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Collector · Numismatist · Donor

John J. Slocum

fl. 1973–1999

Collector of Crusader and medieval Cypriot coins who gave the American Numismatic Society over 6,000 plaster casts of Cypriot coins and sold his collection at Sotheby's in 1997.

Biography

John J. Slocum compiled an unpublished "A Check List of the Coins of Medieval Cyprus (1192-1570)". D. M. Metcalf cited it in his 1983 catalogue of the Ashmolean's Crusader coins, and named "Mr John J. Slocum" among the private collections of note4.

In 1991 the American Numismatic Society recorded that plaster casts of more than 6,000 medieval Cypriot coins, assembled by the archaeologist James R. Stewart, had been given to the Society by its Councillor John J. Slocum, presumably the same man, since the gift was of Cypriot coins1.

His coins were sold at Sotheby's in London on 6 and 7 March 1997 as "The John J. Slocum Collection of Coins of the Crusades", in 986 lots5,7. A Hugo I bezant from that sale (lot 585) had been bought in April 1973 from Louis Di Lauro of New York, and Kuenker offered it in 20195. Classical Numismatic Group listed Henry II, Peter II and James II gros as ex Slocum in 19972. Further coins, among them Venetian-period sixains, were sold at Sotheby's on 14 October 19998,9.

Life and work

  1. by 1983
    Compiled 'A Check List of the Coins of Medieval Cyprus (1192-1570)', an unpublished typescript for private circulation, cited by Metcalf for the main varieties of the Lusignan coinage, for another specimen of the Guy de Lusignan bezant that had 'surfaced recently', and for what James II claimed in his title; Metcalf names 'Mr John J. Slocum' among the private collections of note.

    D. M. Metcalf (1983). Coinage of the Crusades and the Latin East in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

  2. 1991
    As ANS Councillor gave the Society plaster casts of over 6,000 coins of medieval Cyprus assembled by the archaeologist James R. Stewart; a student was ordering them in winter 1991.

    American Numismatic Society (1991). ANS Newsletter, Winter 1991, p. 9

  3. 6 March 1997 – 7 March 1997
    His collection was sold at Sotheby's, London, as 'The John J. Slocum Collection of Coins of the Crusades' (986 lots, 31 plates; sale LN7145). Cypriot lots later traced include: lot 585 Hugo I bezant (bought April 1973 from Louis Di Lauro, New York); lots 596, 662, 664, 670, 681 (Lusignan deniers and gros); lot 673 Peter II gros petit; lot 675 Peter II gros (Baldwin's calls it Peter I).

    LondonFritz Rudolf Künker (2019). Auktion 318, lot 2161 text; Baldwin's Auctions (2007). Auction number 52, lots on pp. 1126ff.; Classical Numismatic Group (2000). Mail Bid Sale 53, lot 2075; Baldwin's Auctions (2013). Auction number 80, lot 2632 and book listing; Baldwin's Auctions (2014). Auction number 91, lot 3796

  4. 1997
    Henry II, Peter II and James II silver gros offered by Classical Numismatic Group in 1997 as 'Ex Slocum collection' (Henry II $650/L400; Peter II $475; James II $3300).

    Classical Numismatic Group (1997). The Classical Numismatic Review 22 no. 2 (fixed price list), lots 57-59

  5. 14 October 1999
    Further coins sold at Sotheby's, including Venetian Cyprus copper sixains (lots 210-211) and a Louis of Savoy gros grand (lot 217).

    LondonBaldwin's Auctions (2014). Auction number 91, lots 3811; Baldwin's Auctions (2015). Auction number 94

Connections

2 people

Colleagues & contacts

Objects

Sources

  1. 1.American Numismatic Society (1991). “ANS Newsletter, Winter 1991”.
  2. 2.Classical Numismatic Group (1997). The Classical Numismatic Review 22 no. 2 (fixed price list).
  3. 3.Classical Numismatic Group (2000). Mail Bid Sale 53.
  4. 4.D. M. Metcalf (1983). Coinage of the Crusades and the Latin East in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
  5. 5.Fritz Rudolf Künker (2019). Auktion 318.
  6. 6.Baldwin's Auctions (2007). Auction number 52.
  7. 7.Baldwin's Auctions (2013). Auction number 80.
  8. 8.Baldwin's Auctions (2014). Auction number 91.
  9. 9.Baldwin's Auctions (2015). Auction number 94.
  10. 10.Fritz Rudolf Künker, 2019, Auktion 318.
  11. 11.American Numismatic Society, 1991, ANS Newsletter, Winter 1991.
  12. 12.Kuenker Auctions, Auktion 318 (2019).
  13. 13.The American Numismatic Society Newsletter : Winter 1991 (1979).
  14. 14.American Numismatic Society, ANS Newsletter Winter 1991 (1991).

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