Insights for those who might have a coin or any other collection fall into their lap.

The recent, well-written article, “What to Do with an Inherited Collection,” [By Mike Thorne] on pages 25-27 of the Aug. 22 issue of Numismatic News, sparked my thoughts and raised my interest. Having endured the burden of settling an estate of a fellow well-known coin hobbyist, the late Gordon R. Donnell (1935-2009), I would like to share some additional insights and maybe enlightenment for those who might have a coin collection or any collection fall into their lap.

Gordon R. Donnell was a presence in our hobby for two decades. Beginning in the late 1980s, he became heavily involved, and I mean heavily committed, to organized numismatics, from local northern California coin clubs up to the American Numismatic Association (ANA). His Krause Publications’ Numismatic Ambassador Award and ANA’s Glenn Smedley, plus the Northern California Numismatic Association’s coveted Miller Medal, are evidence enough to verify his dedication and devotion to organized numismatics, only to be cut down with his battle, lost, to cancer.

Gordon chose, upon recommendation, once he progressed into hospice, to have a will and testament done via my personal attorney. I did not know the full contents until his last days when I brought him to Veteran’s Hospital in Martinez, Calif., for his final months.

Gordon made me both the executor and his sole inheritor. With his last weeks in hospice and later with his death, onto my shoulders fell a huge burden.

Let me share experiences as a heads-up for Numismatic News readers when or if the same falls upon your shoulders.

First, I became responsible for Gordon’s cremation, his memorial service, cleaning and emptying his studio apartment, and his collections, I mean his collections, in the plural.

Second, there were paralleling pressures: one arranging his cremation, which was his preference, including having his last pack of cigarettes burned with him and cleaning and emptying his apartment. Gordon resided in Piedmont, Calif., and that required trips from my home 30 miles away.

So, what are the lessons for Numismatic News readers:

Time. When all was, at last, done and cleared out, not just his apartment, all his “stuff,” it took me five-plus years – yes, five and more years! – and I did not really close the books until 10 years later. Be prepared. Time, in weeks, months, and even years, shall be demanded.

Volume. Even in a small studio apartment, Gordon had, it seemed, everything! Every shelf was filled, there were woods and coins on his bed, under the bed, and behind the bed, the one windowsill was covered, stacks of woods and medals on almost every open space, and a chest in the bathroom, plus two shelf units with books, folders and souvenir cards. Gordon also had a collection of collectible beer steins, his wood carving hobby, and his furniture that had to be removed and disposed of.

Take his books, and there were many, quite many. In desperation, working against time, having to get the apartment cleared and cleaned, I begged the late Gene C. Hoy (1932-2017) to drive over from neighboring Millbrae and take boxes. There were enough boxes to fill the entire bed – and I mean the entire bed – of his Ranger. These were donated to the Liberty Numismatic Society of Millbrae as a fundraiser.

In the end, I had to rent a storage locker, and it was packed. 

Look everywhere and check. Gordon had a small basement locker filled with woods. He had rolled coins among his clothes. He placed anything anywhere with no rhyme or reason. I found his small accumulation of gold buried in the back of his lamp stand!

Help. The volume and the time constraint compelled me to seek assistance. A few fellow hobbyists, all known to Gordon, assisted and did some heavy lifting. Sadly, two have now passed. Thanks to them, the apartment was emptied, only to the consternation of the apartment complex’s management due to the volume being disposed of and dumped into the dumpster.

What else? True, the fine article in Numismatic News speaks of inherited coin collections. But my experience with Gordon confirms that real coin hobbyists have much more than the coins. For example, what was I to do with the beer steins? Or his massive accumulations of VHS tapes? His high school yearbooks, too, which I have retained. His award plaques?

Again, I commend the recent Numismatic News article and hope this submission provides some heads-up to those who might, sooner or later, deal with a coin collection and maybe much more, and again much more.

To end, what I did was what any caring and compassionate fellow coin hobbyist should or would do for someone who served, contributed, revealed, and enhanced our world of money.

Gordon, RIP. Thanks for being a friend.