Club #180
Festivus Yes! Bagels No!
<< <i>My personal experience with Jules Reiver was that he was a great guy who was quite generous with his time and knowledge at shows and would even sit down for an extended lunch or dinner with folks he truly barely knew, like me. Upon his death I also learned that he saw action in WWII and I believe he landed on the beaches at Normandy, but do not know if he was involved in the initial assault. Here is a coin I have shown several times on the boards and I apologize if folks are tired of viewing the piece. It is not from the Heritage Reiver sale, however, Jules Reiver owned this coin and subsequently sold it to Robinson Brown in 1984 who had it pedigreed by NGC in 1992 and then sold it through Sheridan Downey in 1995. I was fortunate enough to pick this up via a board member a few years ago-
What variety is that one?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>Jules was a bonafide war hero and fought with valor in Europe during the second world war. Below is a very short story someone recorded about one of Jules's first experiences after coming ashore on the beaches of Normandy. >>
Jules Reiver was a very interesting man who also built very interesting collections. I'd like to own a coin from his collection but I would be very picky when choosing it.
Here are a couple of Reiver coins that I will never sell:
Much much nicer in hand.
Per Dick: "Capped Bust Half 50c 0-103 R-2(Prooflike gold surfaces)
Curl base pointed 2. ex. Jules Reiver. His original kraft envelope is included Wow! Fully prooflike gold surfaces under light tone. If you like prooflike coins you'll love this one."
I have one of his coins. It's an 1824 half dollar. I have recently begun to think about selling off all of my Capped Bust Halves and just keeping the best 1807-36. I have been collecting them for at least 48 years. There are two duplicates that I will not part with. One of them is the Reiver coin. He was a true American hero and because of that I cherish that coin. I had three uncles who took part in the invasion of Europe. One of them, died there. The anniversary of D Day is just around the corner. Give it some thought. Also, remember the Marines who went ashore at Iwo Jima. Special thoughts to the 4th. Division Company 220. All of those brave men that I knew as a boy, who were in the 4th. are gone now. But I will never forget them. One and all.
SEMPER FIDELIS