It’s easy to see how the history and provenance of any one rare coin can become a passion for any coin collector, but what makes a coin collection or its collector particularly famous? The reasons vary. Some collectors, like Wayne Gretzsky, are otherwise-famous people who have also become known as coin collectors. In other circumstances, a high-quality collection becomes famous because it is publicly accessible, such as the Smithsonian collection or the U.S. Mint collection.
Any discussion of the most famous private collections of U.S. coins in history, however, would undoubtedly include these six:
1. The Louis Eliasberg Collection
Often hailed as the “King of U.S. Coin Collections,” The Eliasberg Collection is the only complete collection of every known date and mintmark of U.S. coins. Assembled in the mid-20th century, this unparalleled collection included rarities like the 1804 Draped Bust Dollar and the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel. When it was sold in the 1980s and 1990s, the Eliasberg Collection set records that still stand today and remains a benchmark for numismatic excellence.
Louis E. Eliasberg, a Baltimore financier, worked toward this goal throughout his lifetime, and achieved it in 1950 when he purchased the last U.S. gold coin and silver dime needed for his collection.
2. The Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection
Harry W. Bass Jr.’s passion for gold coins led him to build one of the most extensive collections of U.S. gold coins ever assembled, including proofs, patterns, and die varieties. Notable highlights include an array of early gold coins and unique patterns that reveal the artistry of the U.S. Mint. Portions of the Bass Collection have been displayed at the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum in Colorado Springs, delighting generations of collectors.
3. The King Farouk I of Egypt Collection
King Farouk I of Egypt, who ruled Egypt from 1936 until his overthrow in 1952, famously used the Egyptian treasury to acquire rare works of art, gold, and an amazing coin collection, which was auctioned by Sotheby’s after his overthrow. When the collection was completed, it included 8,500 gold coins, including the only known complete set of Saint Gaudens $20 Double Eagle coins. Among these coins was a 1933 Double Eagle that was considered illegal for U.S. citizens to own. That particular coin, which became known as the Farouk-Fenton Specimen, sold for $7.59 million in 2002, the highest price paid for any coin at that point.
4. The John J. Ford Collection
John J. Ford started his coin career as a delivery boy for coin dealer Harvey Stack, and ended it in 2005 as one of the most famous collectors of U.S. coins, as well as an author of authoritative catalogs that included detailed descriptions of grades, colors, and details of rare coins. Ford’s collection included colonial coins and currency from all 13 colonies, rare confederate pennies, and unique tokens from the earliest days of colonial North America. Ford’s meticulously researched catalogs contributed to the value of his collection when it was auctioned in a series of 23 auctions from 2003 to 2013, generating a total of almost $60 million.
5. The Newman Collection
Any list of famous coin collections would be incomplete without mentioning Eric Newman, who began collecting in 1918 and collected for nearly a century. Newman is the only collector known to have owned all five 1913 Liberty Head nickels. He sold his collection in 2013 in a series of auctions that illustrated the breadth and rarity of his interest – early American coins, world coins, coins that had been off the market for at least 50 years, and U.S. pattern pieces. Some of Newman’s collection is still on display through The Newman Money Museum at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis.
6. The Garrett Collection
The Garrett family of Baltimore amassed one of the most famous collections of U.S. coins, starting in the 1860s with brothers T. Harrison and John Work Garrett. Highlights included the 1787 Brasher Doubloon and an 1804 Silver Dollar. Later John Garrett became a prominent contributor to the American Numismatic Society, and the family’s coin collection was eventually gifted to Princeton University. By the time Princeton liquidated the collection at auction in the 1970s and 1980s, it had become so famous that three books were produced, including Q. David Bowers’ A History of United States Coinage as Illustrated by the Garrett Collection.
Learning from the Greats
These world-famous U.S. coin collections stand as testaments to passion, dedication, and the enduring value of numismatics. By studying these collections, modern collectors gain insight into rarity, provenance, and the historical importance of U.S. coinage. Each of these collections achieved renown during the lifetime of its collector, and each of us can certainly enjoy our hobby as much as these collectors did during their lifetimes!
At Grand Rapids Coins, we’re here to help you build your own collection with integrity and expertise. Contact us today to learn how we can help you find your next treasure.
