Edward Groh (1837-1905)

 

 

Edward Groh was a life member, founder, and curator of the American Numismatic Society.

Born in New York City on June 2, 1837, Groh worked in both the ship-changlery and tobacco businesses.  Groh was born in New York City in 1844. A tobacconist by profession, he was also a lifelong student of natural history, with a particular focus on both entomology, and was also numismatics since the age of seventeen.

Groh attended the first regular meeting of the Society, on April 6, 1858 and played an integral role in the Society's reorganization after the Civil War.

He served as Curator of the Society from 1859 to 1879, and from 1897 until his death in 1905.  From 1864 to 1865 he also served as the Society's librarian and, from 1890-91, as its Curator of Archaeology.

Groh was an authority on American tokens and store cards, an avid collector of   Rebellion tokens or “copper-heads” issued during the Civil War, and a connoisseur of ancient coins. In 1900, he presented his collection of more than 5,000 Civil War tokens to the Society.  He also gave the ANS his invitation to the Society's first meeting in 1858. 

Groh died on January 2, 1905.  At the time, he was the last surviving charter member of the ANS.

     

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