HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 14

By early February 1953, we were preparing to move our store from 46th Street to our current location on West 57th Street. This included moving our inventory, including the cases loaded with coins that were set up behind our counters and down a hallway leading to the back of the shop. The coins were housed small 2x2 boxes in trays so they could be examined easily. Each tray was 22 X 18 inches in size. Some of the world coins were initially sent to Coin Galleries, the balance was to go to our new store.

Moving these cabinets was hard. First, we first had to find a lift-back truck, with a gate that came down so each cabinet could be put on a dolly, loaded on the truck and then driven to the new location. The thought that the cabinets might roll or shift during the move made us all cringe a bit.

Measurements were carefully calculated to place the cases in order on their new wall space. When the moving teams were in place, Morton dispatched each cabinet in order. I supervised the truck loading and unloading, and I traveled "shot gun," riding in the truck to insure safe delivery. Uncle Joe, (who later liked to be called "J.B.") directed the arrangement of the cabinets at the new location at 123. Each move was slow and careful, but it all got done. New showcases and chairs had already been delivered and were ready to be placed, so in relatively short order (over a three-day weekend) Stack's would be back in business. When I remember it now, especially at my age, it still amazes me that we could get it done.

Our vast stock of United States coins, especially the silver and copper coins, was in drawers about 10 inches wide by 18 inches deep. Each cabinet had six of these draws across and 8 high. Within each drawer were 2x2 coin envelopes each holding one coin. Each section was heavy, especially when there were half dollar and dollar coins in the envelopes. We made covers for each tray, strapped them closed, numbered them, and moved them one by one on dollies. Taking out each drawer and wrapping it for transport was done by our staff and myself. In those days I was learning more about moving than numismatics.

In early April we were ready to do business at 123 West 57th Street. Over the move we had managed to keep one location open, answer phone calls, wait on customers, fill orders and catalog for a forthcoming auction or two. For several weeks during that time we spent seven days a week in the shop, but it was worth it to stay in operation. During that time, my uncle "J.B" also traveled to see clients and bought and sold as he went from place to place. He even went to Lawrence, Massachusetts. to appraise an estate and make an offer, a story I will tell later.

The coin business was very active. We maintained our usual schedule of auctions and produced price lists. We were able to host the Metropolitan New York convention auction, the New England Numismatic auction and other sales.

Numismatic history was also being made. King Farouk of Egypt, an avid collector of coins and other things, abdicated his throne in 1952. In early 1953 it was announced that his massive numismatic collection would be sold in Cairo in 1954. We heard that the U.S. coins would be sold in group lots, cataloged by Baldwin of London, and sold by Sotheby's in Egypt. There was a general feeling that bargains might be found in these group lots. Dealers were informed that large deposits would have to be made in dollars before they could bid and that invoices would have to be paid after each session. They started to accumulate funds to attend the sale, and Stack’s also began setting funds aside to attend.

But, things do not always go as expected, and as fate would have it, other events would come about that would take precedence over the Farouk offerings.

To read the complete article, see:
Harvey Stack Remembers: Growing up in a Numismatic Family, Part 14 (http://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=2907)

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