The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 42, October 2, 2005, Article 25

MEMORIES OF THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN SHOW

Alan V. Weinberg writes: "Regarding the NY Metropolitan coin
show, as I recall it was always held in March each year back in
the late 50's and early 60's. In a small ballroom at the then-Park
Sheraton Hotel around the corner from Stack's on 57th St.

It was the 2nd biggest show each year after the ANA and
Stack's always had an auction in connection with it back then.

Robert Batchelder (still around, prominent in paper historicana
now), Max Kaplan, Herb Tobias, Ed Shapiro, a very youthful
Dave Bowers, Harry Forman, Wormser and Ford of New
Netherlands , Cathy Bullowa, F.K. Saab, "Foxy" Steinberg ,
Isadore Snyderman, Jerry Cohen, Lester Merkin, Dan Messer,
Bob Jenove, Tom Wass, Ben Levin, Ed "Hawk" Shapiro and
others rimmed the periphery of the room, perhaps 1/5th the size
of a normal bourse room now. All coins were "raw", priced at a
tiny fraction of prices today (I distinctly recall gem toned Barber
proof halves priced at $50) and rarities abounded. You could
have your pick of 3 - 4 genuinely Extremely Fine 1793 Chain
cents at this show. Choice Extremely Fine New Jersey colonials,
often unattributed, at $35 were quite plentiful and unattributed
choice Connecticut coppers were so numerous they were
considered a "poor man's colonial".

I recall at one show around 1959 NY club President Martin F.
Kortjohn approached me, a kid, on the bourse floor and pulled
me aside, warning me I'd be kicked off the bourse floor if he
saw me again selling coins to the bourse dealers as I did not
have a bourse table. Unheard of today.

I recall viewing the superb exhibits on the hotel's balcony above
the bourse floor. R.L. Miles, who cleaned most of his coins,
exhibited his almost complete US coin collection and later
auctioned it at Stack's. But there was an utterly superb exhibit
of early American coin rarities in the finest condition. I was
mesmerized by it and got as close to the display case glass as
possible to view these incredible treasures. An elderly, well
dressed man approached me and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Like what you see?" We got into a lengthy conversation.
Turned out he was Harold Bareford and it was his exhibit. I
still shake my head in wonder at meeting him and seeing his
exhibit of several cases. He was definitely one of the most
particular and demanding collectors of the 20th century.

Those were good times - before slabs, unaffordable prices,
and multiple massive auctions preceding a major coin show."

[Ah, for the Good Old Days. Who else has some
recollections of these old shows to share with us?
How about other memorable shows of the past? -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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