An Invitation to Come to New York City!

On Monday, January 12, New York City is the place to be! Perhaps you will already be in town as part of the International Coin Show that started last week, or perhaps you will be coming north from the Florida United Numismatists convention in Orlando and our Orlando Sale held there. Or, perhaps this will be a special trip to the city on its own. Come early for lot viewing.

On the 12th, for most of the day on Monday in our new auction gallery we will be offering the Golden Horn Collection of ancient and world coins. Our Americana Sale begins at 7:30 in the evening, showcasing the Adams Collection. On Tuesday the 13th our Americana Sale continues at 1:00 in the afternoon, going into the evening. As a registered bidder you will be our guest for dinner, after which the evening session will take place. Then on Wednesday the 14th our sale will start at 1:00 and continue until the last lot is sold, later in the afternoon.

Apart from our auction, this is a nice time of year to visit New York City. We are just a few steps from Fifth Avenue, where stores will be having sales galore. Broadway beckons and museum exhibitions are beyond comparison.

If a trip to New York is not on your schedule, you can participate on the Internet, on the telephone (by advance arrangement), or by sending your bids by mail. Which ever way you choose, many great opportunities await you. This, indeed, will be an Americana Sale to be remembered.

The John W. Adams Collection of Indian Peace Medals begins the sale, after which there are two more days of numismatic treasures. Early medals include Indian peace issues from other sources, complementing the Adams Collection. Betts medals will command attention, Comitia Americana medals likewise, and the Libertas Americana medal is a perennial favorite (ours is in silver).

War of 1812 naval medals in silver, other military medals, Washingtoniana, the largest collection of Feuchtwanger tokens ever to cross the auction block, Hard Times tokens, Civil War tokens, and encased postage stamps (including ones pedigreed to the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection) are wonderful in their depth and breadth and include landmark rarities. Glassware and silverware includes many numismatically-related names such as Burger, Brasher, Richardson, and Van Voorhis -some amazing items for display.

Colonial coins include a memorable cabinet of Connecticut coppers 1785-1788, spangled with rarities and the Brian Danforth Collection of Voce Populi, Saint Patrick (Mark Newby), Rosa Americana, and Hibernia coins. Four Continental dollars are in the offing, as are rare and important Machin's Mills coppers. A gold Washington funeral medal, a section of so-called dollars (including a Wilson in gold), a Bermuda twopence, and other coins lead the way to federal issues.

Half cents of 1793, a lovely 1793 Chain cent, a memorable 1804 dime, and 1874-CC dime recently discovered in Europe, John J. Pittman's landmark 1804 quarter in Mint State, an AU 1796 half dollar, an 1836 name below base Gobrecht dollar, pattern coins, gem gold, two 1879 Stellas, multiple MCMVII High Relief double eagles and more await you.

You are cordially invited to come to New York City, or you can participate via the Internet, by telephone (with advance arrangements), or by mail.

Our Americana Sale will be a highlight of the New Year. You are invited to be a part of it!

This news item, sort of, is from Tom Denly's advertisement, page 7, Bank Note Reporter, December 2008. Tom has been a fine friend and professional colleague for a long time:

Last week while set up at the Coin Fest Coin & Currency Show in Stamford, Connecticut (a very well run, first class, show in only its second year), I was robbed by a person with fast hands.

Dealer Matt DeRoma who was set up beside me, noted one of the three clients whom I was waiting on was acting very suspiciously, watching me rather than viewing the notes in front of him. Matt called security who watched the person from a distance but they saw nothing. Matt told me of his concern after the man left and I could see that notes were missing. How many notes were missing or the extent of the loss I could not tell until my return to the office on Monday.

By the end of Monday we had a list of about forty notes missing with value over fifty thousand dollars. Dave Bowers whom I am assisting in the pricing of bank notes for his forthcoming Whitman Encyclopedia of United States Paper Money called, was informed of our loss and he asked for a listing of the missing notes. Dave is working hard to finish his Encyclopedia and his calls on Tuesday included Don Kelly, famous for his National Bank Notes book and accompanying CD.

Don heard of our loss and asked Dave Bowers to e-mail him the list of missing notes. It was late on Tuesday that I got a call that Don had been offered some of the stolen notes, and yes the serial number positively identified them as the Denly's missing notes.

A true gentleman, Mr. Ted Young of a small town just north of Pittsburgh had purchased some of the notes on Monday and on Tuesday offered them to Don Kelly. Don advised Mr. Young of the facts on the stolen notes and from the minute he was advised of same he was ready to co-operate with the police in catching the criminals and retrieving the missing notes. On Wednesday the Stamford Police had talked with Mr. Young's hometown police and a call was made to the two men who had sold the first batch of notes to Mr. Young (it should be noted Mr. Young requires a license as identification on any purchase). The men in question were told please bring those bank notes back in as we have a top quality buyer.

When the men in question came to the store they were arrested and a good number of my notes were recovered. I tell this story to show all how lucky I am and to tell all how the work of Matt DeRoma, Dave Bowers, Don Kelly and Ted Young resulted in catching the people who stole from me. If you talk to any of these four people shake their hands and say thank you for it is great people like these four that make this hobby so great.

-Tom Denly.

David T. Alexander

Stack’s is proud to announce the election of our own David T. Alexander as a Fellow of the American Numismatic Society at their annual meeting October 25, 2008. He is a twenty eight year member of the ANS and elected an Augustus B. Sage Society member in 2005 as well. This noted author and cataloguer also presented papers at the 1999 and 2004 Coinage of the Americas Conference. As an author, David is a Contributing Editor to COINage magazine and a columnist for Coin World. He founded Medal Collectors of America (MCA) in 1998. His numerous numismatic accolades include the Glenn B. Smedley Award, ANA Medal Award and the prestigious NLG Clemy Award in 1987. He revised and updated Cornelius C. Vermeule’s Numismatic Art in America for Whitman Publishing in 2007.

David’s two decade tenure with Stack’s has been laden with significant accomplishments within the numismatic auction cataloguing front including a multitude of single owner collection sales and individual rarities. His diverse range, in a multitude of specialties, is well respected by all his professional colleagues. From Ancient and International coins, U.S. Federal issues, and of course Tokens & Medals, David has catalogued countless auction lots within 100’s of important and award winning catalogues. Earlier this year he catalogued the world record setting Polish 100 Ducat gold piece of Sigismund III for our Kroisos Collection Sale. Most recently he has catalogued the Ernest E. Keusch Collection of United States Assay Medals, 1860-1977 for our November 2008 Baltimore Sale.

Congratulations David!!!!

In Grading Coins by Photographs, Q. David Bowers has crafted a unique combination of step-by-step grading instructionsfor every federal coinage series from half centsto double eagles, plus information on the history and importance of grading; expertgrading techniques; understanding the surfaces of coins; and smart grading and buying. His insightful text is combined with high-resolution color photographs for each grade, plus Proofs.

Full Color · 384 Pages
Spiralbound Softcover
Retail: $19.95