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With a pedigree to the collection of Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, this coin at the
starting gate has great appeal. Beyond that, it is the one and only piece certified as
Proof-64 Cameo by PCGS, with none higher. Still beyond that, and possibly most important
of all, the coin is of superb eye appeal. Both sides have the popular "orange
peel" surface seen on large denomination gold coins of the era. The present piece
will delight and satisfy the most advanced collector.PCGS Population: 1; none finer within
the designation. The writer (QDB) had a long friendship with Ambassador and Emery May
Holden Norweb, dating back to the 1950s. When their estate collection was available in the
1980s, the heirs said, in effect, "come and pick it up." The catalogues, under
the imprint of B&M (with which the writer is no longer associated), stand today as
valuable reference works. When all was said and done, the Norweb holdings became firmly
ensconced as among the most valuable of all United States collections. On the personal
side, I enjoyed attending meetings of the New York Numismatic Club with Ambassador Norweb
as his guest. The group was quite elite in the 1960s and 1970s—not in a discriminatory
way, for membership was open to anyone. However, one had to be a student of numismatics
and like coins for their history, romance, and the like. Those who ignored knowledge but
were simply interested in investment or market trends were generally brushed aside. One of
Ambassador Norweb's stories was that in foreign embassies he had many American visitors.
His plan was simple yet effective, to preserve time for his own activities: Every
afternoon at four he would have a reception, and visitors were invited to attend. Tea or
other beverages would be served, cookies, and a nice time of fellowship could be enjoyed.
As another aspect of their lives, they had a beautiful summer home in Booth Bay Harbor,
Maine. Next to their home was a guest home. "Very convenient," said Mrs. Norweb.
"In that way our guests can stay up as long as they want to, and occupy themselves
with their own interests, and we can go to bed on time."From Bowers and Merena's sale
of the Norweb Collection, Part I, October 1987, Lot 938.
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