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Copyright 2011-2018, John N. Lupia, III
Fig. 1. Photograph of Claude Collier taken August 1954 on the occasion of his ANA Gold Medal at the annual convention commemorating his fifty years as an ANA Member.
Claude Raymond Collier (1879-1955), was born on December 30, 1879, at Kirkwood, New York, son of Homer Claude Collier (1855-), a chemist and paint manufacturer, and Nellie H. Emmons Collier (1858-).
Collier became interested in collecting curios, coins and stamps as a boy inspired by his father who also collected coins. While in High School he advertised to buy, sell and exchange stamps, Indian relics, and natural history curiosity items in The Museum.
In 1898, he graduated Binghamton Central High School. He then went on to study chemistry.
In January 1899, or perhaps earlier, he printed his stationery advertising he was both a collector and dealer in curios, coins and stamps.
Fig. 2. Collier correspondence with H. L. Hart, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He studied at Lowell's School of Business.
In January 1905, he joined the ANA and in February became ANA Member No. 661.
In March 1906, he lived at 148 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton, New York.
He was a client of the Chapman Brothers and several pieces of correspondence are in the Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.
He worked in the family business H. C. Collier & Sons, Binghamton, New York.
Fig. 3. Collier correspondence with the Chapman Brothers placing bids on the Smith Sale. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.
He was a bidder in the Harlan Page Smith Sale held by Samuel Hudson Chapman and Henry Chapman, Jr.
On October 9, 1906 he married Jane Keyes (1886-1969) at the Presbyterian Church, where they were members. They had five children : Homer K. Collier (1907-1989), Duane Claude Collier (1910-), Richard Collier (), Elizabeth J. Collier Lofstrom (1916-), and Phyllis M. Collier (1918-).
In April 1909, he and his father exhibited their coin collections at the Binghamton Public Library.
In 1922, he joined the Rotary Club.
He was a member of the Triple Cities Coin Club.
He was a member of the American Philatelic Society, and the Binghamton Philatelic Society. He collected Revenue stamps and First Flight Covers.
In 1942, he lived at 175 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton, New York.
In 1954, he was awarded the ANA Gold Medal at the annual convention commemorating his fifty years as an ANA Member.
He died November 9, 1955, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton, New York.
He was a Freemason member of the Osteningo Lodge No. 435, Osteningo Scottish Rite Consistory and Kalurah Temple.
On March 9, 1956, his coin collection of crowns of the world and ancient Greek coins was sold posthumously by Coin Galleries, Stack's, New York.
Bibliography :
The Museum, Vol. III, No. 3, January (1897)
The Museum, Vol. VI, No. 1, November (1899)
Panorama : Yearbook of Binghamton Central High School (1898)
The Numismatist, January (1905) : 25
The Numismatist, February (1905) : 50
The Numismatist, October (1905) : 296
Bulletin of the Binghamton Public Library (1909) : 20
The Numismatist, January (1937) : 29
Stamps : A Weekly Magazine of Philately, Vol. 41-42 (1942) : 319
American Philatelist (1942) : 78, 263
1942 WWII Draft Card
The Numismatist, November (1954) : 1181, 1224
The Numismatist, January (1956) : 23
Martin Gengerke, American Numismatic Auctions (2009)
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