Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
C.J. Edgar
In the 1950s, CJ, Edgar, located at 18 Twain Street, Baldwin, New York, offered for sale numismatic books, including many unsold remainders obtained from John J. Ford, Jr. and Wayte Raymond. Scattered invoices and notes, not reproduced here, show that various books, primarily pertaining to world coinage, were acquired by the Norwebs from this source during the time indicated.
Federal Coin Exchange
Operated by Michael Kolman, Jr., the Federal Coin Exchange did business at 5940 Pearl Road, Cleveland, Ohio, with a new branch (opened in 1958) at 37 The Arcade, 401 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. Surviving correspondence from the era pertains primarily to auction purchases.
The following letter may indicate that a number of unsold lots, or lots that were not bid on, were offered after the ANA Convention sale to R. Henry Norweb, on an approval basis.
August 21, 1954
Dear Mr. Norweb:
As part of our telephone conversation, we are forwarding to you on approval the following lots from our American Numismatic Association Auction. [Then follows an invoice for Lots 51, 63, 70, 3876, 3877, 3921, 3925, 3926, and 3927, totaling $318.25]:
Please feel free to return all or part, I just wanted to let you see a few lots that might be of interest. If possible, I wish you would consider Lot 3876, the Fugio cent. This coin has a pedigree coming from the Hines Collection. Lot 3877 is a very choice specimen of the Washington cent. I truly wish I could relist these two coins as there would have been a great demand for them, but they were lost in the size of the sale.
Cordially,
Michael Kolman, Jr.
Around this time, the United States government decided to put a Nike missile base adjacent to the Norweb home on the shore of Lake Erie, in Bratenahl, a suburb of Cleveland. The situation is mentioned, as is a problem coin, in the following exchange of correspondence:
August 23, 1955 Dear Mike:
I had expected to see you at the Omaha Convention [of the American Numismatic Association) but sudden developments in the Nike site situation next door to us make it urgent to go to Washington instead.
One of the matters on my mind has to do with the 1791 Washington Liverpool halfpenny-Lot 3877 in your Cleveland Convention Sale. When having this piece photographed it appeared on closer examination to be considerably different from the other specimens. It was therefore submitted for expert opinion, and the concensus is that this piece is an electrotype. It is probably the same piece that was sold to Mr. Rice about 1950 or 1951.
Since this lot sold for $90 I am sure you will want to know about this and do whatever is indicated to remedy the error. I am holding the coin at my office pending your return.
Very truly yours,
R. Henry Norweb
September 2, 1955
Dear Mr. Norweb:
Mike just came back from Omaha for a few days and is now en route to Canada by way of Rochester.
He asked me to write you and inform you that if you feel this coin is an electrotype, you may feel free to return it for a full refund. We will have this checked further. At present it is hard to say, but any coin we are ever in doubt about we have thoroughly checked. Regarding the opinion that this is the same piece that was sold to Mr. Rice about 1950 or 1951, this we know is not so, as this collection of coins we had in the sale came from a party who passed away prior to the above dates, and was a very old time collector (for 20 or 30 years) specializing in colonials.
When Mike returns, he will either pick up the coins, or perhaps it would be better if you would return the coin via registered insured mail with return receipt requested. This will definitely reach us in good hands, and we'll make the necessary refund and give you our second opinion on it.
Warmest regards,
Edna Kolman
A typed, reproduced list of coins dated June 11, 1958, sent to the Norwebs, contained the following notice about grading: From this instant and from now on Federal Coin Exchange, Inc. will discontinue the use of the superfluous term ''About Uncirculated" or "practically Uncirculated." We will use Extremely Fine Choice which means virtually an Uncirculated coin. Extremely Fine will show only a faint trace of wear and may not have the original lustre.
A later letter deals with double eagles:
September 26, 1958 Dear Mr. Norweb:
Thank you for your request for the $20 gold pieces, but checking through my stock, I must have sold all of the 1879 dates I had.
Regarding the 1875, this was a stenographic error and should have been 1875-CC. I can furnish the Carson City mints if interested ....
Cordially,
Michael Kolman, Jr.
A.J. Fink
During the time indicated, A.J. Fink, who often signed his correspondence simply as "Fink", did business from Box 114, Dayton, Ohio, by the medium of mimeographed bulletins offering "bargains galore: Fink's main trade was fireworks, with coins being a sideline. Buyers often found the grade of the coins to be somewhat less than expected. Correspondence from the Norweb files reveal that a number of pieces were ordered from A.]. Fink during the 1950s, but nearly all were returned.
September 10, 1953
Dear Sir:
Enclosed find $20 1881-S Uncirculated $50; $5 1873 Uncirculated $20.
I'm going to get in bad with one of my high-up customers. I quoted him the $1 1850 Proof along with some other coins, and today got a check for $100 for it and another lot. Forgot all about it.
Fink
September 14, 1953
Dear Mr. Fink:
From your last list we would like to see the 1793 half cent in Uncirculated Gem condition [offered for $145), if-you can send it on approval.
Yours very truly,
Hon. R. Henry Norweb
September 9, 1953
Dear Sir:
Enclosed find two 1793 Uncirculated half cents. You and the Mrs. may decide to want them both, so you are getting a bargain. 1793 half cent Uncirculated $150 [$5 more than in his list) and 1793 half cent Uncirculated $125, total $275, the pair for only $265.
Yours truly,
A.J. Fink
September 12, 1953
Dear Mr. Fink:
Unfortunately I have to return both of the 1793 half cents which you submitted for our approval. We already have the Gilbert-S in the collection in Extremely Fine condition. The 0-1 is being returned since it does not appear to us to be strictly Uncirculated. Certainly the heavy gouge on the cheek does not add to its beauty.
Yours very truly,
Hon. R. Henry Norweb