Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
Proof gold coins could be ordered individually, rather than in sets. According to mint figures, 236 $2.50 pieces, 167 $5 pieces, 116 $10 pieces, and 101 $20 pieces were produced with Proof finish. The number of collectors desiring Proof gold sets at the time has been estimated to be only five or 10 individuals. The rest of the coins went to institutions, collectors desiring a Proof specimen of one favorite denomination or another, to members of the public who desired souvenirs, or to storage. Proof gold coins from 1908 until 1915 were of a matte finish, variously described as "sandblast;' "satin;' and "Roman;' depending on the particular year and style. A number of different minor variations were made, none of which was popular with collectors, who preferred the "brilliant" or mirrorlike finish of earlier times. Today, students of the series believe that many, if not the majority, of Proof gold coins of the era were never sold and were subsequently melted.
Although the topic was discussed from time to time, and although the American Numismatic Association at one point named a committee to study the matter, there were no formal grading standards within the hobby. Each person had his own ideas, and commentaries of the time revealed that one person's "Uncirculated" might be another's "Extremely Fine?' Adjectival descriptions were used in print, with such terms as Fair, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, Uncirculated, and Proof being employed. Modifiers such as "nearly" and "about" were occasionally used. A curious practice at the time was to grade scarcer coins differently from common ones. Thus, a rare 1793 Wreath cent, which had it been a relatively common 1794 might have graded just Fine, might be described in a sales catalogue as "1793, Very Fine for the coin."
The lack of published standards was not a widespread concern, for most collectors were well-read, and before they made extensive purchases were apt to be acquainted with a given field of interest. Equally important, there were no great distinctions made concerning small grading differences, and many numismatists were simply satisified with a "nice" specimen of an early half dollar for example, and it did not matter whether a later generation would grade the piece as Extremely Fine, AU, or Uncirculated, or whatever.
The total number of collectors belonging the American Numismatic Association and the various other societies was probably in the range of about 1,000 individuals within the United States. In a New Year's message to his constituents, ANA President Farran Zerbe stated early in 1908: "My observations cause me to believe that there are at least 3,000 within our active territory that have some interest in numismatics; and I believe that a good portion of this number would become members of the Association if they could have its object and advantages presented to them. Our present membership is less than 500; my hopes are for a thousand strong by the close of 1908?'
Then, as in later years, the subject of politics was a hot topic within the ANA membership. In 1908 the proxy system was in effect. Each member received one proxy, enabling him to vote for various officers, policies, and other items. These proxies were transferrable, and those desiring office or seeking a particular advantage often solicited proxies from less active members. Thus, at an annual convention, which was apt to draw from 25 to 35 people, an attendee holding 100 proxies could virtually dictate what was being done, whereas the hapless member with only his own proxy in hand could accomplish very little. In later years, the proxy system was eliminated.
In 1908 the annual convention was held in Philadelphia, with Henry Chapman serving as host. "The average membership attendance at the different meetings and social events was about 30;' according to a report in The Numismatist, which went on to note that:
The opening social event of the convention was the reception at the home of Mr. Henry Chapman on Pine Street. The large parlor on the street floor and the spacious library on the second floor were thrown open to the members, who began to arrive about 8:00. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman received, and the gracious manner of Mrs. Chapman soon brought the unacquainted together, and the hub of conversation from all sides clearly demonstrated that fraternalism exists among collectors. About 9:00 a sumptuous collation of delicacies for which the Philadelphia market is so noted, was served in the dining room. As the members filed in, exclamations were heard on all sides at the beautiful appearance of the room and tables with a flow of decorations.
It was planned that S.H. Chapman Henry's brother, was to co-host the event, but he was detained overseas by illness and could not attend.
During the convention numerous topics were discussed, including "uniform classification of the condition of coins;' feelings concerning new coin designs, the lower than expected attendance (which was attributed to a discontinuation of the issuance of railroad passes), a dues increase for the ANA, and collecting topics. Lyman H. Low entertained convention goers with reminiscences of his many years in the field, and Captain John W. Haseltine, another old-timer, did likewise.
One evening Henry Chapman conducted an auction sale, at which 75 people attended, including numerous clients who were not ANA members. Prices realized included an 1879 Proof $4 Stella for $60; an 1841 half cent, original Proof $38; an 1848 half cent, original Proof $52.50; an 1849 half cent, original Proof $52.50; a complete Proof set of 1881 from the cent to the $20 for $96, and a set of 1882 for $105; an Uncirculated MCMVII $20 for $31; a 1796 half dollar with 15 obverse stars, Good grade, $61; a 1796 quarter dollar, Very Fine, $17.50; and a 1786 Immunis Columbia copper, Fine for $50. While the auction was going on, Henry Chapman's wife entertained the ANA ladies at the Park Theatre, where they saw The Virginian After the convention, a number of attendees journeyed to New York City where they took part in a banquet tendered at the Cafe Martin by Thomas L. Elder, an event which, according to reports, was "many times referred to as the largest and most notable numismatic gathering ever held?' Interestingly, Virgil M. Brand, who did not attend the ANA convention in Philadelphia, was present at Elder's banquet.
The intense pressure of business activities kept Albert Holden from participating in the American Numismatic Association in an active way, but had he seen fit to have attended its various meetings during the next several years, or to have attended in person the sales conducted by its dealer members, he would have found a closely-knit fraternity of individuals who greeted each other warmly, and who were very enthusiastic about what gradually became known as "the world's greatest hobby?' would be a boy, and decided to name him after his father; but nature intervened and a second daughter was born on November 30, 1896 in Salt Lake City. Frustrated in his desire for a son, Bert insisted on naming the baby Emery anyway, taking his father's middle name. His wife extracted from him the concession of a feminine middle name, and the child was called Emery May. A third daughter, Katherine Davis Holden, was born in Salt Lake City two years later. Bert never had a son to carry on his name.
Only six years after his marriage, Bert's wife Katherine died.
She had been recovering from an illness in Cleveland and was being looked after by a nurse. There seems to have been an accident involving the administration of her medication, and Katherine received a lethal overdose. Mother Mary Joseph related, from the same source mentioned earlier, the following story about her death:
They had just moved to Cleveland and were planning to build a house when your grandmother died. Your grand-father [Bert] was in the southern part of Utah. He was in the court room testifying in some important lawsuit when he was handed the telegram and was told that it had bad news from Cleveland. He said, "I do not wish to see it until I have finished this testimony; but have a special train ready for me to catch the evening express on the Union Pacific."