Louis Eliasberg
Encyclopedia
Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. was an American financier
and numismatist
. He is best known in the numismatic community for putting together the only complete collection of United States
coins ever assembled. Although the set was not truly "complete" by modern standards (for instance, it did not differentiate between proofs
and circulation strikes, as most modern collectors and set registries do), it is still the most comprehensive U.S. numismatic collection of all time.
On November 7, 1950, Mr. Eliasberg completed a coin collection containing a specimen of every United States coin of every date, metal, denomination, and mint mark
ever struck which were known as of that date.
The Eliasberg collection did not distinguish between proofs and circulating strikes and die variations were not emphasized. There were no exceptions unless one considers the 1849 Double Eagle
a coin. This is generally categorized as a pattern coin
and only two were made: one is on display at the Smithsonian Institution
and the other was given to then Treasury Secretary William M. Meredith
but its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. No one had ever accomplished this coin collecting feat before, and probably no one will ever accomplish it again. There were one or two coins unknown at the time of completion of his collection that were later discovered.
Some of the highlights of the Eliasberg collection include a 1913 Liberty Head nickel
known as the "Eliasberg Specimen". The coin was later auctioned and bought by Ed Lee for US$3 million on July 31, 2003. Another is the 1873-CC no-arrows Liberty Seated
dime. This coin is also notable for being the last coin needed to complete the Eliasberg collection.
He possessed at one time a 1933 $20 gold coin
(one of twenty-five owned by collectors, including King Farouk of Egypt
). Upon learning that the government believed the coins had not been legally issued by the mint and was recalling them, Mr. Eliasberg voluntarily returned his coin to the government in 1952 without compensation. The status of coins of this date and denomination is now in litigation (Mrs. Joan Langbord vs. the United States in U.S. District Court, Eastern Pennsylvania).
Mr. Eliasberg was presented with a special trophy by Numismatic Gallery Magazine in recognition of his unique achievement.
He later divided his collection between his two children.
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
and numismatist
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
. He is best known in the numismatic community for putting together the only complete collection of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
coins ever assembled. Although the set was not truly "complete" by modern standards (for instance, it did not differentiate between proofs
Proof coinage
Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them....
and circulation strikes, as most modern collectors and set registries do), it is still the most comprehensive U.S. numismatic collection of all time.
On November 7, 1950, Mr. Eliasberg completed a coin collection containing a specimen of every United States coin of every date, metal, denomination, and mint mark
Mint mark
A mint mark is an inscription on a coin indicating the mint where the coin was produced.-History:Mint marks were first developed to locate a problem. If a coin was underweight, or overweight, the mint mark would immediately tell where the coin was minted, and the problem could be located and fixed...
ever struck which were known as of that date.
The Eliasberg collection did not distinguish between proofs and circulating strikes and die variations were not emphasized. There were no exceptions unless one considers the 1849 Double Eagle
Double Eagle
A Double Eagle is a gold coin of the United States with a denomination of $20. . The coins are made from a 90% gold and 10% copper alloy....
a coin. This is generally categorized as a pattern coin
Pattern coin
A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strikes, to proof standard or piedforts...
and only two were made: one is on display at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
and the other was given to then Treasury Secretary William M. Meredith
William M. Meredith
William Morris Meredith was an American lawyer and politician.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1812...
but its subsequent whereabouts are unknown. No one had ever accomplished this coin collecting feat before, and probably no one will ever accomplish it again. There were one or two coins unknown at the time of completion of his collection that were later discovered.
Some of the highlights of the Eliasberg collection include a 1913 Liberty Head nickel
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is an American five-cent piece which was produced in extremely limited quantities without the authority of the United States Mint, making it one of the best-known and most coveted rarities in American numismatics...
known as the "Eliasberg Specimen". The coin was later auctioned and bought by Ed Lee for US$3 million on July 31, 2003. Another is the 1873-CC no-arrows Liberty Seated
United States Seated Liberty coinage
The Seated Liberty designs appeared on most regular-issue silver United States coinage during the mid- and late-nineteenth century, from 1836 through 1891. The denominations which featured the Seated Liberty design included the half dime, the dime, the quarter, the half dollar, and until 1873 the...
dime. This coin is also notable for being the last coin needed to complete the Eliasberg collection.
He possessed at one time a 1933 $20 gold coin
1933 Double Eagle
The 1933 double eagle currently holds the record for the highest price paid at auction for a single U.S. coin when it was purchased for US$7.59 million...
(one of twenty-five owned by collectors, including King Farouk of Egypt
Farouk of Egypt
Farouk I of Egypt , was the tenth ruler from the Muhammad Ali Dynasty and the penultimate King of Egypt and Sudan, succeeding his father, Fuad I, in 1936....
). Upon learning that the government believed the coins had not been legally issued by the mint and was recalling them, Mr. Eliasberg voluntarily returned his coin to the government in 1952 without compensation. The status of coins of this date and denomination is now in litigation (Mrs. Joan Langbord vs. the United States in U.S. District Court, Eastern Pennsylvania).
Mr. Eliasberg was presented with a special trophy by Numismatic Gallery Magazine in recognition of his unique achievement.
He later divided his collection between his two children.