Obviously someone living on the leading edge of technology. Even has a touchtone telephone, those really didn't get common until the late 70s and early 80s.
I guess to be honest, businesses did adopt them in the early 70s so maybe this was taken at work.
Barry says I should guess Taxay. I guess he fell off the face of the numismatic world later than?
Yes. Taken in his office at First Coinvestors.
Denga >>
OK... please educate those who have no idea who this person is... what did he do that should make his name stand out?
Not asked toungue in cheek... I would really like to know...
Re: Slabbed coins - There are some coins that LIVE within clear plastic and wear their labels with pride... while there are others that HIDE behind scratched plastic and are simply dragged along by a label. Then there are those coins that simply hang out, naked and free
<< <i>Aegis3 August 08, 2010 Barry says I should guess Taxay. I guess he fell off the face of the numismatic world later than?
Yes. Taken in his office at First Coinvestors. Denga >>
OK... please educate those who have no idea who this person is... what did he do that should make his name stand out? Not asked toungue in cheek... I would really like to know... >>
Author of several outstanding references, including The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Considered one of the best researchers in numismatics. He vanished some years ago and his present whereabouts are unknown.
Sorta funny to me. As a product of a hippee mom in California in the 60's and 70's we were "Krishna" peeps for a couple years. Fast forward...we inherited three boxes of Rajneesh books. A slick con man by every right. Interesting.
The picture of Taxay at FCI is somewhat of a numismatic rarity. Taxay was only there for 6 monyths before he quit suddenly.
In November 1975, Stanley Apfelbaum, president and owner of FCI wrote in the FCI publication Rare Coin Advisory, p.18,
"When Don Taxay joined our firm just six months ago a long association was planned, the Colonial Coin Collectors Society was already begun, perfect, it seemed, for Don to step in and take the chief operative's job...Taxay had spent some months with the Harry Forman Company in Philadelphia prior to coming to FCI. Before that he had spent time in the Harmer, Rooke Company in New York City, and before that he had spent some time with two other firms, both located in the New York area. Don Taxay has a fine mind but his heart was never with his customers, nor the company. His resignation did not come as a surprise. His advertisements in the trade journals did come as a surprise. His "cheap shots" at FCI were undeserved and the telephone calls received by various members of our firm from various customers confirmed the fact that Taxay has only cheapened himself. Whatever integrity Taxay had built through the channels of advertising and public relations when with F.C.I., this has been damamged horribly by his blatant ego trip combined with his cheap commercialism."
PM me if you are looking for U.S. auction catalogs
<< <i>The picture of Taxay at FCI is somewhat of a numismatic rarity. Taxay was only there for 6 monyths before he quit suddenly.
In November 1975, Stanley Apfelbaum, president and owner of FCI wrote in the FCI publication Rare Coin Advisory, p.18,
"When Don Taxay joined our firm just six months ago a long association was planned, the Colonial Coin Collectors Society was already begun, perfect, it seemed, for Don to step in and take the chief operative's job...Taxay had spent some months with the Harry Forman Company in Philadelphia prior to coming to FCI. Before that he had spent time in the Harmer, Rooke Company in New York City, and before that he had spent some time with two other firms, both located in the New York area. Don Taxay has a fine mind but his heart was never with his customers, nor the company. His resignation did not come as a surprise. His advertisements in the trade journals did come as a surprise. His "cheap shots" at FCI were undeserved and the telephone calls received by various members of our firm from various customers confirmed the fact that Taxay has only cheapened himself. Whatever integrity Taxay had built through the channels of advertising and public relations when with F.C.I., this has been damamged horribly by his blatant ego trip combined with his cheap commercialism." >>
.....and the horse he rode in on!!!
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.
I have read this name often in numismatic circles/research but never knew the extent of what could happen to an individual who radically changes tacks. An amazing story . .
After Mr. Taxay left FCI, how much longer was it until he left for parts unknown? I ask because I remember how good (for the period) his books were and because his story is an interesting one.
I wrote what was confirmable about Taxay in the thread originally posted in the E-Sylum.
It was approximately a year later (fall/winter 1976) that he apparently went to Florida for a brief time and then headed back to Poona.
My library has an inscribed copy (to collector, Price Headley) of one of Taxay's books, which is dated 1980 (very surprising), which is the last recorded "anything" regarding the man.
To clarify - Taxay's 1971 "Scott's Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins" book had the inscription done on 5-30-1980.
PM me if you are looking for U.S. auction catalogs
It's not considered nice to speak poorly of the dead, but I'll do it anyway. If I had been Don Taxay I would have not have a taken a job with FCI in the first place. I never cared for their business model and would buy nothing from them but books. The way FCI did business was one of the reasons why third party grading came on the market.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
When I saw Don at FirstCoinvestors it was clear that he was not entirely a happy camper at that firm although there were no direct criticisms. There were special phones set up so that high-rolling clients could call him directly about this or that matter and I gathered that Don was not especially thrilled with this aspect; some of the callers were apparently a pain to deal with. In my dealings with him he was a stickler for accuracy and integrity and perhaps something happened to cause him to leave that firm; it appears not to have been an amiable separation.
Always took candy from strangers Didn't wanna get me no trade Never want to be like papa Working for the boss every night and day --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Comments
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af43/RWJulian/DPT.jpg
RWJ?
No.
<< <i>DoubleEagle59 August 08, 2010
RWJ?
No. >>
Rats!
I thought I was being a smart a** by reading the file line.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Ed. S.
(EJS)
<< <i>
Taken in 1975. >>
Obviously someone living on the leading edge of technology. Even has a touchtone telephone, those really didn't get common until the late 70s and early 80s.
I guess to be honest, businesses did adopt them in the early 70s so maybe this was taken at work.
Barry says I should guess Taxay. I guess he fell off the face of the numismatic world later than?
Yes. Taken in his office at First Coinvestors.
Denga
<< <i>Aegis3 August 08, 2010
Barry says I should guess Taxay. I guess he fell off the face of the numismatic world later than?
Yes. Taken in his office at First Coinvestors.
Denga >>
OK... please educate those who have no idea who this person is... what did he do that should make his name stand out?
Not asked toungue in cheek... I would really like to know...
<< <i>
<< <i>Aegis3 August 08, 2010
Barry says I should guess Taxay. I guess he fell off the face of the numismatic world later than?
Yes. Taken in his office at First Coinvestors.
Denga >>
OK... please educate those who have no idea who this person is... what did he do that should make his name stand out?
Not asked toungue in cheek... I would really like to know... >>
Author of several outstanding references, including The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Considered one of the best researchers
in numismatics. He vanished some years ago and his present whereabouts are unknown.
Denga
Mark
Discover all unpredictable errors before they occur.
roadrunner
Hmmm... no, not quite.
Anyway, thanks for the link to the story, Hotfootspin.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
In November 1975, Stanley Apfelbaum, president and owner of FCI wrote in the FCI publication Rare Coin Advisory, p.18,
"When Don Taxay joined our firm just six months ago a long association was planned, the Colonial Coin Collectors Society was already begun, perfect, it seemed, for Don to step in and take the chief operative's job...Taxay had spent some months with the Harry Forman Company in Philadelphia prior to coming to FCI. Before that he had spent time in the Harmer, Rooke Company in New York City, and before that he had spent some time with two other firms, both located in the New York area. Don Taxay has a fine mind but his heart was never with his customers, nor the company. His resignation did not come as a surprise. His advertisements in the trade journals did come as a surprise. His "cheap shots" at FCI were undeserved and the telephone calls received by various members of our firm from various customers confirmed the fact that Taxay has only cheapened himself. Whatever integrity Taxay had built through the channels of advertising and public relations when with F.C.I., this has been damamged horribly by his blatant ego trip combined with his cheap commercialism."
<< <i>The picture of Taxay at FCI is somewhat of a numismatic rarity. Taxay was only there for 6 monyths before he quit suddenly.
In November 1975, Stanley Apfelbaum, president and owner of FCI wrote in the FCI publication Rare Coin Advisory, p.18,
"When Don Taxay joined our firm just six months ago a long association was planned, the Colonial Coin Collectors Society was already begun, perfect, it seemed, for Don to step in and take the chief operative's job...Taxay had spent some months with the Harry Forman Company in Philadelphia prior to coming to FCI. Before that he had spent time in the Harmer, Rooke Company in New York City, and before that he had spent some time with two other firms, both located in the New York area. Don Taxay has a fine mind but his heart was never with his customers, nor the company. His resignation did not come as a surprise. His advertisements in the trade journals did come as a surprise. His "cheap shots" at FCI were undeserved and the telephone calls received by various members of our firm from various customers confirmed the fact that Taxay has only cheapened himself. Whatever integrity Taxay had built through the channels of advertising and public relations when with F.C.I., this has been damamged horribly by his blatant ego trip combined with his cheap commercialism." >>
.....and the horse he rode in on!!!
I have read this name often in numismatic circles/research but never knew the extent of what could happen to an individual who radically changes tacks. An amazing story . .
Thanks . .
Drunner
After Mr. Taxay left FCI, how much longer was it until he left for parts unknown? I ask because I remember how good (for the period) his books were and because his story is an interesting one.
Thanks.
Mark
It was approximately a year later (fall/winter 1976) that he apparently went to Florida for a brief time and then headed back to Poona.
My library has an inscribed copy (to collector, Price Headley) of one of Taxay's books, which is dated 1980 (very surprising), which is the last recorded "anything" regarding the man.
To clarify - Taxay's 1971 "Scott's Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins" book had the inscription done on 5-30-1980.
there were no direct criticisms. There were special phones set up so that high-rolling clients could call him
directly about this or that matter and I gathered that Don was not especially thrilled with this aspect; some of
the callers were apparently a pain to deal with. In my dealings with him he was a stickler for accuracy and
integrity and perhaps something happened to cause him to leave that firm; it appears not to have been an
amiable separation.
Denga
I knew it would happen.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
<< <i>Sometimes the coin personalities are more interesting than the coins. >>
Funny, but true.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)