The Schulman-number

The descriptions of many coins bear the so called Schulman-number. Sometimes written out in full, but more often abbreviated to LSch. 150 (Sch.152). What is the origin of this Schulman-number and what does it mean?

Origin

During the German occupation of our country a curfew prohibited people to be outside after 8 o’clock pm. Jacques Schulman spent these long winter evenings gathering numismatic data, often aided by a carbide or oil lamp. Many of these data he took from the card index that had been kept up to date since the late 18hundreds by the Schulman numismatists. In this card index all the coins and medals were each described that had passed through Schulman’s hands.

The Standard Work on the Dutch Coins

After the war, Jacques Schulman meticulously checked these data and then published his work on the Dutch Coins 1795-1945. It had been his aim to write a practical, easy to consult handbook with detailed information on mint marks, mint master marks, engravers, rarity, and historical and numismatic particularities. As many as possible of the coins that Jacques Schulman described in this handbook, he has held himself in his own hands and verified them with the description.

To each coin in the handbook of the Dutch Coins Jacques Schulman accorded a number: the famous Schulman-number.

1946. First edition by Jacques Schulman