The Great Montana Collection is a collection of coins which was amassed by American businessman Zollie Kelman in Great Falls, Montana. Kelman owned a business that leased games to taverns. He was able to collect many coins by sorting the coins and saving the ones with high silver content. In his collection he had amassed 60,000 silver dollars and 6000 Black Eagle dollar bills.
History
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Zollie Kelman was a business man who lived in Great Falls, Montana. He was known to keep roughly 60,000 silver dollars in his home.[1][2] He was able to empty out his gaming machines and he segregated and saved the silver coins. He involved his family in the sorting and they also became coin collectors. Zollie also collected paper money; in particular he liked to collect Black Eagle Silver Certificates. In total he collected about 6,000 of the Black Eagle dollars. In 2019, Zollie's son David opened a coin store in Great Falls.[3]
Burglary attempt
editOn October 24, 1976,[4] three men broke into the home of Kelner hoping to steal his coins. His coins were said to have a value of US$250,000 (equivalent to $1,338,596 in 2023).[1] One of the burglars came to the door and told Kelman he had a special delivery. The three men wore masks and they broke into the home.[5] Kelner and his family were held at gunpoint while the burglars searched for his silver coins.[6] The burglars were not aware that a family member was in another room calling the police.[5]
The police surrounded Kelner's home and captured the burglars.[1] One of the burglars was shot in the leg by a policeman. The burglar had tried to escape out of a window at the Kelman home.[7] Police thought that a disbarred attorney named Lavon Bretz had arranged for the burglary.[1] Three men were arrested along with Bretz.[4] Bretz later accused Kelner, the police and others of conspiring to implicate him in the crime; he filed a US$3.4 million dollar lawsuit.[8][needs update]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Bretz Charges Dropped After Witness Vanishes". Independent Record. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Inbody, Kristen (12 October 2017). "Great Falls' American Music Co. sells to Billings gaming firm". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ Spicer, Enya (28 March 2019). "Father and son keep family tradition alive in Great Falls' new coin store". Great Falls Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ a b "L.R. Bretz v. Zollie Kelman, Jack R. Lande, Eugene R. Welborn : Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit : Appeal No. 82-3111". www.plainsite.org. Think Computer. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Men charged with kidnapping, robbery in GF". Helena Independent Record. Associated Press. 26 October 1976. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Pryor Man Gets Prison Term". The Montana Standard. Associated Press. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Man arraigned from hospital". The Montana Standard. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ Adams, Frank (30 May 1979). "Bretz sues 5 men, Great Falls". Great Falls Tribune. p. 1. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
