The greatest public appreciation of Harry Bass's collecting acumen and the depth and quality of his research on U.S. Federal gold coins took place at the sixth annual Coinage of the Americas Conference at the American Numismatic Society, November 4-5, 1989. For this occasion, Harry displayed over 1,500 prize coins from his collection, accompanied by a preliminary report of his collection by die variety and die state, using a system of his own devise, based on the prior work of Walter Breen.

In a keynote address to the gathering of over 80 attendees, Harry stressed the joys and the difficulties of collecting American gold, and outlined his reasons for using the descriptive nomenclature, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Reference Collection of United States Federal Gold Coins." The exhibition amply justified his choice of terms.

"This exhibit," said Bass, "is the realization of my lifelong dream, the culmination of my efforts to build a collection that merits being shown at the American Numismatic Society to a gathering of preeminent colleagues." He went on to highlight some of his discoveries that were included in the exhibition: a rediscovery of the first reverse of the 1796 quarter eagle; the 1825 quarter eagle with a new obverse die; the 1856 proof $3 gold with DOLLARS in large letters over the same inscription in small letters; and the 1803 eagle with a fourteenth star (his initial discovery).

The late Walter Breen, whom Bass credited with paving the way for his own research by virtue of the work he had published on the gold coinage by denomination, was a participant in the 1989 COAC and openly admired the quality and scholarly presentation of the Bass exhibit. One of the most endearing memories of those present was captured in a photograph by Margo Russell – Harry Bass thoroughly enjoying the close, respectful scrutiny given his coins by Walter.

It was our intention at the ANS to publish the catalogue prepared by Harry for the exhibition as an Appendix to the Proceedings volume of the conference. We got as far as having him approve the brief Introduction, culled from his keynote address, and the form of the catalogue entries. There it ended; Harry could not bear the thought that among his vast array of unique treasures, he might have missed a detail that another would bring to his attention. Since his oral description of the collection and his intended catalogue listing have not heretofore seen publication, those remarks are warranted here as part of the historical record. Perhaps they may, some day, comprise the preface to the published record of a unique endeavor.