Raphael Prosper Thian
Biography
Born in France, came to America in 1847. Naturalized on 9/28/1859. Married Katherine Brady. They had three children. Married Marguerite A. Rainey on April 11, 1866. They had one child.
Served as chief clerk with adjutant general of the United States 1861 to 1865.
Author of Currency of the Confederate States in 1884. It was illustrated with actual Confederate bank notes. Six copies were issued and three are known to survive. Author of Register of Issues of U.S. Notes and Bonds, 1887-1888. Four copies are known to survive of the five issued. These two titles are among the rarest pieces of numismatic literature.
His currency collection was sold at auction by David Proskey January 15, 1885. He was inducted into the SPMC Hall of Fame in 2016.
Source credit: Pete Smith, American Numismatic Biographies
Bio Snapshot
Date of Birth: 1830 - NovPlace of Birth: France
Date of Death: 1911 - Dec - 18