96US

“THE 1776 PAUL COLLECTOR”

EDWARD C. PAUL III

ack in 1975, Edward C. Paul III’s father told him that their family could be traced back to the American Revolu-

tionary War (1775-1783). With this in mind, Edward joined the New Jersey and New York Historical Societies, and

began to investigate his genealogy. Through the course of his research, Edward discovered that he was, in fact, a

direct descendant of Israel Putnam (1718-1790), an American army general officer who distinguished himself at the

Battle of Bunker Hill (1775). Edward’s developing fascination with the Revolutionary War, along with his familial

connection to this momentous historical event, led him to join the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), a male

lineage organization dedicated to sustaining and preserving U.S. history and constitutional principles. Inspired by the

achievements of his ancestor, “Old Put,” and sustained by an ever-increasing sense of respect and admiration for the

men who fought and died for American independence, Edward subsequently built an extraordinary coin collection

around the Revolutionary War date of 1776.