CALVIN WESTLEY FRANKLIN (1854-1911)

Who in the world is Calvin Westley Franklin (1854-1911)? He is an aloof and evasive figure in American numismatic history though he was a successful coin dealer for at least seven years and published several numismatic publications. Though we know sufficiently about his numismatic dealings we know virtually nothing about him as a person. Did he have children? Where did he go to school, and so forth? Carefully studying his penmanship and spelling skills in the Chapman Brothers correspondence it is obvious he did not attend college and therefore used the title Doctor rather loosely. These and many other personal questions remain unanswered about his private life and background.

Curiously he frequently went about with the title Doctor C. W. Franklin, yet no record of his college studies has yet been discovered. After reading his postal cards sent to the Chapman Brothers it is clear he had very little schooling and was an unlettered man. We know nothing of his personality and character which very well may have amply compensated him for his lack of eloquence and refinement. We can only assume he was a cheerful man of good character which is reflected somewhat in two feature articles about him and coins published later on. His enthusiasm and passion for coins is very evident in his advertisements and letters as well as in his 1907 book that seems to have become completely forgotten and lost to posterity save the two extant copies.

The Numismatist July 1907

He was born the second son of four children to John Franklin (1826-1905) and Nancy Skinner (1833-1919) on April 12, 1857 at Marietta, Ohio. Franklin left his family who moved to West Virginia, and after finishing school set out as a traveling salesman eventually settling at Pittsburgh sometime around 1901.

Franklin is an interesting personality judging from his myriad of newspaper advertisements and numerous correspondence with the Chapman Brothers. He sold coins, paper money, rare gold, stamps, curiosities, Indian relics, cash registers, and fire and burglar proof safes.

The mysterious Doctor C. W. Franklin seems to have styled himself after Ben Franklin who also was called Doctor Franklin. He certainly created a breeze in the Pittsburgh coin world but seems to have been a dud in the mainstream of coin collectors and dealers never having been a member of any numismatic association unless this author's weary eyes missed that entry. Reading through his numerous advertisements which only a few have been published here one learns he dealt with a wide variety of gold coins and other rarities.

To read the complete article, see:
FRANKLIN, CALVIN WESTLEY (https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/franklin-c-w)

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