THE GREATEST COLLECTIONS OF OUR GENERATION MY OFFICIAL LIST:
BOB SIMPSON #1
2. TYRANNT (ALL AROUND-INCLUDING HIS ANCIENTS) HE IS HARD TO BEAT, BUT I AM TALKING US ONLY)
3. POGUE
4. JUNG
5. MORELAN
6. HIGH DESERT (HE IS MORE THEN A TYPE SET)
7. JERRY FORSYTHE (HE PROBABLY HAS OVER 10,000 COINS INCLUDING A FEW CLASSIC RARITIES)
8. THE CONNECTICUT COLLECTOR (ALL GOLD-OWNS J-1776, A 27D $20 IN MS67, AND 5-6 ULTRA HIGH RELIEFS TO NAME A FEW COINS)
9. HANSEN
10. CHUCK LINK
11. TOM BENDER
12. GARDNER (DESEASED)
13. DUCKOR (RET)
14. HEDGIE (COMPLETE PCGS CAC 20TH CENT GOLD IN GEM)
15. BLACK CAT (HE IS 3/4 WAY THERE)
16. MERC MADNESS
ANY ONE WHO HAS AN EVERY MAN SET
These names above are some of the greatest collectors of our generation. Several have done things no one else could accomplish.
Note: this list is for current collectors. Norweb, Pittman, Bass, are not our generation. I apologize if I missed anyone.
Without any hesitation I name Bob Simpson as having the GREATEST COLLECTION EVER. I fully disagree with anything else any one says-my opinion does count, I know what is in all these collections and who is behind them. I am not afraid to say what others won’t.
Its not about throwing money around and being like vaccum cleaner. Or bragging any time you buy something. Its about the study of the coins, the coins themselves, and, enjoying the hobby. Save for one, all these people know how to grade, and have built epic collections. I ranked them as I see them in order of greatness. Again, just because you throw money around, you will not have an epic collection. I will not discuss people who build #1 sets then sell them when the are done. That never sat well with me.
I included EVERY MAN collectors because I would bet their passion and knowledge blow away one or two people on this list. Just because the coins are lesser value does not make them any less of great collectors.
Last Brent Pogue, he spent a life time assembling a collection that will never be duplicated. He knew his coins. He lived for his collection. May he rest in peace.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM SIMPSON
People take Patterns for granted. But Simpsons Patterns are different. Remember in 2008 when we spent $36,000,000.00 to buy that huge crazy pattern deal? In the pattern world alone, no one can ever have a greater collection then Mr Simpson.
He virtually owns the Wilkinson Gold Pattern Collection. I offered $15,000,000.00 for J-1776 a few years ago. Oh well….We now know the owner put it in a trust for his grand kids….
In Simpsons Gold Pattern sets are:
The Silver/Copper/Gold complete Amazonian sets. The gold set alone est value $10,000,000.00+
J-452 1865 W/MOTTO PCGS PR65 DCAMEO
J-??? 1804 $10 PCGS PR65 DCAMEO We turned down $5,000,000.00 for it
J-1373 1874 BICKFORD PCGS PR65+ CAMEO
J-??? 1907 ULTRA HIGH RELIEF PCGS PR68
The FINEST set of Stellas-the real deal!
He has so many gold PR Patterns even I forget them.
His silver, copper, and aluminum Patterns are off the charts. he has coins that should not even exist-like Shield Earring Copper Dollars in PR68 RD!!!! He has the 1866 NO Motto Dollar. He simply refused to buy any bad patterns or ones that were not pretty. He has he worlds most complete Gobrhect Dollar set. My guess is he now owns 1600 of the worlds BEST patterns (even I can not keep track).
There there are two secret sets: early $10 1795-1804 in MS 63-65. and a COMPLETE GOLD PROOF SET 1886-1915 ALL PCGS. Many DCameo FINEST knowns are included. He has small sets like the #2 PR FE set (his 56 in PR67 is to die for). And he has a J-1 PCGS PR67 CAC-one of the most amazing coins that exists. I shiver when I hold it-I can’t believe its from 1792!
His Type set is not close to Oliver Jungs, but I had placed the $2.5 1796 W/Stars PCGS MS65 CAC and coins like the 10C 1796 PCGS MS67, and the 50C 1853 A/R PCGS MS67 in the Simspon set. Not too shabby.
He has his 1943 PDS 1C Copper set. Which includes the unique D that he paid $1,700,000.00 for. He also has a GEM 1894S 10C. And there are a few coins we signed confidentiality agreements on I can not discuss for a couple of years.
Then there are the posted Registry sets he owns-including the #1 $10 Indians+$20 Saints. plus, all the silver and copper on he owns as well. His PR Morgan set has 5 PR69’s! He has the best MS 3CS set EVER.
No one will ever know the full extent of Bob Simpsons collection. Even I forgot so much of it. He has so many unique or FINEST KNOWN coins he tops everyone in this generation. And he can tell you what he owns discuss the coins in detail.
Most important for the Simpson collection, every thing I bought him had killer quality and eye appeal. I was his CAC. He never wanted to be a hole filler. I am so thankful I was a partner in this magnificent journey. He has been out of the market for the last few years due to personal reasons. I hope he can finish his efforts one day.
In the end, it is not about how much money something is worth or what you spend. Look at the list above. Tyrannt is a student of all coins. He owns the King of Siam set and the worlds most complete $10 Bust set. Smart guy. Oliver Jung, “The Type set” wasn’t his first go round. He knows his coins. He works with a smart dealer too. He “gets it”. Bruce Morelan, knows everything about the areas he collects. Knows how to grade. And tracks every coin in his area. He is a real student of his collections.
The 5 greatest collectors I listed did not have buy their titles. They absolutely earned them.
I am tired of being disrespected. I want see the public know the truth about collections and collectors who are world class. If you want to throw titles around, then do it responsibly and do not disrespect others.
There really should be nobody as The greatest Collection. With people who are the “Who’s who” above, everyone has “One of the greatest collections”. So long people pay to claim they are #1, I’ll keep showing why Simpson is and they are not.
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UPDATE- NO RETIREMENT YET
I am so glad every one keeps asking me when I am going to quit. Thank you for caring-I guess.
Hopefully soon it will be a reality. My health isn’t all there, but BOTH companies need me more then ever right now. So its looks like 2020 I will still be around (w/3 vacations to ease things).
Any comments send to me direct: lsperber1@hotmail.com
