Bio

• He spent 15 years in South America searching for minerals. In 1858 he opened a curiosity shop in Philadelphia. The shop also sold jewelry. His daughter married John W. Haseltine.

  Idler obtained several of the 1804 class III dollar restrikes that he sold for $75 each. Most were recovered and returned to the Mint. Idler retained one and used it to produce electrotypes.

  Idler issued copies of several early American coins. He also muled the same dies with his store cards in 1859 to 1860. His collection was sold at auction by Haseltine in 1870.

  bio: CW/NM 7/14/76; NUM/NIN 9/95

  obit: AJN 36 Jul 1901 page 30; NUM 14 Aug 1901 p. 220

Date of birth

• 1808

Date of death

• 1901-07-16

Relationships