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NUMISMATIC PERSONALITIES

Collectors Who Served in the

The Civil War may have slowed the growth of the coin-collecting hobby,but it did not stop some determined numismatists from making their mark.

by Dav i d F. Fa n n i n g A N A 1 8 8 0 3 3

OIN COLLECTING in the UnitedStates was seriously threatenedalmost as soon as it began togrow in popularity. While greatstrides were made in the hobby

in the 1850s, political tension betweenthe states was building. Disputes re-garding federal power and states’rights became increasingly hostile,and the already-bitter social and eco-nomic conflicts over the issue of slav-ery intensified.

When the first shots were fired onApril 12, 1861, and the War Between

the States began, American societywas massively disrupted. People oneach side of the conflict enlisted by thethousands or joined voluntary serviceorganizations. Commerce was inter-rupted, and transportation routesblocked. Hobbies, by and large, wereput aside so essential needs could beaddressed. Numismatics was in dan-ger of dying in its infancy.

That coin collecting survived theCivil War and, in fact, thrived in thepostwar years is a testament to thetenacity and talent of Civil War-era

numismatists. Among those responsi-ble for the hobby’s revitalization weremen who had fought on the battle-fields. That a number of these pioneernumismatists repeatedly were citedfor bravery, rose rapidly through theranks and helped implement innova-tions in warfare should come as nosurprise. These same individuals latercreated a profession, a field of studyand a mode of relaxation out of whatinitially seemed only another two-bittrade in curiosities. Here are a few oftheir stories.

John Haseltine

John W. Haseltine (1838-1925) wasone of the most important coin dealersin Philadelphia from the 1870s to the1920s. He tried his hand at a numberof trades, including mining speculatorand shoe wholesaler. At the outbreak ofthe war, Haseltine quickly left New Or-leans and moved back to Pennsylvania,joining the Union forces on August 20,1861. An officer in the 2nd Pennsylva-nia Volunteers (Cavalry), he was pro-moted to captain in October 1863.

Haseltine was “a legitimate Civil Warhero,” according to numismatic histo-rian John Adams. The dashing officerhad three horses shot out from underhim. He fought at the second Battle ofManassas (Bull Run), Gaines’ Mills� The devastation of war kept the focus on survival, not hobbies.

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CIVIL WAR

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and Gettysburg. On August 16, 1864, atthe second Battle of Deep Bottom nearRichmond, Virginia, he was badlywounded and later discharged. How-ever, long after his military careerended, Haseltine continued to go by“Captain” and became a member ofthe second Philadelphia post of theGrand Army of the Republic (GAR),an organization of Union veterans.

In 1869 he began his numismatic ca-reer in partnership with fellow veteranEbenezer Locke Mason. Quickly goingsolo, he issued a variety of fixed-pricelists, some of which were so detailedthey’ve served as classic references.Haseltine cataloged nearly 90 auctions,including the Mickley collection oflarge cents, the Sylvester S. Crosby col-lection of colonial coins and the HaroldP. Newlin collection of half dimes. HisCatalogue of John W. Haseltine’s TypeTable of United States Dollars, HalfDollars and Quarters (1881) quickly became a standard.

Haseltine was remarkably talented atlocating rarities. He obtained the first

known specimen of a Confederate cent,as well as its dies (from which he maderestrikes), and he acquired the NovaConstellatio 500- and 1,000-milpieces. He also is credited with discov-ering the Chapman brothers—SamuelHudson and Henry—who worked forhim in 1876 and went on to becometwo of the most highly respected nu-mismatists in the country.

Édouard Frossard

Édouard Frossard (1837-99) immi-grated to the United States fromSwitzerland and taught modern languages in New York City. He en-listed in the Union Army as a privateon May 13, 1861, and was assigned tothe 31st New York Volunteers (In-fantry). His intelligence served himwell, and he was promoted severaltimes, ending up a captain. His braverywas cited in official records on morethan one occasion, beginning with thethe first major battle of the war—thefirst Battle of Manassas (Bull Run).

On May 7, 1862, Frossard’s regi-ment was attacked at West Point, Vir-ginia, and he was described in reportsas “badly wounded, whilst advancing

boldly upon the enemy.” He barelyhad time to recover before he was in-jured a second time on June 27, 1862,when his outnumbered regiment at-tacked Confederate forces at Gaines’Mills and suffered heavy losses.Frossard mustered out on June 4,1863, in New York.

The perseverance and ferocity thatmarked Frossard’s performance onthe battlefield carried over into hisnumismatic career. He first appearedon the numismatic scene in 1875 aseditor of J.W. Scott’s Coin Collector’sJournal. He soon left to publish hisown numismatic periodical, Nu-misma , which became one of thebest-known hobby publications in the19th century. Never one to hold back,Frossard supplemented the maga-zine’s articles with gossip about com-petitors, chatty reviews of auctions,and even the names and addresses ofpeople who owed him money.

On one occasion, he demonstratedthat he had not left his combative sideon the battlefield. During one ofFrossard’s auction sales, a competitorcalled him a liar. Frossard, who was57 at the time, physically attacked

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his accuser. Both men ended up onthe floor, as bidders tried to pull themapart. Frossard’s adversary in thisauction-room battle was a fellowUnion veteran named Lyman Low.

Frossard’s scholarly side surfaced ina monograph on U.S. cents and halfcents, and in an 1893 book (withWilliam Wallace Hayes) on 1794 centsthat served as the standard referenceon the subject until William H. Shel-don’s Penny Whimsy. Frossard con-ducted more than 160 auctions in thelittle over 20 years he was in businessand published a reference on Franco-American jetons shortly before his death.

Lyman Low

Born in Boston, Lyman H. Low(1844-1924) likely lied about his agewhen he enlisted in the Union Armyas a private in 1861. Low became amember of the 13th MassachusettsVolunteers (Infantry), which foughtwith the Army of the Potomac at thesecond Battle of Bull Run, as well asAntietam, Fredericksburg, Chancel-lorsville and Gettysburg.

For part of his military career, Low

worked as a clerk at Point Lookout,the largest Union prison camp. Hethen served with the quartermaster ata convalescent camp and hospital. Hewas mustered out in August 1864.

Though interested in coin collectingsince a few years prior to the war, Lowdid not become a dealer until 1881. Hejoined the staff of the Scott Stamp andCoin Company, where he worked until1896. A prodigious cataloger, he con-ducted about 200 auction sales underhis own name, in addition to those hedid for Scott. He served as co-editor ofthe American Journal of Numismaticsfrom 1891 to 1907 and as the AmericanNumismatic Society’s (ANS) librarianfor many years. He is perhaps bestknown for his book Hard TimesTokens, first published in 1885.

Ebenezer Locke Mason

Ebenezer Locke Mason (1826-1901)became interested in the coin businessaround 1856. At first, coins were a side-line while he pursued a career as atraveling showman. By 1860, however,Mason had given up the “circuit” andestablished a coin shop in Philadel-phia. When war broke out one yearlater, he closed the shop and enlisted inthe Union Army.

Mason had what was certainly the

most interesting Civil War occupationof any of his numismatic colleagues.He was chosen to be an “aeronaut,” asoldier who ascended in a hot-air bal-loon for reconnaissance on enemytroops. At the time, using balloons forsurveillance was a new and fairly radi-cal military tactic.

Mason served under the tutelage ofThaddeus Lowe, who had been ap-pointed the Union’s chief aeronaut byPresident Lincoln. Balloons were obvi-ous targets, however, and though mostweapons of the day were unable toreach the innovative craft, GeneralUlysses S. Grant eventually decidedthat the difficulty of maintaining theBalloon Corps outweighed its advan-tages. Mason resumed civilian lifeshortly thereafter.

The initial issue of Mason’s Coin andStamp Collectors’ Magazine appearedin April 1867. This first numismaticmagazine was a success, with six vol-umes published. Mason also produced17 sales catalogs from 1868 to 1872. Un-fortunately, the Panic of 1873 put himout of business for several years. Heconducted two auctions in 1880, butdid not resume regularly scheduledsales until 1886. Mason’s career was un-even, and his publications occasionallydisappeared, only to reappear under adifferent name a few years later. Hismagazines are both informative andthoroughly entertaining, often rivalingFrossard’s Numisma for biting sarcasmand quick wit. Mason held his last auc-tion in June 1890, and the final issue ofMason’s Monthly Coin Collectors’ Mag-azine and Coin Prices Current wasdated March 1891.

Joseph N.T. Levick

J.N.T. Levick (1828-1908) begancollecting coins early on, probably in1852. He was active in numismaticcircles before the Civil War, havingconsigned coins to an Edward Coganauction as early as 1859.

Ebenezer Locke Mason (1826-1901) became interested in the coin business around 1856.

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In 1861 he enlisted in the UnionArmy, where he soon became an in-fantry officer with the 70th New YorkVolunteers, eventually attaining therank of captain. Levick was a friend ofMason, with whom he had been ac-quainted as early as 1855. In the Sep-tember 1882 issue of Mason’s CoinCollectors’ Magazine, the publisherrecalled meeting up with Levick whileMason was serving as an aeronaut inVirginia. Mason wrote:

While up in the balloon about 150feet high . . . through the long rows ofsoldiers attracted by the unusualspectacle, [Mason’s] attention was at-tracted to an officer in a bright blueuniform and silk sash, waving hissword and crying at the top of hisvoice: “Hello! Is that Ned Mason upthere?” By the use of a field glass wediscovered our coin collecting friend,whose appearance had changed con-siderably, and whose title was Lieut.

Levick, of Sickle’s Brigade, New York.The next salutation was, “Have yougot any coins?” We replied: “Come upto our balloon camp, front of York-town, and see.” The next morning,bright and early, the orderly an-nounced “Lieut. Levick wishes to see Capt. Mason,” and our curiositytent was honored by a visit from ourold chum.

What a luxury it must have seemed totake time from the ugliness of war todiscuss the pleasures of numismaticswith a friend! Indeed, Mason notesthat Levick stayed “far beyond hislimit of absence.”

After Levick’s military serviceended in 1863, he became heavily in-volved with the ANS, doing muchwork to encourage the establishmentof the American Journal of Numis-matics, which successfully debuted inMay 1866. He is remembered for thestunning photographic plate he pre-

pared for the April 1869 issue. The firstattempt to delineate U.S. Mint die vari-eties, it consisted of an actual photo-graphic emulsion mounted on a page.

Levick was an active participant innumismatic circles. He served as ANStreasurer from 1867 to 1874 andhelped found the New York Numis-matic Society.

George Massamore

Baltimore coin dealer George Mas-samore (1845-98) is the most mysteri-ous of the Civil War-era numismatistsdiscussed in this article. He was theonly one who fought for the Confed-eracy, signing up at the age of 16 andremaining for the duration. Mas-samore served under Lieutenant Gen-eral Richard Ewell, who commandedStonewall Jackson’s 2nd Corps. Ewellis perhaps best known for havingfailed to press a vital advantage at thebattle of Gettysburg, something themen who served under him probablywere not quick to forget.

While Massamore does not refer tohis war experiences in his numismaticpublications, his expertise in Confeder-ate currency and abiding interest inthe numismatic by-products of theconflict suggest that these memoriesremained with him throughout his life.

Like most numismatists of the time,Massamore started out in another

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� Ebenezer Locke Mason served underProfessor Thaddeus Lowe in the Bal-loon Corps (left).

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field. He graduated from the Balti-more College of Dental Surgery in1868 and pursued this profession formost of his life.

He appeared on the numismaticscene when he launched what heclaimed to be Baltimore’s first public coin sale, held December 1,1880, and consisting of duplicatesfrom his own collection. Massamorecataloged 46 sales (some entirely phil-atelic) and published a book on Con-federate currency in 1889. His auctioncatalogues were modest affairs, andthough they demonstrated his knowl-edge of certain areas of collecting, theyalso inadvertently showed his relativeignorance of others. They were notaugmented with photos or other illus-trations, and consequently have lim-ited value as reference guides. Thelast Massamore sale was conductedon June 23, 1897.

Richard Davids, Mark Collet

& William Bramhall

More than 600,000 soldiers per-ished during America’s Civil War, andan even larger number were badlywounded. Sadly, among these casual-ties were a few who showed realpromise in numismatics. Perhaps themost prominent numismatist to fallin battle was Richard Wistar Davids,known primarily for having edited theCatalogue of the Coins and Medals,Ancient and Modern, New York StateLibrary, published in 1853. Davidsenlisted as a first lieutenant with the118th Pennsylvania Volunteers (In-fantry) on August 23, 1862, and was

promoted to captain on January 12,1863. He was killed on July 2, 1863,the second day of the Battle of Gettys-burg, the turning point of the war. He was 37.

Two months before, Philadelphiaphysician Mark Wilkes Collet waskilled at the Battle of Chancellorsville.Collet was a token collector and afounder of the Philadelphia Numis-matic Society. With J. Ledyard Hodgeand Alfred B. Taylor, he issued a Cata-logue of American Store Cards, Etc. in1858, one of the first publications onthe subject. Enlisting as a major inthe 3rd New Jersey Volunteers (In-fantry) in May 1861, Collet ultimatelywas promoted to colonel in the 1stNew Jersey Infantry. His death onMay 3, 1863, took a numismatist ofconsiderable intelligence.

A number of numismatists who

fought in the war were seriouslywounded. William Leggett Bramhall, acollector from New York who served asthe second curator of the ANS, re-ceived a severe head wound at the Bat-tle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864,and never fully recovered. An infantrycaptain in the 93rd New York Volun-teers, he was given a disability dis-charge in November 1864.

Bramhall’s collection of U.S. andforeign coins, medals and tokens wassold by Bangs, Merwin and Companyin 1859. A number of the tokens hedesigned and struck remain availableto collectors today.

Conclusion

While these men were not the onlynumismatists to fight in the Civil War,they were among those who had thegreatest influence on the developmentof the hobby. Others—including Au-gustus B. Sage, Benjamin Collins, A.M.Smith, Thomas Stephens Collier andE.J. Cleveland—also played part in thehistorical events of our nation and ourhobby. Numismatics has been calledthe “Hobby of Kings.” When dutycalled, these men did not hide behindthe trappings of wealth and privilegebut, instead, volunteered for activeservice. Their contributions to numis-matics are remembered by some, buttheir willingness to fight for theirideals should be remembered by all. O

Learn More . . .

Adams, John W. United States Nu-mismatic Literature, Volume 1: Nine-teenth Century Auction Catalogs. Mis-sion Viejo, CA: Kolbe, 1982.

Bowers, Q. David. American Nu-mismatics before the Civil War, 1760-1860: Emphasizing the Story of Au-gustus B. Sage . Wolfeboro, NH:Bowers and Merena Galleries, 1998.

Scott, Bvt. Lieut. Col. Robert N. TheWar of the Rebellion: A Compilationof the Official Records of the Unionand Confederate Armies Prepared un-der the Direction of the Secretary ofWar. Washington, DC: 1880.

Smith, Pete. American NumismaticBiographies . Rocky River, OH:Money Tree, 1992.

� More than600,000 soldiers

died during the CivilWar, and even more

were wounded.(View of interior of a

Union hospital.)

� Richard Wistar Davids

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