ROBERT ARTHUR JOSLIN, SR. (1935-2005)

 

Each week I try to submit a brief article on some historical figure in numismatics. My subject this week may be important to no one but myself. He solved a mystery for me.

The story begins with (1) an advertising mirror from Eagle Coin Co. in Owatonna, MN. In January 2017, I acquired (2) another Eagle Coin Co. mirror from Fort Dodge, Iowa. I submitted an item for The E-Sylum asking for a connection between the two mirrors. No answer was provided. Then this past week I acquired (3) another Eagle Coin Co. mirror from Fort Dodge. A search on the internet turned up (4) another Eagle Coin Co mirror from Fort Dodge that I don't have. I believe all of them were produced for Robert A. Joslin.

 

Joslin was born on June 18, 1935, in Tara, Iowa. His parents were Earl Jasper Joslin (1917-1999) and Ruth Beatrice Burkholder Joslin (1919-2015). Robert married Faye Arloine Hanson in 1958. They had three sons and two daughters. Faye was living as recently as 2019.

In 1974 he joined the ANA as member R-78701 with an address in Clarion, Iowa. There he was an active member of the Clarion Coin club serving as club secretary in 1964, chairman of the coin show in 1969, president in 1971, and as auctioneer in 1974. Clarion had a population around 3000 in 1970 and reported attendance around 35 members at each meeting.

It is less than 40 miles from Clarion to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Joslin had a P. O. Box there in 1976. By 1978 he had a coin shop in the Cedar Mall in Owatonna.

In 1983 he joined the Central States Numismatic Society as member 4136 with an address in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Robert and Faye had retired to Pima, Arizona. Robert died on July 13, 2005, at Homestead Hospice in Owatonna. He is buried at Saint Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Bode, Iowa, the hometown of his wife. His obituary said nothing about his profession.

I sent an inquiry to the Owatonna Public Library asking about the Eagle Coin Co. and the name of the proprietor. Once I had the name, it was easy to find an obituary for Joslin. The Fort Dodge mirrors were likely produced around 1976-77 and the Owatonna mirrors around 1978-79.

Shards of pottery found by an archaeologist will represent the material culture of a native tribe. Advertising mirrors may represent the material culture for a coin dealer who would otherwise be forgotten.

I have determined that I am the only person in the world interested in coin dealer advertising mirrors. I would be very interested to learn of other advertising mirrors issued by coin dealers.

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS NUMISMATIC MIRRORS BOOK (https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n02a09.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 8, 2017 : Query: Eagle Coin Co. (https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n02a14.html)

 

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