The total number of specimens in the I'nited 

 States Mint collection transferred to the Museum was 

 18,324. The unpacking of the collection started on 

 November 26, 1923, and the first case opened con- 

 tained, according to Mr. Belotc's report on file, 

 United States gold and silver coins of the late 19th 

 century. The unpacking and checking of all 23 cases 



was finished on January 21, 1924. 



In addition to the numismatic material, tlic .Mim 

 transferred all numismatic books which were seieeufl 

 by .\lr. Kelotc i'roni the s]5ecializcci librar\- al the 

 Philadelphia Mint on October 8, 1924. A total of 81) 

 publications were transferred to the Museum in 

 December 1924. 



Appendix IX 

 The Paul A. Stmub Collection 



The most important addition to the national 

 numismatic collections came during the period of 

 1923 to 1952 from Paul A. Straub of New York 

 (fig. 70). On May 13, 1949, Mr. Straub, accompanied 

 by his friend, Henry Grunthal, delivered to Stuart 

 Mosher, associate curator of the Division of Numis- 

 matics, and Charles Carey, acting head curator of 

 the Department of History, his magnificent collection 

 consisting of 1,793 gold and 3,855 silver coins. 



Paul A. Straub was born on March 19, 1865, in the 

 city of New York. He was associated with sev-eral 

 china and glass importing firms. From 1895 to 1915 

 he resided in Dresden, Sa.xony, as European repre- 

 sentative of one firm. Returned home, he established 

 in New York in 1915 the firm of Paul A. Straub & 

 Company, which became one of the leading importers 

 of china and glassware. 



When asked how he became a coin collector, he told 

 the following story:'"" 



I became interested in coins in \9'M) while in Dresden 

 on a business trip with some hiends. 



Coming from a display of relics of the Rctormation, 

 shown in connection with the celebration of the fourth 

 Centennial of the Augsburg Confession, we passed the 

 windows of a coin dealer who displayed a couple of lU- 

 ducat pieces of 1(330 commemorating the First Centennial. 



We stepped in to see whether he had any United Stales 

 sold dollars. He did, and my Iriends bought a few at 7 

 marks, or $1.75 each. On our way out, the dealer tried to 

 sell me the 10-ducat pieces. Quite surprised at his pro]X)si- 

 tion. I told him that I did not want them, and knew no 

 one who might care to have them. Then I lelt. but the 

 ducats had made an impression on me, lor after iuiuh I 

 confessed to my friends that I would like to go back to the 

 coin shop. We went — and I left with the It^-dueat jjieecs 

 in my pocket. I was a coin collector and have bi-en one 

 ever since. 



His collection increased rapidly. As early as June 12, 

 1939, Moritz Wormser, who had shown so much 



'"'Sec The Smithsonian Torch (Decembrr l'J.ib), p, 'I., abuut 

 Straub's visit to the museum in November lO.'jb. 



interest in the transfer of the United States Mint 

 collection to Washington, wrote to Theodore T. 

 Belote, curator of the Division of History, mentioning 

 Mr. Straub's desire to find a permanent JKime for 

 his collection at the Smithsonian. Woruiser wrote: 



This time I think I liavc- for you a ( ommunii .uion of 

 yieat interest to your.scll and to the .Smithsonian. 



,\ very tjood friend of mine has discussed with nic tin- 

 thou'^ht that he mii^ht wish to bequeath his coin collection 

 to the Smithsonian. This gentleman is a very line collector 

 and owns a really magnificent collection especially strong 

 in the foreign field. 1 have had the privilege of seeing some 

 of his collection, durins; a five hour visit, when I could see 

 only about half of what he had and he has a wonderhil 

 series, especialh' (Jermans and t^old coins. What I have 

 seen is really too vast to mention in detail; but just lo 

 mention one item, he has a com|)lete set of the (juinea 

 series, hum the V, Cuinea to the 5 Guinea pieces of every 

 British Ruler, from C;harles II to Queen Victoria, exceptins; 

 of course the excessively rare George III. That was just one 

 of the items that hits you in the eye when lookinsj over the 

 collection. While I made no detail appraisal of the collec- 

 tion, 1 should think it represents a money value of about 

 $2:"),(ll"l.l)(» to $30,000.00. 



.\s usual there is of course one string tied to his ideas ol 

 bequest: He has been down to the Smithsonian and he does 

 not like the way the collection then- is displ.nc-d; .uid he 

 waiUs some assurance and \mdersl.mdint; that his (olleelinn 

 would be displayed to bettei .idvanl.iKe, in some spe( i.il 

 arrangement of tiers, and perh.ips behind shatter prool 

 glass. 



.\s I had read th.U the ( ioveriunem was going in lor so 

 mneh W.P..\. work. 1 think th.U the building .uid installa- 

 lioii of such display facilities should be readiK undertaken 

 by the (iovernment. 



.'\t the present moinetU the geiuleman is le.ivmg on .m 

 extended vacation and \\ill not be back until e.irlv m 

 .\ugust. 



However, 1 watUed lo write \()u about this while my talk 

 with the collector is fresh in mv mind, and vou might write 

 to UK- at vour leisure your reaction to this ide.i. and give- 

 some thought how it could be work<-d out with your Museum. 



PAPER 31 : HISTORY OF THE N.XTIONAl. NUMlSM.VnC COLLECTIONS 



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