APPLETON, WILLIAM SUMNER (1840-1903)

Appleton, William Sumner (1840-1903), Tycoon, Lawyer, Author, Scholar in Numismatics, Heraldry and Genealogy, Collector of Coins and Medals, Philanthropist.

He was born at Boston, Massachusetts, on January 11, 1840, son of Hon. Congressman Nathan Appleton (1779-1861) and Harriot Coffin (1802-1867). His father, a native of New Hampshire, moved to Massachusetts and became a wealthy merchant and Congressman at Boston with an estate valued at $95,000, and four live-in-servants in the 1850 U. S. Census. The 1860 Census shows his father’s estate valued at $430,000. His father was a Fellow of the Academy and wrote on commerce and currency.

In 1856, William Sumner Appleton entered Harvard University and over the next decade graduated with three degrees : B.A. 1860; A.M. 1864; LL.B 1865.

He inherited a fortune from his father upon his death in 1861 leaving him independently wealthy without any need for gainful employment.

In April of 1862 he went abroad on his first of six European sojourns during his lifetime.

He was proficient in several foreign languages including Latin, French and German. He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society and a Fellow of the American Academy, a life member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

He was an avid and prolific genealogical and numismatic author publishing numerous articles in several journals.

In 1867 he was appointed as a member of the commission to attend the annual assay of the United States Mint at Philadelphia. Later that year he published a landmark article on the Admiral Vernon Medals.

In February 1868, he purchased an 1804 Silver Dollar from Edward D. Cogan (1803-1884), a pre-eminent coin dealer, by trading duplicates from his collection for the equivalent value of $775.00.

The 1870 U.S. Census lists William Sumner Appleton as a retired lawyer with an estate valued at $500,000. He was not married at the time and had three live-in-maids and a butler.

From July of 1870 to1891, he served on the Committee of Publication and helped edit the American Journal of Numismatics, and Bulletin of American Numismatic and Archaeological Societies. Quarterly.

He left in June 1871 for Europe for more than a year. Before leaving he submitted his article to be published in July 1871 titled, “Medals of Lafayette,” in The American Journal of Numismatics.

In July 1871, while at London he won several coins at auction in Covent Gardens, from the firm of William Webster, which auctioned off 1796 and 1797 United States Half Dollars, 1796 Quarter Dollar, and dime, and 1793, 1795, 1800 uncirculated Large Cents.

While abroad he married Edith Ida Stuart (1849-1898) of Baltimore, Maryland, on August 12, 1871 at the United States Legation in Bern, Switzerland. Prior to the newlywed couple’s return from Europe they had their first child, a daughter, born to them while at Paris.

After the death of his wife Edith on January 20, 1892, he sold his estate at Boston and moved to Newton, Massachusetts.

He died on April 28, 1903 at Boston. He bequeathed his special collection of medals including his 1804 Silver Dollar to the Massachusetts Historical Society.

The first sale of his collection of 1,487 lots of English, United States Gold coins was sold posthumously by Charles Steigerwalt on May 21-22, 1907. The 1,503 lots of the Appleton Collection Part II, was auctioned by Charles Steigerwalt on January 18-19, 1910. The remainder of personal his coin and library collections were sold by Thomas L. Elder on May 10, 1913 and July 8, 1913.

To read the complete article, see:
APPLETON, WILLIAM SUMNER (https://sites.google.com/site/numismaticmallcom/encyclopedic-dictionary-of-numismatic-biographies/appleton-william-sumner-1)

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