New Jersey Numismatic Journal: Vol. 31 No. 1

2006·0.75 MB·English

by  Garden State Numismatic Association

New Jersey
Numismatic Journal
The Journal of the Carden State Numismatic Association
Spring Issue 2006 Volume 31, Number I
Frances Cackowski, Editor
Gold is over $600, Silver over $12
Get your coins while you can!
The GSNA 31st Annual
Convention will be on
May 16-20, 2006!
&
Coins are Hot!!!!
Last Year’s Collectors Lining Lp. Don’t Miss Out!
GSNA LEADERSHIP
President: Spencer Peck, [email protected]
First Vice President: Jim Majoros, [email protected]
Second Vice President: Ray Williams, [email protected]
Treasurer: Ron Thompson
Recording Secretary: Peter Wacker, [email protected]
Corresponding Secretary: Tom Rothacker, [email protected]
Convention Chairman: Tom Hyland, [email protected]
Membership Chairman: Dave Bailey
Editor: Fran Cackowski: [email protected]
WebMaster: Eric Knapp
Assistant Editor: Mary Bailey
Table of Contents
President’s Message Page 3
Letter from the Editor Page 4
GSNA Convention Pages 5-8
Bill Dewey - In Memorium Page 9
Gold Coins in 19th Century America Page 10
YN’s at the Convention Page 12
Clubs Around the State Page 13
Advertising Pages 14, 18, 19
Exploring the ANA Page 17
Application for GSNA Membership Page 20
Advertising in the Journal
Interested in advertising in the next GSNA journal?
2006 Journal Rates: $100.00 Full page
50.00 Half page
25.00 Quarterpage
! To advents, call the editor at 18-‘ 61 -65Vt>
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By Spencer Peck
This is your annual Convention Issue of the
NJNJ. The Host Club for this year is the
Watchung Hills Coin Club. The market remains
both strong and very active with no letup in
sight. This bodes well for the hobby. Anyway, on
the evening of 9/11/2001, gold closed on the
New York COMEX at $285.00/oz. while silver was $4.28. As 1 write this, gold
is bumping into $600/oz. while silver is very close to $12.00/oz. Will the trend
continue? I don't have a crystal ball but when I look at the growing national
debt, balance of payments imbalances and the rush by both political parties to
promise us everything for nothing, 1 see no letup in sight. Given the
meandering stock market, plus low interest rates on s, mgs accounts and CDs.
I believe we will see a steady movement to tangible assets for some time to
come. This can only be good news for collectors.
Mark your calendars for our fast approaching 31st Annual GSNA Convention
to be held Thursday through Saturday May 18-20, 2006 at the Ukrainian
Center in Somerset. Please note that dealer setup is from 9 AM to 1 PM on
Thursday with the Convention officially opening to the public at 1 PM. If you
wish to enter earlier, you may, but you will have to purchase an “Early Bird
Pass” for $25.00, good for all three days. General admission for GSNA
members is free, so membership does have its privileges.
We will also again be offering, in conjunction with the ANA, their very
popular Introduction to Grading Seminar. This will run on Tuesday and
Wednesday, May 16 & 17; the two days before the Convention. It will be held
again at our Convention Hotel, the DoubleTree in Somerset. This is probably
the most worthwhile investment you can make in the hobby, especially when
you can easily roll mortgage payments around buying coins. Knowledge is
Power; Invest in Yourself. Details and application forms are posted on our web
site: www.GSNA.org. The Seminar will be limited to twenty-five, so act
quickly to reserve a space.
Tom Hyland, our trusty bourse chairman, has rccaiitcd a full lineup of dealers
in U.S. coins, currency, tokens and medals as well as world and ancient
material including several out of state national dealers. See the dealer listing in
this Journal for their names. John Bums will also be along from Pittsburgh
with a large assortment of books. An auction by New World Rarities will be
held at 6 PM on Friday. Saturday Convention features will include Larry
Gentile’s very popular YN Seminar; exhibits, the annual joint EAC/C4 and NJ
Exonumia Society meetings as well as a display by the U.S. Mint. If you have
children or grandchildren we encourage you to bring them along. If you have
thought about exhibiting, bite the bullet and share your love of the hobby.
(continued on the next page)
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE (continued)
By Spencer Peck
We encourage all members to get involved. It’s fun and you will make
many new friends. If you wish to help us set up, just be at the Ukrainian
Center at 4:30 PM on Wednesday the 18th. We expect to be done by 6:30
and will have dinner afterwards. Volunteers to help at the front table are
always welcome. Just contact me with the times that you can help out. We
will be tearing down at 4 PM on Saturday, so that is yet another
opportunity to get involved.
Happy Collecting and see you at the Convention,
Spence - ANA LM4334
Membership has Its Privileges
As we did last year, we will have a “Members Express Line” to
expedite the entrance of GSNA members to the Convention.
Bring along this issue of the NJNJ as your proof of membership,
and you will avoid having to wait in the non-members line.
Members get in free!!!!
Letter from the Editor
Well, convention time is upon us, and this issue is
dedicated to the convention. Last year was the first
time that I had attended the convention from “behind
the scenes”, rather than just as an attendee. I was
utterly impressed with the amount of work involved in the setup and tear
down. All of the volunteers deserve a special hand from all of us!!! They
are the factor that makes our convention so wonderful. I encourage all of
you to attend the convention, and, if at all possible, attend the grading
seminar as well. Knowledge is power, and what you learn will make you a
more confident and competent collector.
Don’t miss this one. I am looking forward to seeing you all there.
Fran
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GSNA Convention
May 18 - 20, 2006
Somerset, NJ 31st Show!
SHOW HOURS DIRECTIONS
Route 287 to Exit 10
Thur. 1 PM - 7 PM
Take Route 527 North.
Fri. 10 AM-7 PM
Turn left on Davidson Ave.
Sat. 10 AM-4 PM The Ukrainian Cultural Center
is on the right.
Free Admission ANA & GSNA Sponsored
Coin Grading Seminar
For Members!
May 16 & 17
Visit the GSNA web site,
For more Information and an application
www.GSNA.org, visit www.GSNA.org or call
Spencer Peck 908-236-2880
for the latest convention
and club information.
NJ Token & Medal Show
Auction Friday at 6 PM
Books and Supplies
By New World Rarities
Consignments are now Exhibits
being accepted.
Free Appraisals
Call 800-431-1018
Buy, Sell, and Trade
DEALER INFORMATION
Coins , Currency,
Dealer set up 9 AM - 1 PM Thur. May 19
Early admission badge good Tokens, & Medals
for all 3 days is $25.
C4, EAC, & NJES
Show Chairman:
Tom Hyland Meetings Saturday
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected] YN Program 10 AM Sat
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List of Dealers Signed Up for the Convention
Abrams, Brian (New World Rarities)
(Bourse and Auction)
Ackerman, Alan (AALL Coins)
ANA & NJES
Aquilino, Myrtle
Bachman, John (Bach's Coin Box)
Bird, Doug
Bombara, Carl
Brattole, Joe (JBC)
Burns, Frank (B&H Coins)
C&C Enterprises (Carl Stegmaier)
Crisler, Chris
Cuccia, Paul C$H
Cunningham, Paul & Joel Reznick
D&H (Dan K and Harry S)
Daniel Boon C&C (Dan Van Voorhis)
Davis, Dan (Staten Island Coins)
Delatola, Alex
Durann, Elliot (Superior)
Ellsworth, Steve (Butternut)
Emanon Coin (Ralph Savarese)
Enterlein, Tom
Fagone, Ken & Don Hoosier
Fischer, Charlie (Park Coins)
GES Numis. (Jerry Swen)
Hannah, Ed (EEC)
Huffman, John (JT Coin/Bergen Coin)
Hyland, Tom
Jozapaitis, Frank (NJ Coins)
Keystone (Steve Gehringer)
Kramer, Jerry (Smithtown Coins)
Nirat Lertchit (Smythe & Co.)
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List of Dealers Signed Up for the Convention
(continued)
Middleton, Steve
Minichino, Bob (Central Jersey RC)
Nanson Numismatics (Richard)
Parietti, Gary(L I Numismatics)
Pearlman, Lou
Peck, Spencer
Pfau, Ralph
PMJ(Paul Marino)
Polonsky, Jim
Reff, Greg (GEMINI Numismatics)
Reynolds, Merritt (Coins of Merritt)
Reynolds, Tom
Rutter, Larry
Sabatino, Steve (SLQ) (with Cuccia)
Saslow, Arnold
Shupp, George (Rahway Coin)
Singer, Gordon
Stepanski, Tom (Dart)
Tiso, G.R.
Weiss, Lorraine (Weiss Coll. Sales)
Wilson, Dave
Young, Chris
Zaika, Al
Zauche, Donald
Burns, John (BOOKS)
Registration Table
Exhibits
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Garden State Offers ANA Grading Seminar
The Garden State Numismatic Association, in conjunction with the
ANA. will be offering a Coin Grading Seminar at the DoubleTree
Hotel in Somerset, New Jersey on Tuesday and Wednesday, May
16 and 17th just prior to the annual GSNA Convention scheduled
for May 18 - 20 at the Ukrainian Center in Somerset, just off
Route 287 exit 10 in central New Jersey.
Cost is $325.00 with a $25.00 discount for ANA and/or GSNA
members. Rooms are available at the DoubleTree at a GSNA
group rate of $82.00 per night. Application forms and travel
directions are available at the GSNA web site: www.GSNA.org or
the ANA web site: www.money.org.
The seminar is limited to twenty-five students. Books, lamps and
necessary supplies will be provided. Students should bring their
own loupes. The coins used in the Seminar will be from the ANA
collection, flown in especially for this event.
Because grading is a fundamental tool for collectors and a critical
form of self protection; collectors new to the fraternity especially
are encouraged to attend. Consider this to be your investment in
yourself. We have also had many seasoned collectors enroll in past
years as a refresher. Whoever you are, wherever you are, consider
this opportunity as the GSNA sponsors these seminars only in
even-numbered years. As an added inducement and welcome,
GSNA will provide every enrollee with an Early Bird Pass for the
Convention.
For additional questions contact Spencer Peck, President GSNA at
908-236-2880 or by e-mail: [email protected]
Hotel Information:
The GSNA has a limited amount of rooms reserved at the
Doubletree for $82.00 per night. Call the hotel at 732-469-2600
and request the GSNA rate.
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Bill Dewey, Prominent Numismatist, dies
Mr. Bill Dewey celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec 5, 2005. It is sad to say
that Bill passed away on Sunday, April 2nd at the nursing home in Woodcliff
Lake, NJ, where he had been for a number of years. Bill, a professional engineer
by trade and a direct descendent of Admiral George Dewey, had a long and
remarkable life with interests in numismatics that began in 1932. These interests
led him to research and write about a number of subjects, primarily the Bergen
Iron Works Tokens and Early Manchester and William Torrey. Just recently, he
was honored with two special citations on his 100th birthday, presented by ANA
president Bill Horton at the Nursing home. A number of members of New
Jersey's Ocean County Coin Club will always remember Bill for his dedication
and interests in the club and its members, consistently being available to discuss
some of his numismatic findings at the club's "show & tell" sessions. He never
forgot us and we will never forget him.
Some comments by Bob Mitchell
(Personal friend and member of the Ocean County Coin Club)
Bill did so much in numismatics! 1 only have a few clippings that I saved....
June 1987. "Active numismatist and author for 55 years (at that time). Started
collecting in 1932. joined the ANA in 1933, and helped found the Bronx Coin
Club. 1934 he was a co-founder of the Westchester County NY Coin Club and
served two years as its secretary. He published his first article in "The
Numismatist".
Dewey is a direct descendent of Admiral George Dewey and began a collection
that numbered about 600 different types and varieties (in 1987). In 1935 Bill was
named chairman of the ANA's advertising committee; in 1936 Vice Pres of the
Westchester Coin Club; 1937 elected president and began three years service as
curator of the ANA library, which he housed in his home. 1938 joined the
American Numismatic Society where he was active member for 32 years. 1939
wrote an article on his specialty, Store Cards of Admiral Dewey. In the 1940s
Dewey jointly authored the 50-year index of "The Numismatist,", was chairman
of the ANA papers committee and chairman of the ANA National Coin Week
awards committee. His nomination for the Numismatic Ambassadorship
described him as "THE foremost authority on the life and medals and
memorabilia of Admiral Dewey. In 1987 when this article was written. Bill was
still active in researching, lecturing and collecting at age 81. In 1981 Bill wrote a
book about the township entitled, "Early Manchester and William Torrey".
I think I have every letter Bill wrote me since 1974 because we exchanged so
much information on our mutual interests in the Ocean County money and scrip.
Now I can look them over and enjoy the memories he left me with.
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A Book Review and Commentary - Part II
By David Ginsburg
Continuing our story of George Devol’s life as a gambler on the Mississippi
where at one time, silver was considered a nuisance, and continued to be
until the beginning of the Civil War:
Devol continues: “[The commission men] would put it in bags and label it with
the man’s name and the amount.” On board the steamer John Raine, he found
15 “chicken men on board, who had sold their ‘coops,’ and had their sacks of
silver setting in the office, as there was no room for it in the safe.” After dinner,
Devol enticed them into playing three-card Monte and they bet four sacks of
silver, with $500 in each. After he took their money, he got off at the next stop,
where the boat was landing to take on sugar. Claiming that this was his sugar
plantation, he had the porters carry his winnings ashore and the local fieldhands
all greeted him by name (he says that he knew all the slaves on the “coast”).
“After the boat pulled out. 1 opened one of the sacks and gave each black, one of
the ‘chicken’ half dollars. They guarded the money until another boat came
down, which they hailed, and I was soon on my way to New Orleans to catch
some more suckers.”
Later in the book, Devol writes: “There was a man in New Orleans before the
war that supplied the steamboat men with silver to pay their deckhands. He
could buy it at a discount, as it was a drug on the money market at that time. I
have often seen him, with his two heavy leather bags, on his way from the bank
to the boats.”
On another occasion, Devol was on the John Simonds, when he enticed another
victim into a game of three-card Monte. After the man lost $1,500 (presumably
in bank notes), the victim wanted to bet $400 in gold, but Devol declined.
On board the Imperial, Devol took a man for “twenty-six twenty-dollar gold
pieces.”
On board the Douheloon, Devol cheated a competing gambler, who had a wheel
with numbers on it and pieces of jewelry and silverware on tables on top of
corresponding numbers. One of the numbers occupied a very narrow space that,
if the wheel stopped on it, gave the winner a watch. Devol asked if the watch
was good and was told that anyone who won it could have $100 in gold if he did
not want the watch. Devol put down a dollar bet and gave the wheel a spin.
The man running the game was “all broke up” when the wheel stopped on the
number for the watch, but gave Devol his $100 in gold. Devol put down
another dollar and, amazingly, the wheel stopped on the same number! The
man paid him, but gave him a look “as if he did not like me; and as 1 make it a
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