George P. French
Encyclopedia
George P. French was a founding member and first president of the Rochester Numismatic Association
. He was born in 1865 and died November 25, 1932 in Rochester, New York
of pneumonia.
French graduated from Columbia Medical College in 1888, interned at St. Mary's Hospital, and went into private practice. He was a founding member of the Rochester Numismatic Association and its first president. The association issued a medal celebrating its first anniversary. This medal also honored French with a portrait on its obverse.
An avid numismatist, French was best known to the numismatic community for his collection of large cent
s formed by him over a period of forty years. This collection included practically all the known die varieties of large cents and consisted of 832 pieces, nearly every one of which was in uncirculated condition. He had exhibited this collection at several American Numismatic Association
conventions, and it was perhaps the foremost of its kind formed at the time. Three of the 1793 cents were valued at $5,000 each. French's obituary in The Numismatist reported at the time that this collection of large cents had been sold around 1929 to B. Max Mehl, of Fort Worth, Texas, for around $50,000.00.
Rochester Numismatic Association
The Rochester Numismatic Association is a not-for-profit organization with an educational mission. The RNA was organized in 1912 by a group of local collectors to attract the American Numismatic Association's annual convention to Rochester, New York, USA. They met with success as the ANA did...
. He was born in 1865 and died November 25, 1932 in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
of pneumonia.
French graduated from Columbia Medical College in 1888, interned at St. Mary's Hospital, and went into private practice. He was a founding member of the Rochester Numismatic Association and its first president. The association issued a medal celebrating its first anniversary. This medal also honored French with a portrait on its obverse.
An avid numismatist, French was best known to the numismatic community for his collection of large cent
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
s formed by him over a period of forty years. This collection included practically all the known die varieties of large cents and consisted of 832 pieces, nearly every one of which was in uncirculated condition. He had exhibited this collection at several American Numismatic Association
American Numismatic Association
The American Numismatic Association was founded in 1891 by Dr. George F. Heath in Chicago, Illinois. The ANA was formed to advance the knowledge of numismatics along educational, historical and scientific lines, as well as enhance interest in the hobby.The ANA national headquarters and museum is...
conventions, and it was perhaps the foremost of its kind formed at the time. Three of the 1793 cents were valued at $5,000 each. French's obituary in The Numismatist reported at the time that this collection of large cents had been sold around 1929 to B. Max Mehl, of Fort Worth, Texas, for around $50,000.00.