DuPont, Willis Harrington Publique Deposited
Born in Wilmington, Delaware; son of Lammot Dupont by his fourth wife. Married Miren Katalin de Anezola January 6, 1962. They had two sons. Attended Wesleyan University in 1958 and Cornell University in 1960. Partner in C. B. Richard, Ellis & Company after 1964. Director of Florida National Bank in Miami.
The Dupont family donated 9739 pieces to the Smithsonian primarily from Russia. Donations were made over a period of ten years beginning in 1958.
The Dupont collection was robbed at gunpoint early in the morning of October 6, 1967. Five men wearing hoods broke into the home in Miami. They took $4000 in cash including $1000 in loose silver dollars. They took an estimated $50,000 in jewelry and the coin collection. Included was much of the Mikhailovitch collection of Russian coins and medals. The U.S. collection included 3100 copper, bronze and silver coins and 1300 gold coins. It represented an almost complete collection of regular issues in silver and gold. It included both Type I and type III dollars of 1804. Included were the unique 1866 no motto quarter, unique 1866 no motto half dollar and one of two known 1866 no motto dollars. The Brasher Doubloon was returned in July 1968. The Linderman class III 1804 dollar came to ANACS for authentication and was recovered in 1981. The Cohen class I 1804 dollar was recovered in Switzerland in 1993. In 1994 the Cohen Class I 1804 dollar was donated to the ANA. The Linderman Class II 1804 dollar was donated to the Smithsonian Institution.
bio: WWF&I 75
- 1936-05-27
- Wilmington, Delaware