COTHRAN "HUGH" SHULL, JR. (1951-2025)

Cothran "Hugh" Shull Jr., 74, of Lexington passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on December 19th, 2025. He was born November 25th, 1951 to the late Cothran H. Shull, Sr. and Dorothy Evetta Shull.

Hugh was an Air Force veteran who loved his country. He enjoyed his time in Thailand serving as Chief Base Cashier. After leaving the Air Force, he worked under the GI Bill for Mr. Weem's Coin Shop in Gulfport, Mississippi. His love of coin collecting began at the age of seven. Through the coin shop, he learned about obsolete paper money. This became a 45+ year passion as a collector and dealer.

He was very successful and was held in high esteem by his peers. Hugh was a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Florida United Numismatists, charter member of the Professional Currency Dealers Association, and the South Carolina Numismatic Association, the last two of which he served many years on the governing board, and was a four-time past president in both.

Shull Guide Book of Southern States Currency

He was also a member of many other numismatic associations. In 1990, he was awarded the SCNA Most Outstanding Numismatist Award. In 1992, he was presented with a Numismatic Ambassador Award for his many contributions to the hobby. In 2007, he was awarded a Numismatic Literary Guild Award of Extraordinary Merit as well a PCDA Literary Award for his book "A Guide Book of Southern States Currency". In 2018, Hugh was inducted into the Society of Paper Money Collectors Hall of Fame. In 2020, he received an ANA Presidential Award for his dedicated service to "our numismatic family". In 2024, he was inducted into the SCNA Hall of Fame.

Hugh loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and bass fishing. Later in life, he became an avid Corvette enthusiast, throwing back to having his first corvette at the age of 18. He was a member of the Capitol City Corvette Club where he served on the board and was a past president.

After about a year and a half, the coin dealer I was working for had to go out of business due to health reasons. During my time there I had met Mr. Graeme M. Ton Jr., of Gulfport, Mississippi, who was one of the leading small-size U.S. note dealers in the country. Mr. Ton not only quickly befriended me, he also gathered me under his wings and started helping mold me into a paper-money dealer. One day he called to put me in touch with another prominent dealer in U.S. obsolete currency, Mr. Don Fisher, of Decatur, Illinois. Don had a deal of about $1,200 worth of CSA notes he wanted to sell. Mr. Ton told him of me and suggested that I buy them. When Don called me I knew right away it was a great deal for the price. Part of it was 50 consecutive 1861 $50 notes (T-8's) in choice grade. They were in an original envelope from the French consulate in New Orleans—with writings and the seal attached, in French! After agreeing to a deal with Don where I could sell the notes and pay for them over time, I was off and running.

It was that group of CSA notes, a small group of CSA bonds, and a few other miscellaneous notes that served as my first sales offering to collectors in the spring of 1976. It was a simple hand-typed, double-spaced one-page listing on front and back, with one-fourth of it filled with hot air!

During this early period in my career, I met Mr. Austin M. Sheheen Jr., of Camden, South Carolina. He is well known as being the "King of S.C. Paper Money" collectors. He wrote the definitive reference on this subject in 1960 and updated it with his superb 2003 edition. This relationship sparked my interest in collecting South Carolina notes and it has been a very rewarding experience over the years. Austin's friendship and guidance has been a cornerstone in helping me during my years of being in the paper money business and hobby.

Another person that became a very good friend early on was Dr. Douglas B. Ball of New York City. Having Doug as a friend and mentor was very beneficial as his expertise on Southern States currency was always available when I needed it. His untimely passing was a great loss to all in our field.

Shortly after moving back home to South Carolina in 1977, I met paper-money dealer Thomas Denly of Boston, Massachusetts, who had started his business just prior to the start of mine. We became quick friends and for 30 years he has always been there to share his vast knowledge of paper money and help in any way that he can. (If only he were just a better fisherman!)

All of those mentioned played significant roles in the foundation and development of my career. Their contributions greatly enhanced my being able to write this book and I have very deep feelings for all of them.

In addition to being one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field of Southern Currency, Hugh was a true gentleman and a friend to many on these boards. His sales catalogs were the de facto value guides for obsolete currency for a number of years, and many of us hold them in our reference libraries to this day.

Hugh was Life Member #6 of the SPMC. He has been co-author, advisor or contributor to many books on obsolete and confederate currency, including Grover Criswell's Confederate Paper Money published in 1996. He wrote A Guide Book of Southern States Currency; History, Rarity and Values in 2007. He was named a Numismatic Ambassador by Krause Publications in 1992.

I will miss spending time with him at shows and hearing his stories of significant notes and collections. Hugh was always open to sharing his knowledge. His passing is a significant loss for our hobby.

"We were distraught upon hearing Hugh Shull's passing on Saturday morning (December 20) as I told my wife, Joyce. We both saw this as a huge loss for the hobby as well as a great friend. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.

I met Hugh Shull at the 2002 ANA World's Fair of Money in New York City. My first impression of Hugh was that he was the consummate southern gentleman with the most charming personality. I had already ordered from his catalog and was amazed at the breadth and depth of his inventory. We talked for a while about how to collect CSA paper money, and I traded a couple of things with him. I was a new collector in paper money, having started in 2001, and I sought his advice eagerly.

We would continue to be in contact, and I saw him again at the International Paper Money Show in Memphis TN in June 2003. We discussed the massive Gene Mintz collection sale which I was targeting to add to my collection. His input was invaluable.

After discussing the new book for CSA paper money, I volunteered to take it on. Hugh was instrumental, helping make the 2005 and subsequent 2008 and 2014 books better than they would have been otherwise.

In 2007, Whitman published Hugh's award winning "A Guide Book to Southern States Currency". I was honored to help him with this book. We still frequently use it today.

Over the years, we had lots of discussions, did a lot of business and became good friends. We always looked forward to seeing him at the Dalton, Greenville and Franklin TN shows and a group of us would meet on one of the nights at these shows to visit over dinner.

Hugh made paper money collecting more fun and interesting. His photographic memory was amazing. His fascinating stories drew a crowd at all the coin and currency shows. His depth of knowledge was unsurpassed so much that when he came up for consideration in 2018 to be inducted into the Society of Paper Money Collectors Hall of Fame, I supported it enthusiastically.

We lost a great man in December 2025. We have very fond memories of Hugh and miss him."

To read the complete article, see:
Hugh Shull has passed (https://www.papermoneyforum.com/post/hugh-shull-has-passed-13761303)

To read the complete obituary, see:
Cothran "Hugh" Shull, Jr. (https://www.barr-price.com/obituary/Cothran-HughShullJr)