Coins, Tokens and Medals of the West Indies from the Isaac Rudman Collection

Isaac Rudman

Isaac Rudman could be considered the ultimate collector. His passion and enthusiasm is second to none and the breath and scope of his collecting interests are simply amazing. His numismatic interests included Mexico and Spain (both of these collections have since been sold) along with Cuba and other areas. His collection of Santo Domingo/Dominican Republic surely must rank as the best in the world. Along with his wife, Betty, they have formed a very major collection of paintings by South American artists and these are exhibited at various events in the USA and Europe.

I first met Isaac at the Jess Peters auction of the Ray Byrne collection of West Indian coins in June 1975. At that time Isaac’s interest in the cut and countermarked series was low level, however, there was much other material in that sale that was of high interest to him. A very happy association was formed that included Edward Roehrs, Ralph Gordon, Dick Ford, Isaac and myself. A couple of years later we got together at Edward’s wonderful home in Arecibo, Puerto Rico for a long weekend of coins. This event carried on until just a year or two before Edward’s passing in 2008.

By the time the Pridmore collection came up for auction Isaac’s interest in the cut and countermarked series had become very keen indeed. After that sale Isaac attended all of the major sales of West Indies and London became the ‘go-to-place’ for this specialist material. We attended the collection sales of John J. Ford, Ralph Gordon, Bill Tankersley, Edward Roehrs among others. Isaac was a major bidder via the internet at the Bob Lyall sale. Now his collection of cut and countermarked coins of the West Indies certainly outshines them all.

Although the current sale only offers a few countermarked coins of Jamaica there is a very significant offering of high grade regular coins of Jamaica and a selection of coins, along with important tokens and medallions from Jamaica and other West Indies locals.

I have been so fortunate to have met Isaac and that such a strong and lasting friendship has been established.

Ken Eckardt
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire