Reading Ginger Raspus' article in the last E-Sylum reminded me of my days of youth!!!!! I went to high school in Waukegan, Illinois. Before I got my driver's license in 1961 or 62, I used to take the old North Shore line, which was an electric train that ran between Milwaukee and Chicago. I would go the coin dealers in the Loop and then go to North Clark St.

Sometimes (actually quite a few times) I would skip school to go to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs play, or if they weren't playing, just go to the Coin Shops!!!!!!!!

I am attaching an ancient newspaper clipping (courtesy of my mother) circa 1963 or 1964, I think. I am the big 6'2" kid on the left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The coin trade took a big hit in 1965, if I remember correctly, and Erv, the owner......had to run it by himself....and I headed south to Virginia!!!!

I have read with interest the listing of shops in Chicago, however, I think they left several out.

Regarding Erv Beskow, I believe he married one of the daughters of Bob Jacobs who at that time had a shop on, either north Kedzie or Kimball. I have not spoken to him in more than 25 years. also I remember a shop called Daru coins run by Don Urchel on Archer Ave, now called Chicago coin and run by the very professional Bill Burd.

In the loop (downtown area), during the 1960’s, there is RARCOA (formerly Ben’s Coins) which sold out to Edward Milas and after he passed RARCOA moved to the suburbs and sold out to Harlan Berk who was for years in Joliet and always longed for a shop in the loop.

Around the corner was John Ross Coins & Stamps, he usually had a very nice selection of world coins (my interest) and he was always a gentleman. Down the street from him was another small shop, the name escapes me.

At 22 W. Madison in an office building was Windy City Coins, (Marvin Frank), One street south (I think) one would find the firm of Carl & Jon Subak also in a high rise, who always had nice unusual coins there.

On Jackson a few years later was Walter (Bud) Perschke who recently passed away (he was the owner of the Brasher Doubloon).

On the South side, the previous person mentions Larry Whitlow, who was in a shopping center Evergreen Park, on 95th & Western. Further east was the shop of Joe Gaidar, and after he passed away, the shop was bought by Kraso Coins. There were others in the south part of the city, but this was as far as went.

Moving North, was Jim’s Coins in Berwyn, who worked at Sunbeam and was only open 5-9 PM and Saturdays.

And after the market crash of the mid 1960’s there were four or five shops run by Jim Bayer (now in Appleton Wisconsin) and Russ Malone. There were the shops purchased from Clem Wojdak (Miracle Mile Coins).

And I just remembered another shop in Elmhurst, Sage Coins.

Further north was Toria Coins, owned by Lucille Frost, which had a very popular bid board.

And one small shop, I cannot remember the owner’s name on Division and Milwaukee. Further north was the shop of Edwin (Red) Strauss, (on Devon near Kedzie) and when he moved north to Woodfield Mall, he sold out to Lou Goldstein (Lucky Lou’s Shop). I almost forgot, there was also a show on Devon Avenue, east of Western run by a man by the name of Friedman, he was also an instructor at Lane Tech, where I went to High School.

In the mid 1960’s there was a shop directly across from the Campus who lasted a few years.

Besides these shops, and I think I am missing a few, there were weekly coin shows around town attracting 15-25 dealers. First Sunday Elmhurst Knights of Columbus Hall; second Sunday was the show at Leaning Tower YMCA; third Sunday was Banana’s Steak House on the south side, and fourth Sunday was a show at the North Town Bowling Alley on Oakton in Skokie in the basement.

These shows are where I got my best education as the dealers who set up were always interested in talking about coins in general. Alas, most of the gentlemen from above are no longer with us. And the market has totally changed from shops where one could always enjoy a cup of coffee or a soda and talk about coins; to the industry we know today as the internet.

In the early 1950s, I had my first meaningful coin shop experiences in the establishment of Adison Smith, in the Jenkins Arcade, right in the heart of the old downtown Golden Triangle in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Smith was an older man (probably about my age now) on an upper floor in the Arcade, home to a great many offices of a wide variety of professions.

His office had a safe, a few simple counters, and a few chairs. He might be playing checkers or chess with a friend when customers arrived.

Possibly, a cigar on an ash tray, but I don’t recall any problem with it being in use.

Coin trays in the display cases would have been set out for the business day, and then returned to the safe which door was open.

He mainly had coins, not accessories, books, or other hobby items, a very traditional old coin shop.

His prices were all at 80% of the Red Book, and he paid 60% when buying. He made his living on that 20% difference. That was my introduction to numismatics as a young teenager.

I had been born into a family with a coin accumulation, my father having dropped Indian Head cents through the slotted lid on an old fruit jar. They became a Collection when I organized them.

As a newspaper carrier I went through my coins as I started on Whitman coin folders. Then advanced to bulk coins from the bank. I later graduated to nicer coin folders, took The Numismatic Scrapbook magazine, and later joined ANA, and got really serious.

My earliest attention was devoted to learning about grading, the degree of wear and damage coins had sustained as they circulated. I’ll never forget the day Mr. Smith took the time to teach me about the initial quality of the strike when a coin was minted. He showed me a large seated liberty silver coin that had “Fully Struck-up” stars (his expression,) and emphasized that they were not always that well struck. He then showed me several other classic coins, and noted the areas in each that were critical elements in determining the quality of that coin, beyond its ‘grade.’ I always considered him my mentor, and that day was my first step from coin collector toward numismatist.

Smith was very proud of his silver ANA medal awarded for 25 years of membership. It was taped under the glass in his display case. If I encounter him in an afterlife, I’ll be pleased to show him my 50 year gold ANA medal and thank him for taking the time to share his knowledge.

The post card photo of Frank Dupee Coins was his store on 209 George Street in New Haven, CT. I went there quite frequently as a kid the the 1960's. Great guy.