Letters in Appreciation
Richard G. Doty is Curator in the Numismatics Division of the National Museum
of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. He is the author of
several works on American coinage and coining techniques.
19 June 1998
Leslie A. Elam
Executive Director
American Numismatic Society
Broadway at 155th Street
New York, NY 10032
Dear Les,
I am pleased and honored to contribute something to the volume to be published in
memory of Harry Bass. Margaret and I both feel the loss keenly, and she joins me
in sending our deepest sympathy to Doris and the entire Bass family, Harry was a
superb numismatist, one with a vision rarely encountered in any discipline. One need
only mention his pioneering work in computers, wbich resulted in the Society's superb
database, the best and most developed of any numismatic museum in the world. I wish
we had had his foresight and expertise here, in the construction of this museum's
database!
The computerization program was one example of Harry's numismatic vision; one rather
closer to me was his interest in American and Western Hemispheric topics. Harry was
the only man I have ever known who could state that there were two obverse dies for
the fifty-dollar Panama-Pacific octagonal slug - and prove it. He had an eye for
detail which I have never seen in any other scholar or collector. His vision and
devotion to American numismatics led to what may be his most enduring legacy at the
Society, the Coinage of the Americas Conferences. It was my privilege to work with
Harry on the first one, in 1984, and with most of the later ones as well, either
as a chairman, an editor, or a speaker. In my opinion, Harry's concept of the COAC
(and the concept was his, from the very beginning), was the single best thing to
happen in modem numismatics at the American Numismatic Society during the last quarter
of a century. I am certain that a host of collectors and researchers would agree
with me. In that spirit, I'd like to suggest that the 1998 Coinage of the Americas
Conference be dedicated to his memory.
Harry was more than a research colleague. He was a valued friend, with a delightful
(and often unexpected) sense of humor. He was also one of the most generous people
I have ever known. Years after our departure from the Society, Margaret was stated
to attend an American Library Association meeting in Dallas. Harry found out about
it, and he insisted on putting ap Margaret, me - and all of her associates from Smithsonian
Libraries. He also provided us with transportation to and from the Convention, in
the guise of a huge white Cadillac. Every afternoon, when the proceedings had come
to a close, I would drive over to the Convention Center, pick up Margaret and her
associates in the Cadillac, and leave other, less fortunate librarians standing there
on the curb with their mouths open; who were these people, anyway?
The rest of the day I had the car to myself. I drove it all the way to Oklahoma once.
Generous friend, mentor, and visionary; we shall not see the likes of Harry Bass
again. We and our discipline shall feel the loss keenly.
Again, thank you for your invitation to participate in this tribute volume. I remain,
as always,
Yours sincerely,
Richard G. Doty
Curator of Numismatics