My Childhood Ambition Was to be a Pirate

1588 Spanish eight reals piece – my first piece bought under Fetchin’s guidance. It’s condition
1588 Spanish eight reals piece – my first piece bought under Fetchin’s guidance. It’s condition is X.F.
What little kid of six, or seven, or eight doesn’t want to be a pirate? Just look at Captain Hook. He had all sorts of great stuff like chests of silver and gold coins. I always thought that Peter Pan was the ultimate party pooper. About the age of five or so, I set about getting my own treasure together, one piece at a time.

I saved my money and went to Ephraime’s Book Shop in Worcester. Then years later I went to Fuzzie Furbush’s in Framingham, Mass. Here in the 1950’s, I could dive through those great boxes of material where you could get coins of all sorts for a dime each or three for 25 cents. Then there were the 50 cent boxes where one could find real pirate silver with images of Charles III and IV of Spain or Ferdinand VII. For a dollar and a half, you could buy an honest to goodness piece of eight with a hole drilled through it. It must have hung around some sea dog’s neck on a piece of leather. Maybe it was for good luck.

My real good luck was when I met my friend Fetchin Holmes. He seemed and seems a citizen of everywhere and nowhere. He is an impressive sage who was ageless then just as he is ageless now. Observing me at Furbush’s for some time, he asked me, “How much money have you got?”

This is a Spanish eight reals minted in Peru in 1798 in M.S.64 condition with Charles IV showing coat of arms.
This is a Spanish eight reals minted in Peru in 1798 in M.S.64 condition with Charles IV showing coat of arms.
That was a very strange question. He sort of fixed me with his gray eyes. His shirt was crisp and well starched. His silk tie was tied with a perfect Windsor knot. He wore a perfectly cut tweed jacket, well pressed wool trousers of dark brown, and brown wing-tipped shoes. His voice was soft, but had a quality of no-nonsense about it. Mr. Holmes had an air about him of not suffering fools. I also noted that the man who worked for Mr. Furbush treated Mr. Holmes with great respect. In fact, he whispered to me, “You had better listen to Mr. Holmes. He knows a lot,”

I pulled myself together and said, “About $10 or $12. Maybe a little more I think.” He smiled at me and said, “What were you about to buy out of those boxes over there?” I showed him my intended purchases. He sifted through them, then smiled at me and said, “Put them back. Life is a series of investments, not one dime should be wasted on a bad investment.”

By 1821, the Spanish Americans had driven their Spanish overlords out of North, Central, and South America. Here is a “Cap and Rays” eight reals coin minted at Mexico City in 1836, the year of the Battle of the Alamo and the year Santa Anna lost Texas. The coin’s condition is M.S.65.
By 1821, the Spanish Americans had driven their Spanish overlords out of North, Central, and South America. Here is a “Cap and Rays” eight reals coin minted at Mexico City in 1836, the year of the Battle of the Alamo and the year Santa Anna lost Texas. The coin’s condition is M.S.65.
He motioned to John, the man who worked for Fuzzy, and said, “Would you be kind enough to bring that tray of crowns over here please. Thank you.” Now he said to me what do you see?” “A lot of coins I can’t afford.” I replied. “Now why is that?” “They are all priced at $12 and more,” I answered. “So they are. I think that my friend John might do better for you. I just spent a few dollars with him myself. Maybe in light of that, he might show you some consideration. What is your name young man?”

“James C. Johnston, Jr.” I answered. “Now that’s pretty formal, don’t you think? I’m Fetchin Holmes. You may call me Fetchin, and I’ll call you Jim. Now let’s just look at these coins shall we.”

We looked for some time, and an eight reals of Spain caught my eye. It had nice even wear, and I asked, “May I see the other side?”

“You mean the reverse, Jim,” Fetchin said. “The front of the coin is called the obverse by coin collectors and the backs are called the reverse.”

Fetchin looked at the coin which was clearly marked $22.50. “Well John, what do you think that our young friend Jim here might have this coin for?”

John looked at us and smiled a smile of one who knows what’s going on around him. “I think that Mr. Furbush could still make something at say $12.”

The Bolivian eight reals cob was my second purchase under Fetchin’s guidance. It’s condition is X.F.
The Bolivian eight reals cob was my second purchase under Fetchin’s guidance. It’s condition is X.F.
“Well,” said Fetchin, “Now Jim, what can you come up with?” I pulled out my wallet and counted out the bills it held. Six ones and a five. I then dug into my pockets, and this search yielded another six dollars and 50 cents. “I’ve got enough and $5.50 more.”

“My advice is buy that coin and an envelope to keep it in. Write down the date you bought it, from whom, and how much you paid for it, and oh yes, another thing, never clean this or any other coin.”

I promised that I would not.

“By the way Jim, why did you buy the 1588 Spanish eight reals piece?” asked Fetchin. “Why that is the year of the great defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English. Spain’s seapower was broken, and the English Sea Dogs made mincemeat of Spain’s great overseas empire.”

Ferdinand VII on an 1809 eight reals coin of Spain – Joseph Bonapart was to take Ferdinand’s place on the coin and on his throne as well. The condition of the coin is A.U.55.
Ferdinand VII on an 1809 eight reals coin of Spain – Joseph Bonapart was to take Ferdinand’s place on the coin and on his throne as well. The condition of the coin is A.U.55.
“You like naval history do you?”

“Yes, I do,” I answered.

“How much money do you have left Jim?”

“I’ve got $5.50,” I replied.

“John let’s see that tray of crowns again.”

John brought the tray over to us as we sat under the lamp. “Now James,’’ using the most formal of manners, “What is the oddest and most primitive looking coin in that tray.” I studied the coins for a while, then I pointed to an oddly shaped lumpish looking coin, and said, “That one.”

“You have chosen one of the oddest and most primitive coins, but now really look at it, and tell me what you see.”

“It’s not really worn, but it is roughly made. I’m sure that it really looks about as good as it did when it was first struck in the 1600’s.”

Fetchin asked, “Do you know what these are called?”

I answered, “Cobs, which is from the Spanish meaning cut from a bar.”

“Right again, Jim. How old are you?”

“Fourteen.”

“Do you read a lot of books?”

“Yes I do. Mostly history,” I replied.

“How would you like to learn a lot more about these “Pirate Coins” you like so much?” Fetchin Holmes asked.

“Yes, I’d like to very much,” I answered.

“I come here every other Wednesday.

At least I think it was Wednesday, whatever day it was, it was the day that John was runnning the shop.

Fetchin continued, “Nobody at my office ever bothers me here from two to six in the afternoon on those days. By the way, why don’t you buy that cob. It’s a really nice coin.”

“It’s priced at more than I have.”

“Is it now? Say John, what did you say that you would sell me that cob for? Wasn’t it five dollars and 50 cents?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Holmes. I think that that was the price.”

“Thanks John and Fetchin. I’ll back two weeks from now. I have to catch my ride back to Franklin by five.” I said running off to link up with my ride.

“Another thing Mr. James C. Johnston, Jr., always buy the best you can afford, that way you’ll never have any regrets,” hollered Fetchin after me.

My hero, Captain Kidd, in conversation with Gov. Beaumont. “He had found the Captain agreeable and companionable.”
My hero, Captain Kidd, in conversation with Gov. Beaumont. “He had found the Captain agreeable and companionable.”
Over the next half century I discovered that Fetchin applied those rules to everything he ever collected from coins, to stamps, rare books, pottery, silver, porcelain from all over the world, paintings, Americana, fine furniture, textiles, glass, and every facet of antiques beyond naming. Quality enhances the spiritual value of all things, both real and abstract.

If you wish to catch up with me in late June and July, I’ll be at the following shows all run by the prince of New England Coin Show Promoters, Ernie Botte. On June 25, 2006 I’ll be at Ernie Botte’s show at the beautiful Westford Regency Inn on Rt. 110 in Westford, Mass. Take Exit 32 off Rt. 495 and turn right onto Rt. 110. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On July 9, Sunday, I’ll be at Ernie’s Auburn Coin Show. Just exit the Massachusetts Turnpike at Exit 10 and then proceed south on Rt. 12 about 1-1/2 miles to the New Elk’s Hall, located right next to the Hampton Inn Hotel sign. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One Sunday, July 23, I’ll be back at Ernie’s Show at the Westford Regency Inn in Westford. We all have a lot of new material, and will take great pleasure at seeing all of you Journal readers there.

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