HERB MELNICK Público Deposited
LIKABLE GUY
The E-Sylum: Volume 7, Number 25, June 20, 2004, Article 21
HERB MELNICK: LIKABLE GUY
Responding to last week's items about dealer Herb Melnick,
Dick Johnson writes: "Don't believe everything you read on the
web! I knew Herb Melnick. He WAS likable and a mentor
to me in many ways. When my partner, Chris Jensen, and I
had purchased 64,000 medals from Medallic Art Company,
we tried several methods of selling them (outright sales,
advertising, coin shows). It was Herb Melnick who suggested
we try an auction and he volunteered to call the auction.It worked! Our first Johnson & Jensen auction had only
307 lots, but virtually everything sold. So we had Herbie call
a second, then a third, until his death in 1982. He did this at
a time when he was calling auctions for his employer, NASCA,
in addition to being a freelance auctioneer to major coin firms
at prominent coin shows (even as far afield as Hawaii!).I first met Herb in 1972 when he joined with five other
numismatists to organize the Maccabee Mint. Herb showed up
in the offices of Medallic Art Co to plan their first medal,
"Genesis." We were fast friends thereafter.I was unaware of the John Ford/Herb Melnick conflict. Chris
and I were in NASCA's offices in Rockville Center many
times. [Herb not only called our auctions he also consigned to
us.] Ford showed up often too since he lived nearby on
Long Island - it seems he always wanted to use NASCA's
photocopy machine! (He didn't have his own?)I would say these heated conversations were the Sparing of
Giants, not the conflict of adversaries! Both could have gruff
exteriors, but I personally knew both men deep down as pussy
cats! You had to earn their respect over time. Yes! But once
you did that, either one would do anything for you. Treat them
with respect and they treated you likewise.I must relate one Herb Melnick anecdote. Herb had perfect
timing at the auction podium. At a major auction a very
expensive gold coin was up for sale. Bids came fast and furious.
Tension was heavy. Herb wanted some comic relief. After
another round of multi-thousand dollar raises he said: ?You
know, of course, it's filled with chocolate!.?- 2004-06-20
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