NNP

The Fewsmith Cabinet of Foreign and American Silver and Copper Coins, Medals, Etc.

Auction Summary

[Summary courtesy of Mark Borckardt.]

A Philadelphia educator who graduated from Yale College in 1844, William Fewsmith was the principal of the Fewsmith Classical and Mathematical School. In 1874 he advertised that his school was in its nineteenth year. Fewsmith was born in 1826 and died in 1900. During his lifetime, he was an advanced numismatist who sold his collection to Ebenezer Locke Mason. On October 4, 1870, and for the three following days, Mason auctioned the Fewsmith cabinet. In his brief introduction to the catalog, Mason wrote: “The catalogue is entirely composed of the collection known as the Fewsmith Cabinet, without reservation or addition.”

Mason billed the offering as “A collection of interesting and valuable silver and copper coins, medals, etc. embracing a fine assortment of foreign and American pieces.” The top 25 lots in the sale realized prices between $25 and $102.50. Those lots included a 16-piece 1868 proof set in aluminum that Mason purchased for $102.50. Lot 796 was a 1793 Liberty Cap cent (S-12) that “might be termed uncirculated” and sold to Sylvester Crosby for $45. Lots 1111 through 1120 were proof half cents dated 1836 and 1840 to 1848, all realizing between $13 and $42.50. A 1792 disme was offered as lot 1139 at $30, and a 1792 fusible alloy cent (Judd-2) in the next lot realized $41. Lot 824, an 1800 (S-192) overdate cent, sold to H.S. Jenks for $28. A silver Libertas Americana medal offered as lot 1982 sold to Charles Anthon for $35. Over four days, just over 2,500 lots in the sale realized $4,688.54.