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^„|CAGO COIN CLug 90th flnnivvrsary 1919-2009 t^Oth (Anniversary Souvenir Bookiet Edited by William A. Burd Designed by Katie DeCosta A note from the President... On behalf of the Chicago Coin Club it is my pleasure to welcome you to our 90th Anniversary celebration. I am proud to serve as Club President during this historic milestone event. The 90th Anniversary committee is comprised of active Club members, dedicated to the science and study of numismatics, all of whom are true ambassadors of the Chicago Coin Club. The Chicago Coin Club motto “Docendo Discimus” (We Learn By Teaching) has been demonstrated the second Wednesday of every month in the heart of down¬ town Chicago since 1919. Our monthly Club meetings feature respected guests who speak on a wide variety of numismatic topics; ancients and modern, US and world, as well as odd and curious. Over the years, the Club has engaged in numismatic research, having published numerous articles through our active membership. We have designed and issued a number of beautiful commemorative medals. To mark the occasion of our 90th An¬ niversary, we have struck a high-relief medal featuring Augustus Saint-Gaudens Abraham Lincoln statue found in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. It is said that coin collecting is the “King of Hobbies” and the “Hobby of Kings.” However, you do not have to be a king to be a member of the Chicago Coin Club. All are welcome. I was introduced to coin collecting with a bowl of silver quarters kept in my grandmother’s refrigerator. I was introduced to numismatics with a visit to a Chicago Coin Club meeting where I was welcomed by the friendly and knowledgeable Club members. New faces are always welcome at Club meetings and veteran members are always happy to share their knowledge and experience. People are drawn to our hobby for a variety of reasons. Coin collecting offers an education and appreciation of art, history, geography and science that few hobbies provide. Since the Club’s organization in 1919, the Chicago Coin Club has been a great place to share and learn together. The passion for the hobby is easy to see in the faces of our Club members past and present. Jeffrey Rosinia President ::2:: Clab Officers Jeffrey Rosinia. .President Lyle Daly. , . , First Vice President Elliott Krieter. Second Vice President Robert Feiler. .Director Eugene C. Freeman .Director Marc Stackler. .Director Carl F. Wolf. .Director Carl F. Wolf. . Secretary Steve Zitowsky. .Treasurer Paul Hybert. .Chatter Editor William A. Burd. .Archivist ^ 90th finniversary Committee ^ Chairman - Mark Wieclaw Kevin Blocker Sharon Blocker William A. Burd Robert Feiler Eugene C. Freeman Elliott Krieter Jeffrey Rosinia Marc Stackler Carl F. Wolf Steve Zitowsky ::3:: History of the Chicago Coin Ciab WRITTEN BY CARL F. WOLF I n achieving its 90th Anniversary, of stars that symbolize the number of the Chicago Coin Club has reached members who joined in each respec¬ a milestone few clubs may ever tive year surrounds the legend on these reach. It spans ninety years of edu¬ 2” bronze medals. Each member was cating the numismatic community presented with an appropriately dated through exhibits and learned presenta¬ medal from the year they joined. tions at a level very few have rivaled. The U.S.S. Nashville Medal was pro¬ None of the early members could have duced in 1910 in bronze and silver. It ever imagined how the world would was commissioned to commemorate have changed by 2009. But certainly, the visit of the famous gunboat to they would be happy to know that the Chicago Harbor. The Nashville had members are still carrying on with the fired the first and last shots in the tradition of promoting numismatic Spanish American War. During this education and issuing medals to com¬ visit, thousands came out to welcome memorate major anniversaries. the ship and its crew. Later that same year, the Chicago Numismatic Society The history of organized numismat¬ decided to issue another art medal ics in Chicago goes back to December, dedicated to man’s ancient dream of 1903 when the Chicago Numismatic flying. The main design on the medal Society was founded. Its members shows a youth with wings attached to were an enthusiastic group that held his outstretched arms and four dif¬ monthly meetings through May, 1915. ferent forms of manned flight in the Members gathered to hear numis¬ background. matic talks, participate in auctions and share current information. Medals In 1912 the American Numismatic As¬ were struck to commemorate the 50th sociation (ANA) changed its constitu¬ meeting and the 100th meeting. Little tion allowing the formation of branch is known of an undated medal struck clubs, provided that everyone was an on one side with the Chicago Numis¬ ANA member. Ben Green, the Secre¬ matic Society and the opposite side tary of the Chicago Numismatic Soci¬ with the Chicago Collectors Club, but ety, was the first to file an application it is credited to the Society. An octago¬ charter, thereby entitling the Chicago nal piece dated May 3, 1907 marked group the honor of receiving number the opening reception of new rooms in 1. The first meeting of ANA Branch the Masonic Temple that served as the No. 1 was November 12, 1913 in the meeting site for the Society. In addi¬ rooms of the Chicago Numismatic So¬ tion, the Society issued an impressive ciety. The Society and the Branch were series of eleven Membership Medals never affiliated, but their membership dated from 1904 through 1914. A ring overlapped considerably. They issued ::5:: 2” X 3/4” bronze membership cards first logo. It showed an open-faced “Y” that allowed for each membership symbolizing the Chicago River’s North number to be stamped. and South Branches and the letter “C” appeared to the left, right and top. On January 17, 1914 Ben Green died at “Chicago Coin” was at top and “Club” age 53 of typhoid pneumonia. He had was in exergue, with “19” on each side. faithfully served as the only Secre¬ When the Club incorporated as a non¬ tary of the Society and was the only profit organization in 1938, a new seal President of ANA Branch No. 1. It was was adopted that is still in use today. It a deep shock to everyone, including shows the vertically interlocking Club the national numismatic community, initials “CCC,” above is “Organized and tributes flowed in from across the 1919” and below is “Incorporated nation. The minutes from both groups 1938.” Beneath are two laurel branches. soon reflected a lack of spirit. Within Surrounding this and around the top three months of Green’s death, ANA edge is “Chicago Coin Club” and in Branch No. 1 ceased to function, but exergue is the Latin motto “Docendo returned in 1917. The Chicago Numis¬ Discimus,” which translates to “We matic Society carried on a bit longer, Learn By Teaching.” but their last published report was their 136th meeting. May 7,1915. With Chicago has hosted twelve ANA con¬ that ended a brilliant twelve year era in ventions. In addition to the 1891, 1893 Chicago numismatics. and 1911 conventions hosted by pre¬ decessor clubs, the Chicago Coin Club For two years there was no organized welcomed the ANA back in 1920, 1929, numismatic group in Chicago. Then 1933, 1943, 1944, 1956, 1966, 1991 and on February 7, 1917 ANA Branch No. 1 1999, a record unmatched by any other was revived and consisted primarily of ANA club. No other club has provided previous members. Meetings were held the ANA with more Presidents, Gen¬ monthly through the next year when eral Secretaries, Treasurers, Governors it was decided to reorganize and not or Editors. Nor has any other club had limit membership to ANA members more members inducted into ANA’s only. A committee was formed to draw Hall of Fame or had more recipients up a new constitution and by-laws and of their Medal of Merit or the Farran thereafter would be called the Chicago Zerbe Award, their highest honor. Coin Club. The first meeting was held on February 14,1919 and Charter Over all these ANA conventions, the Members were those who joined in the Chicago Coin Club issued many dif¬ first two months. At the March 5th ferent numismatic souvenirs - far too meeting, their membership numbers many to list in this short history. were assigned by drawing lots. The ANA made a change to its consti¬ J. Henri Ripstra designed the club’s tution in 1940 allowing clubs to :: 6:: become life members. Member M. an incident he had with J.P. Morgan. Vernon Sheldon generously offered to When Dunham was asked by an agent pay for the life membership dues for for Morgan how much money he the Club. At the March 1942 meeting, wanted for a rare coin in his collection, member J. Henri Ripstra, acting in his Dunham’s response was “J.P. Morgan capacity as an ANA Governor and past doesn’t have enough money!” J. Henri ANA President, presented the mem¬ Ripstra was a die engraver by trade, bers with life membership certificate produced many medals and conven¬ No. 60. According to the minutes of tion badges for numismatic groups, that same evening M. Vernon Sheldon served in several elected positions for announced that the Club was the first the ANA and is credited as one of the corporate life membership granted, men who formed the building blocks but he was probably mistaken. Earlier that gave the ANA its present stature. issues of The Numismatist refer to He was a scholar on the life of Abra¬ other clubs holding ANA life member¬ ham Lincoln and was known as the ship. The No. 60 referred to the total “Dean of Chicago Numismatics,” was count of individuals as well as club life an outstanding orator and cited as members. The ANA decided in 1973 to the best extemporaneous speaker ever issue separate membership numbers known in numismatics. for clubs and the new life membership No. 7 was issued to the Chicago Coin Lee F. Hewitt was the founder, pub¬ Club. The Club also has the distinction lisher and editor of Numismatic Scrap¬ of being the oldest ANA member club book Magazine from 1935 to 1967. Mr. with an uninterrupted record of an¬ Hewitt was a practical, levelheaded nual dues payments back to 1912 when man, who was blessed with good they were called ANA Branch No. 1. In foresight and the courage to follow his 1969 ANA Historian Jack W. Ogilvie intuition. This earned the respect of reported that Branch No. 1 dues were every leader in the hobby. Richard Yeo¬ paid continuously, even during the man was known as “Mr. Red Book” inactive period of 1914-16. for his introduction of The Guide Book of U.S. Coins. His introduction of the The Chicago Coin Club has had many Whitman coin boards and reference members that became giants and material had a major impact on the legends in the hobby. One of these was hobby. Glenn Smedley served the col¬ Virgil Brand, known for assembling lecting community with his organiza¬ the largest coin collection the world tional and literary skills. He served as has ever seen. It has been written that editor of ANA’s official publication The he was the best customer of every coin Numismatist, wrote the “Numismatic dealer in the world! William F. Dun¬ Vignettes” column for many years, was ham owned a downtown pharmacy an elected officer many times, served and was an early leader in the ANA, as ana’s public relations director and but will probably be remembered for helped create ::7:: their audio-visual library. Elston Brad- numismatic essays from prominent field had a degree in journalism, was numismatists that covers a wide a scholar of military history and was spectrum of numismatics: ancient, me¬ the assistant librarian for the Chicago dieval, modern, exonumia, philosophy Tribune. Bradfield provided research and Club history. This was a visionary data for the many speeches and articles project spearheaded and edited by Dr. given by Tribune publisher, Robert R. Saul B. Needleman to mark the Club’s McCormick. He founded The Centinel, 800th meeting, and it earned him “A the official publication of the Cen¬ Special Commendation for Numismat¬ tral States Numismatic Society, and ic Organization Publications” from the became the first person with a jour¬ Numismatic Literary Guild in 1986. nalism background to serve as editor of The Numismatist. He contributed In 1989 the Chicago Coin Club began large amounts of original material to a unique project that caught the atten¬ the magazine and was the editor of tion of the numismatic community. ana’s Introduction to Numismatics, a The undertaking consisted of publish¬ 48-page pamphlet that was sent to each ing an original numismatic article new member for many years. on primitive money and attaching a genuine or replica piece of that money M. Vernon Sheldon left a legacy of to the story. Everyone attending the dedication and generous sharing of his Club meeting at the Chicago Interna¬ time and talents. He served in a num¬ tional Coin Fair received a copy. The ber of ANA elected positions, devel¬ remainder was put up for sale. The oped their visual education program, success is due in large part to Robert lent his personal index of The Numis¬ D. Leonard, Jr. who wrote every issue matist to the ANA for publication, and except one and whose research took lent his help in organizing several re¬ him into museums and libraries in gional and state clubs. Harry X Boosel Europe and America. Carl F. Wolf also served the numismatic community in found a facility to produce most of the many different administrative posi¬ replicas or locate genuine pieces. The tions, but he will be most remembered project continues to this day, and some for his research and expertise into the of the more recent issues are for sale to Coinage Act of 1873 and the resulting collectors. U.S. Coins. He went on to specialize in international coins issued in 1873 and Leather Money.1989 earned the moniker “Mr. 1873.” Plate Money.1990 A project that added prestige to the Stone Money.1991 Chicago Coin Club was the publication Axe-Head Money.1992 in 1985 of the 364-page book. Perspec¬ Clamshell Money.1993 tives in Numismatics. 1000 volumes Bark Cloth Money.1994 were printed and it is now out of print. Chinese Knife Money.1995 It is a collection of nineteen original African Trade Bead Money.1996 :: 8 ::