REMEMBERING ROBERT LLOYD
The E-Sylum (12/26/2021)
Book Content
REMEMBERING ROBERT LLOYD
Bill Groom writes:
"I just spotted the E-Sylum piece on Mr. Lloyd. Some years ago now, I wrote an article for the Buffalo Numismatic Association about meeting him. Impressed with his persona, his gracious and generous demeanor, I was truly humbled in his presence."
Thank you! Here's the article. -Editor
by Bill Groom
Some sixty years ago, I acquired a few old coins and, curious kid that I was, I made a visitto my local library to see what I could learn about them. Little did I suspect that eventwould lead to a now lifelong journey in the pursuit of learning about things numismatic.Along the way, I discovered early tokens, principally those that circulated during the CivilWar. These tokens spoke to me of times past, arousing my curiosity about the merchantswho issued them and what life was like for folks living back then.
I recently happened to acquire the below token. Dated 1932, it's not a Civil War token. Itwas issued during the Great Depression. It's the personal token of Robert HepworthLloyd, numismatist, from North Tonawanda, NY. Mr. Lloyd evidently belonged to asurprising number of numismatic organizations in his earlier years of collecting!
At one time Robert Hepworth Lloyd was the oldest ANA member, the one with the longestmembership, or both. He lived from May 18, 1906, to October 10, 2009, passing at age 103.
Mr. Lloyd was particularly active in the Buffalo Numismatic Association, and it was atone of the club shows that I first met him. I was introduced to him by mutual friend anddealer, Les Heilbronner. Les had previously introduced me to the series of Buffalo CivilWar era storecards. As Mr. Lloyd shared that interest, we then commenced to participatein an impromptu, roundtable discussion at Les's bourse table. At a subsequent B.N.A.sponsored show, Mr. Lloyd approached me and presented me with a surprising gift. Thegift was a pair of pieces (each having a blank reverse like the center pic) shown below.
Mr. Lloyd described the above pair as being one ofHoppy's experiments.
Back in the thirties, his friend, Nelson S. Hopkins had used a Buffalo Civil Warstorecard token to impress reversed images upon two, thick, aluminum planchets.
Mr. Lloyd's friend and fellow member of the B.N.A., Nelson Hopkins, was a chemist andmetallurgist from nearby Williamsville, NY.Hoppy's
, as Mr. Lloyd fondly called him,main interests were tokens and medals. It was upon the urging ofHoppy
that theB.N.A. issued a series of its club medals in a variety of metals. Mr. Lloyd then followedsuit, issuing this, his own, personal token/card.did give me that thought. So, it goes ....
When I met Mr. Lloyd, he was about eighty years old, yet he possessed a virtuallyyouthful enthusiasm for the hobby. In addition toHoppy's experiment
, Mr. Lloyd'ssharing of that enthusiasm gave me a desire to learn more about numismatics. So, it wasonly fitting for me to honor my memory of Mr. Lloyd by recently giving an old coin and acoin guide to our roofer's young helper, his twelve year old son. Perhaps,that youngster will someday become an enthusiastic collector, himself? His instant gleedid give me that thought. So, it goes ....
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
ROBERT HEPWORTH LLOYD (1906-2009)(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n49a13.html)
