E. O. Smith Collection to Sell at F.U.N. 2001

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Numismatic Auctions, has received their first anchor consignment for their FUN 2001 Signature Sale, to be held next January in Orlando at the annual convention of the Florida United Numismatists. The collection comes from E.O. Smith, a noted numismatist and long-time Florida resident, who counts among his major achievements the ANA's 2000 National Money Show being held in Ft. Lauderdale.

"Mr. Smith, often called the dean of Florida's numismatists," noted Leo Frese, Heritage's Consignment Coordinator, "has given us a wonderful assemblage of U.S. coins, put together over more than half a century of dedicated collecting. Most of his series are complete, from Indian cents through commemoratives. Included are such desirable coins as: 1787 Fugio cent K-13X MS 63; 1858/7 Indian cent AU 55; 1877 Indian cent XF 40; 1922 Lincoln cent, No D VF 35; 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent MS 65; 1795 half dime V-4A AU 55; 1796 10¢ XF 40; 1916-D 10¢ AU 50; 1916 25¢ AU 50; 1918/7-S 25¢ AU 58; 1795 F.H. $1 VF 25; 1879-CC $1 MS 61; 1893-S $1 XF 45; 1875-S/CC Trade $1 MS 60; 1900 Lafayette $1 MS 63; 1922 Grant w/Star 50¢ MS 63; 1915-S Pan-Pac 50¢ MS 65; and a 1925 Vancouver 50¢ MS 65. Coins can't be any fresher than these that have been off the market for thirty or forty years."

Added HNAI Director Bob Korver, "The story of the collector is really as interesting as his coins. Mr. Smith was born in 1927 in Paintsville, Kentucky, the Appalachian valley next to Butcher Holler (of Loretta Lynn fame). His father was a circuit-riding Methodist minister, riding his horse from church to church, Sunday to Sunday. His collecting started as a teenager when his Dad gave him some well-circulated two & three-cent pieces found in the offering plate (this was a time and place when it wasn't all that unusual to find Colonial coppers in circulation). After naval service in WW II, he graduated from Western University, married, taught in a reform school, and ultimately rose to become a Division Manager for Standard Oil of Kentucky. Mr. Smith has been retired in Florida for nearly three decades now, time dedicated to family and his coin collecting interests. Imagine, a collection with roots such as these being offered to a worldwide audience through the sophisticated computer programs on the Heritage website, www.HeritageCoin.com. How the world and the world of collecting has changed over the last half century."

Additional information about consigning to Heritage's exciting FUN 2001 auction can be obtained by contacting Leo Frese at 1-800-872-6467 Ext. 294, or by e-mail at leo@heritagecoin.com.