Eric P. Newman

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Eric P. Newman
File:Eric P. Newman.jpg
Born (1911-05-25) May 25, 1911 (age 112)
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Nationality United States
Alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology Washington University in St. Louis
Spouse(s) Evelyn (Edison) Newman (married 1939–present)
Children Linda N. Schapiro and Andrew E. Newman
Parent(s) Samuel Elijah and Rose (Pfeiffer) Newman
Awards Archer M. Huntington Medal Medal of the Royal Numismatic Society

Eric P. Newman (born May 25, 1911) is an American numismatist.[1][2] He has written "works about early American coins and paper money considered the standards on their subjects" as well as hundreds of articles.[3] He has amassed one of the finest private collections of American coins and currency,[1] and is the only living person to have owned all five 1913 Liberty Head nickels.[3] Newman sold his coins over five auctions in 2013–2014 for almost $55 million.[4]

Early Life

Newman was born to Samuel Elijah and Rose (Pfeiffer) Newman in St. Louis, Missouri. His interest in coins began at the age of seven when his grandfather gave him an 1859 Indian Head cent. When he was ten years old, he would visit Burdette G. Johnson's coin store in downtown St. Louis every couple of weeks; Johnson became his friend and mentor.[2]

Education and Career

Newman earned a bachelor of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1932 and a Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis in 1935.[2] Three years later, Newman became vice president of the Missouri Numismatic Society.[5] In 1939, Newman was appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the Central States Numismatics Society.[6] He then practiced law until 1943. The following year, he was hired by Edison Brothers Stores, rising to executive vice president in 1968, before retiring in 1987.

While attending MIT, Newman became slightly acquainted with E. H. R. Green, himself a coin collector. Newman and other students were given the use of Green's private radio station at Round Hill, Massachusetts, to follow Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd's first Antarctic expedition (1928-1930).[3] After Green died in 1936, Newman raised $600 from his family and purchased some currency notes from the estate. After he told Burdette Johnson about it, Johnson put up the money to buy most of Green's collection, including the only five known 1913 Liberty Head nickels.[3] Newman's favorite coin, however, is a unique 1792 pattern in gold which he believes was owned by George Washington.[3][7]

Legacy

Newman married Evelyn Edison in 1939. They have two children, Linda N. Schapiro and Andrew E. Newman. Eric and Evelyn have supported a variety of philanthropic efforts including medical research, academia, and St. Louis cultural affairs.[8] In 2003, the Newmans donated two million dollars to Washington University in St. Louis to establish the Newman Money Museum, housed in the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.[3] It opened in 2006 and displays part of Newman's collection on a rotating basis.

Awards and honors

Among his many honors are the Archer M. Huntington Medal (the highest award of the American Numismatic Society[1]) in 1978[7] and the Medal of the Royal Numismatic Society in 1991.[9] The American Numismatic Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1986 and named him Numismatist of the Year in 1996.[1] The American Numismatic Society commissioned a bas relief portrait which was presented to him at his 100th birthday celebration.[2][10]

Year Award Notes
1955 ANA, Heath Literary Award honorable mention "First Documentary Evidence on the American Colonial Pewter 1/24 Real"
1956 ANA, Heath Literary Award 3rd place "Poor Richard's Mottoes for Coins"
1957 Missouri Numismatic Society "For Outstanding Service to the Missouri Numismatic Society"
1958 ANA, Heath Literary Award 3rd place "Counterfeit Continental Currency Goes to War"
1959 ANA, Heath Literary Award 1st place "The Continental Dollar of 1776 Meets its Maker"
1960 ANA 25-year Membership Award
1962 ANA, Heath Literary Award honorary "Diagnosing the Zerbe 1804 and 1805 Dollars"
1963 ANA, Heath Literary Award honorary "A Dangerous Oak Tree Shilling Copy Appears"
1964 ANA, Heath Literary Award 1st place "Nature of Printing of Colonial and Continental Currency"
1964 ANA Medal of Merit
1965 Lecturer in Numismatics Award Roosevelt University
1965 ANA, Heath Literary Award 2nd place "An Elephant Token Never Forgets — Forgery"
1966 ANA, Heath Literary Award 1st place "Sources of Emblems and Mottoes"
1966 Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Award
1967 ANA, Heath Literary Award 4th place Assay Commission Membership medal
1969 ANA Farran Zerbe Memorial Award
1971 "Recognition of Contribution to Numismatic Knowledge" Oklahoma-Kansas Numismatic Association
1972 New Orleans ANA Honoris Causa Award
1973 Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society Award bronze medal
1974 ANA, Heath Literary Award certificate of merit
1975 ANA, Heath Literary Award 2nd place "As Phony as a Three Dollar Bill"
1978 ANS Archer Milton Huntington Award
1979 ANA, Heath Literary Award 2nd place "The Philadelphia Highway Coin Fund
1980 ANA, Heath Literary Award "Super Numismatic Forgeries are Upon Us
1982 Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) Clemy Award "For Numismatic Writing Ability, Sense of Humor, and Dedication to the Hobby"
1984 ANA, Heath Literary Award Bronze medal "Benjamin Franklin and the Chain Design"
1985 ANA 50 Year Membership Award
1989 ANS Endowment Medal No. 4
1992 House Joint Resolution No. 271 of the Commonwealth of Virginia "Commends Eric P. Newman for his valuable research on Colonial Virginia copper halfpenny and establishing that these were the first authorized legal coinage in Colonial America."
1993 ANA Exemplary Service Award
1996 ANA Numismatist of the Year
1996 ANS Gold Membership medal for Distinguished Service
1997 ANA Lifetime Achievement Award
1999 C4 Lifetime Achievement Award
2001 Burnett Anderson Memorial Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing ANA, ANS, NLG
2009 NLG Award of Extraordinary Merit "The Fantastic 1804 Dollar: Tribute Edition"
2010 ANA 75-year membership Award
2011 ANA Wayte and Olga Raymond Memorial Award 2nd place "for Distinguished Numismatic Achievement in United States Numismatics
2011 Rittenhouse Society Gold Medal "honoring Newman's numismatic achievements on his 100th birthday"
2011 ANS plaquette issued in honor of Newman's 100th birthday
2013 PCGS Set Registry Hall of Fame
2015 ANA, Heath Literary Award 1st place
2015 Wayte and Olage Raymond Memorial Award for Distinguished Achievement in United States Numismatics
2015 NLG Award "for best article in a large non-profit publication for '18th-Century Writings on the Continental Dollar Coin"

External links

References

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