Crossing the Block: The Linnemann Family Collection

By Greg Cohen, Professional Numismatist and Consignment Director, U.S. and World Coins.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is very pleased to offer in our June Baltimore auction the Linnemann Family Collection. Assembled from circa 1955 to 1968 by brothers Arthur and George Linnemann, this collection has been stashed away in a Queens, New York, safety deposit box since George’s death in 1968. The brothers worked on collecting type coins and pattern coins. We are proud to have been selected by the family to offer this wonderful collection to the current generation of collectors. There are many great coins in the collection, but the following highlights are particularly noteworthy:

·         1793 Half Cent. EF-45 (PCGS)

·         1800 Silver Dollar. AU-53 (PCGS)

·         1846-O Silver Dollar, MS-64 (PCGS)

·         1875 Pattern Twenty Cents. Judd-1412 Proof-64 RB (PCGS)

·         1876 Pattern Quarter Eagle. Judd-1480 Proof-64+ RB (PCGS)

·         1885 Pattern Quarter Eagle. Judd-1752 Proof-65 Cameo (PCGS)

Below is the biography of the brothers, provided by their family. We would like to thank the Linnemann Family for entrusting us with the sale of their collection. Catalogs will be out shortly, if you are not on our mailing list, please contact one of our auction services associates to add your name. We look forward to seeing you at lot viewing either in our Irvine or New York offices, or at the convention center in Baltimore. If you plan to participate as a bidder, we wish you the best of luck, and if you have any questions regarding coins in the sale, we are happy to assist. If you, like the Linnemann Family, have a collection of coins that you are looking to consign to one of our upcoming sales, contact one of our auction consignment directors today.

Brothers Arthur and George Linnemann were born in the New York City Borough of Queens late in the second decade of the twentieth century and were both educated in local New York City public schools. Arthur left school to assist his grandfather in the operation of his floral business and George furthered his education and was part of the first class of Queens College. He was also a track star and held the Queens College record for the 220-yard dash for over a quarter of a century.

In the spring of 1941 Arthur was conscripted into the military and was selected for Officers Candidate School where he graduated as a second lieutenant. George enlisted in the army on the Monday after the Pearl Harbor attack. Both were artillery officers, with Arthur advancing to a Port Officer in Oran and Naples while George became an Intelligence officer in Europe. They were both honorably discharged from the Army as Captains.

After their departure from the armed services, Arthur joined his father in the floral business (becoming the major grower of chrysanthemums and shamrocks in New York) and George joined the FDNY.

They became fascinated with numismatics after Arthur received a 1955 Double Date cent from a customer. This began an intense interest that lasted for thirteen years. As time went on they became involved in the bulk trade of Lincoln cents and silver dollars. Arthur devoted most of his attention to the business of the bulk trade while George tended to build relationships with collectors and numismatic societies. In short time he became the chairman of the New York Metropolitan Numismatic Society’s coin conventions. It was during this time that the brothers put together a collection of U.S. type coins and select U.S. pattern coins. Certain coins were purchased from well known New York dealers of the day, including Stack’s and Q. David Bowers’ Empire Coin Co.

In early 1968 George was appointed by New York Mayor John Lindsay to write the history of the Brooklyn Fire Department. This never happened as in February 1968 George perished while fighting a fire in Brooklyn. Arthur’s interest in numismatics waned after his brother’s death and he devoted his spare time to collecting fine art, antiques and raising ornamental plants. The coin collection was relegated to a safe deposit box where it remained until April of this year.