HARVEY STACK ON NEW YORK'S NUMISMATIC DISTRICT

Paul Bosco's ( N.Y. Numismatic Walking Tour" was great to read and did awaken my memories of how Numismatics moved North in New York, following the directions set forth by the "Carriage Trade". As Lower New York got crowded with businesses and homes in the early 1900's the city started to move northward on Manhattan Island.

Starting at the Bowery, the lowest point of Manhattan, jewelers, banks, residences and businesses in general moved North. The earliest moves were to the 20's and 30's, from Park Ave to Broadway centered near the new department stores, Macy's and Gimbels near 34th Street. The two stores, MACY'S and GIMBELS , were really anchor locations and many businesses opened near them if possible. They attracted the multitude of shoppers who came to the area for quality and service of clothing and furniture.

The jewelry trades and antique shops from lower New York, moved up with them. It was the major shopping relocation in Manhattan. A group of Coin Dealers, Stamp dealers, Antique and Fine Art dealers followed them and relocated STACK'S opened a shop on 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue, near the jewelers. It had great transportation available, with an elevated train service and bus service and therefore easy to get to. The walk-in shop was a great attraction. and though for the first years at this location, they also had a Postage Stamp Department, Numismatics was their prominent business.

Other coin dealers occupied the area as STACK'S was a drawing card, and they included David Proskey, Wayte Raymond and Scott's Stamp and Coin. All occupied upstairs offices which required walking up a few flights of stairs or taking an elevator. Going off the street was not popular and many people had the fear of shopping above street Level.

When in 1939 and somewhat later Stack's moved, (with the Jewelry and antique dealers further north, mostly in the 1940's before World War II, and established the streets between 42nd Street 52nd Street between Madison Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenue) which became the new UPTOWN ELITE SHOPPING CENTER FOR NEW YORK.

STACK'S found location on 46th Street, just off 5th Avenue which became the epicenter for Hobby shoppers, Jewelers and Fine Antiques. It was near the new subway on 6th Avenue and had nearby bus service.

Coin Dealers and other hobby shops located nearby, and the ones that Paul Bosco discusses drew collectors to the area. However he did not discuss some that were noted dealers in the area, i.e. R.M.Smythe, F.C.C.Boyd, Park Benet Galleries, N.Y,. Stamp and Coin, Wayte Raymond, Scott's, N.Y. Stamp and Coin, Barney Bluestone, Henry Grunthal, Jacob Hirsch, Max Kaplan, Manhattan Coin Co., Herb Melnick, Louis Werner, to mention just a few that were all within walking distance of 2 to 5 streets from STACK'S.

A few blocks further north on or near 5th Avenue were Isador Scheider and Ed Gans, also walking distance from the "Numismatic Walking Center". Both specialized in Ancient and Foreign gold, silver and copper coins.

If you didn't mind a short walk going back downtown, you could find both Macy's and Gimbels Department Stores, each have a Rare Coin and Rare Postage Stamp Department. The most successful of these was the Gimbels Operation with the Stamp Department operated by Minkus Stamp Company.

However the leader in the Department Store operation was Gimbels Numismatic Department, operated by Capital Coin Company, under the direct ownership of both Jack and Robert Friedberg. It grew to become a very large operation as a department store coin hobby center. As Gimbels expanded its various locations after World War II, the company had opened and operated 33 different locations, with the full control of the New York Base office. 'Til the passing of Robert Friedberg they were very successful for several decades.

All of the names and locations mentioned above were very successful through the 1960's and early 70ths, till the owners retired or passed away. Unfortunately few survive today.

STACK'S has survived virtually all of those famous and popular names of the past, and for 87 years led the coin industry in developing the hobby, as a Numismatic Center and "club house" in New York.

If one wanted to see more coins and learn more, years ago within 4 blocks from our 46th offices an important museum opened, The Chase Manhattan Money Museum, which had special exhibits and lectures on weekends, or a short taxi ride the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, Jewish Museum or the Morgan Library, to see the extensive exhibits each had. Or one could taxi to the American Numismatic Society's Museum and offices and see some of the rarest and most exciting rare coins, from the Early Ancient Period till the 20th Century, from the Ancient world and modern times. Another highlight, but requiring a taxi or subway to get there. It's worth the trip!!!

I have been with the company since 1947 full time, well over 70 years and enjoy meeting with our old friends, current clients and dealers who visit us annually in not more often.

STACK'S has maintained itself for all these decades, passing on the running and conducting of the Rare Coin Business, the Conducting of Public Auctions, being officers in the Professional Numismatic Guild, active in the ANA and other clubs and organizations dedicated to Numismatics, building several of the most important and complete Collection ever formed and worked to develop the youth who wanted to learn about coins and collecting them. We have joined and created Stack's Bowers in the early part of the 21st Century, dedicated ourselves to the continued advancement of the hobby. We hope it stays that way for at least the next century.

NEW YORK WAS GIVEN THE TITLE "THE NUMISMATIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD" BY MANY WHO VISITED, WALKED AND TRAVELED ABOUT OUR CITY, VISITED AND PARTICIPATED IN MANY NUMISMATIC EVENTS THAT THE CITY DURING THE MANY DECADES IT HAS ENJOYED ITS LEADERSHIP AS A "NUMISMATIC HOBBY CENTER."

STACK'S HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A "NUMISMATIC LANDMARK" because of its location and warmth they offered to all who visited.

STACK'S BOWERS is still dedicated to the growth of Numismatics, teaching the Economics of Money, and how it affects the Economy and the history that can be found on the coins and medals that make up the major assets the hobby offers.

Other cities and towns about America have coin shops and hobby centers for collectors to have available to enhance the growth of their Numismatic collections, but NONE have had the number of dedicated professionals available that New York City offers them, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Might I recommend that when you can, visit New York and see what it can offer you to enhance your coin collection.

To read the complete article, see:
NEW YORK'S NEW NUMISMATIC WALKING TOUR (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n44a10.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web