Classical Niimismatic
Group, Inc.
The Joseph A. Byers Collection of Papal Coins
1109. H e p h t h a l i t e s . P h o r m o . 738-745 AD. AR Drachm (3.49 gm). Sassanian style bust right; countermark: Senmurg left in square / Fire altar with attendants. Göbl, Hunnen, Em 247. VF. ($9)ש
1110. H e p h t h a l i t e s . P h o r m o . 738-745 AD. AR Drachm (3.32 gm). Sassanian style bust right / Fire altar with attendants; marginal legend at 1 o'clock. Gobi, Hunnen, Em 248 variety. Good VF and Rare. ($9)ש
1111. Hephthalites in India. Circa 750-8 שAD. AR Drachm (3.10 gm). Crowned bust right with winged crown / Fire altar with attendants. Gobi, Hunnen, Em 292. VF. ($1)ש
W e a r e p r o u d to offer t h e J o s e p h A. Byers collection of P a p a l coins. Mr. Byers, a n avid collector of m a n y things, b u t p a r t i c u l a r l y of coins a n d s t a m p s , p a s s e d a w a y this p a s t M a r c h at t h e a g e of 87. A lifel o n g r e s i d e n t of P h i l a d e l p h i a , h e w a s b o r n in t h e city of b r o t h e r l y l o v e to S a m u e l P. a n d M a r y M o n a h a n Byers. T h e e l d e s t of five children, h e a t t e n d e d L a w t o n public school a n d F r a n k f o r d H i g h School. A t F r a n k f o r d , h e w a s a m e m b e r of t h e T h i r t e e n C l u b a n d w o n a full-tuition M a y o r ' s scholarship to college. H i s f a t h e r c o u l d afford to p a y for his college e d u c a t i o n , a n d J o s e p h k n e w t h a t t h e n e x t h i g h e s t q u a l i f y i n g s t u d e n t c o u l d n o t a f f o r d it, so h e t u r n e d d o w n t h e schola r s h i p to e n a b l e h i s c l a s s m a t e t o r e c e i v e it. T h e s e t y p e s of v a l u e s w e r e t o b e t h e m a r k of J o s e p h Byers for t h e r e m a i n d e r of his life. H e w e n t o n to g r a d u a t e f r o m t h e University of P e n n s y l v a n i a ' s W h a r t o n School in 1929, a n d h e b e g a n w o r k i n g f o r t h e D u p o n t c o m p a n y in Wilmington, Delaware, c o m m u t i n g everyday from Philadelphia, until h i s r e t i r e m e n t in 1973. H e h a d m a r r i e d F r a n c e s R. H o l l i h a n in 1937 a n d t h e y h a d t w o d a u g h t e r s , Dr. F r a n c e s R. Byers a n d C a r o l Byers C o c c a g n a . A f t e r his r e t i r e m e n t , J o s e p h i n c r e a s e d h i s i n v o l v e m e n t in c h u r c h a n d c o m m u n i t y activities. H e w a s a n u s h e r at St. Francis d e Sales C h u r c h in Univeristy City w h e r e h e chaired the p a r i s h Catholic C h a r i t i e s A p p e a l for a b o u t 10 y e a r s , h e l p e d in t h e s c h o o l l i b r a r y a n d t a u g h t c h e s s to t h e s t u d e n t s at St. Francis d e Sales school. A s a coin collector, h e specialized in P a p a l a n d ancient coinage. H o w e v e r , h e a p p r e c i a t e d all coins a n d since h i s interests w e r e v e r y b r o a d , h e also collected U n i t e d States, M e x i c a n , m e d i e v a l a n d o t h e r foreign coins a n d p a p e r m o n e y
1112. Hephthalites in India. Circa 750-800 AD. AR Drachm (3.58 gm). Crowned bust right with winged crown / Fire altar with attendants. Gobi, Hunnen, Em 292. VF. ($1)ש
For m a n y years h e w a s active in t h e Philadelphia C o i n Club, s e r v i n g t h e club in m o s t capacities i n c l u d i n g p r e s i d e n t . D u r i n g his t e n u r e as a m e m b e r a n d officer of t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a C o i n C l u b , t h e club o r g a nized a n d hosted the a n n u a l convention of the A N A in Philadelphia, twice, in 1941 a n d 1969. J o s e p h Byers w a s a m e m b e r of t h e A N A , as w e l l as t h e M i d d l e A t l a n t i c N u m i s m a t i c A s s o c a t i o n ( Μ Α Ν Α ) , t h e G r e a t E a s t e r n N u m i s m a t i c A s s o c i a t i o n ( G E N A ) a n d m a n y of the other Philadelphia area coin clubs. H e attended all of the local coin s h o w s , e x h i b i t e d at m a n y of t h e m , a n d g a v e talks o n a v a r i e t y of n u m i s m a t i c topics to a g r e a t n u m b e r of c o i n c l u b s a n d o r g a n i z e tions. H i s talks w e r e illustrated b y v i s u a l slides of h i s o w n creation a n d his great love of h i s t o r y led to h i s p r o d i g i o u s r e s e a r c h into t h e "stories" b e h i n d h i s coins.
1113. Hephthalites in India. Circa 750-8 שAD. Lot of three AR Drachms. Crowned bust right with winged crown / Fire altar with attendants. Distinct varieties of the type. Göbl, Hunnen, Em 292. VF. 3 coins in lot. ($250)
A s a s t a m p collector, h e w a s t h e l o n g e s t - r u n n i n g d u e s p a y e r in t h e D u p o n t S t a m p C l u b of Wilmington. H e also b e l o n g e d to the Vatican Philatelic Society, e x h i b i t i n g h i s collection of Vatican s t a m p s a n d c o v e r s at m a n y s t a m p s h o w s . In a d d i t i o n to h i s t w o d a u g h t e r s , J o s e p h Byers is s u r v i v e d b y o n e brother, H a r v e y L. of Buffalo, N . Y., one grand-daughter, Carol M. Coccagna and m a n y nieces and n e p h e w s . H i s f a m i l y h o p e s that t h e n e w o w n e r s of h i s coins d e r i v e as m u c h p l e a s u r e a n d l e a r n i n g f r o m t h e m as h e d i d .
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