MORE ON EDDIE ‘J.J. TEAPARTY’ LEVENTHAL

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V23 2020 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 23, Number 19, May 10, 2020, Article 21

"The article on Ed Leventhal's passing brought back fond memories for me as well. J. J. Teaparty was my numismatic hangout of choice during my college years and thereafter. I spent many happy hours there. Sometimes when the store was busy, Ed would let me go behind the counter and help serve the customers. In return, he would let me upgrade my Whitman folder sets from his more than ample stock (often 20-30 pieces, AG to the occasional XF, kept in plastic tubes) of circ better dates, things like 1911-D cents and 1926-S dimes. I also became close friends with Mike Berton, Ed's brother-in-law who was my age and worked for JJT. Rest in peace, gentleman Ed."

Richard Lobel of Coincraft submitted these thoughts on the late Eddie Leventhal of JJ Teaparty. Thanks! Thanks also to David Sundman for passing along last week's article (linked below). -Editor

I first met Eddie Leventhal in 1963, when he opened a tiny coin shop on Bromfield Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It was so small that maybe two people could stand on either side of the counter shoulder to shoulder. There was a mezzanine, but you had to climb a rickety ladder to get up it.

Eddie had had a nightmare one night about the 1773 Boston Tea Party, when the American colonists dumped tea in Boston Harbour and that is how he came up with the name ‘J.J. Teaparty.’ He had been managing a roller rink that his Father owned and doing coins part time. He decided to go into coins full and Bromfield Street was the hub of coin collecting in Boston at that time. I had dropped out of University for the first time and would haunt the coin shops in Boston on my lunch hour and that is how I met him. The Lipson family both Father and son had shops on Bromfield Street and were not too happy with Eddie moving in. But in the end, business is business and they all got along.

I met Ed’s Brother-in-law Mike Berton at the same time, Mike’s and my friendship has lasted almost 60 years, I speak to him at least twice a week. Mike or rather Teaparty have handled my America business for over 50 years and the sale of any important American coins we buy in Britain. Two years ago they got us $85,000 for an American coin which I thought was worth just $9,000.

Eddie was a good businessman and the company and the store grew rapidly. Teaparty became the largest of the many coin dealers in Boston. Years ago he sold the business and retired to Florida. I saw him several times in his retirement, when he was visiting Mike. Eddie was a tough old boot, but a good businessman who sure knew when to retire. He is survived by his wife Judy and two sons. He whipped up interest in coin collecting in Boston and will be remembered by us old timers.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
EDWIN LEVENTHAL (1930-2020) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n18a11.html)