Münzhandlung Basel/MuM
Münzhandlung Basel, which eventually would become Münzen und Medaillen A.G., also known as “MuM”, “M&M” and “Monnaies et Médailles”, was founded by the third generation of coin dealers from the Cahn Family in 1934 by brothers Erich Cahn (1913-1993) and Herbert Cahn (1915-2002). The brothers had previously worked with their father, Adolph Cahn, in Frankfurt, but fled from Germany as the Nazi's began their rise to power. The original business in Basel had started with the acquisition of the collection of Prince Waldeck of Arolsen, financed by Sigmund Morgenroth. The Prince's collection was sold in a series of sales by the new firm.
After a series of 10 sales, the business was reorganized and its owners comprised mainly local shareholders a, such as Christoph Bernouilli, Paul Dreyfus, Jacob Trott and August Voirol. Initially, business was slow for the new firm, as borders were closed due to the Second World War. The firm's stock had been sold, and its extensive network of foreign contacts largely unreachable in the aftermath of the conflagration. Eventually, as Europe returned to something approaching normalcy, business picked up. The final auction of the Basel company, their 95th, took place in 2004. The firm continues today as Münzen und Medaillen GMBH, a German branch originally established in 1997.
After a series of 10 sales, the business was reorganized and its owners comprised mainly local shareholders a, such as Christoph Bernouilli, Paul Dreyfus, Jacob Trott and August Voirol. Initially, business was slow for the new firm, as borders were closed due to the Second World War. The firm's stock had been sold, and its extensive network of foreign contacts largely unreachable in the aftermath of the conflagration. Eventually, as Europe returned to something approaching normalcy, business picked up. The final auction of the Basel company, their 95th, took place in 2004. The firm continues today as Münzen und Medaillen GMBH, a German branch originally established in 1997.
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Biblio: Hadrien J. Rambach, Provenance Glossary of Coins in the George W. LaBorde Collection (published over three auctions in NAC 91, 99 and 105) (description)