The biography of Eric P. Newman researched and written by Leonard Augsburger, Roger W. Burdette and Joel Orosz and edited by James Halperin is now available from Heritage Auctions.
A powerful and intimidating dealer of the 1960s, backed by important colleagues, was accused of selling fraudulent gold coins and ingots to unsuspecting numismatists. Who would go up against a man like that and, over the course of decades, prove the fraud? Who would expose a widely respected scholar as a thief, then doggedly pursue recovery of coins that the scholar had stolen from an embarrassed numismatic organization, all over the objections of influential collectors who had bought coins with clouded titles?
Eric P. Newman would – and did.
Researched, written and edited by titans in the numismatic field, Truth Seeker: The Life of Eric P. Newman, is an expansive biography. The book comprises 400+ pages of memorable stories suffused with fascinating illustrations and documents, all chronicling the admirable life of Newman, now 104 years young. In 43 chapters, Truth Seeker traces Newman’s world-class collection from its inspiration – when his grandfather gave him an 1859 Indian head copper-nickel cent – to explaining the theory behind Newman’s favorite coin. The history and content of his renowned and unparalleled collection, which he donated to charitable causes, would alone have been more than enough to fill the pages. Yet this work also profiles those who influenced him, both allies and adversaries, alongside the intellect, ethics, drive, and eternal optimism of a highly accomplished philanthropist who led his beloved hobby out of its own dark ages.
Additional research and edits by Maureen and Stu Levine.