Harvey G. Stack, Top Dealer of Rare Coins, Dies at 93

“I worked most of the time when I wasn’t at school,” he wrote in history for company.

The company started in the 19th century by his great-grandfather, Maurice, entered the field of numerology as a side business, buying and selling collectors’ coins and currencies in addition to its primary function of exchanging money. currency exchange. It later diversified into a business in antiques and rare stamps.

In 1935, after converting the company into a rare coin dealer, Morton and Joseph Stack held their first public auction. In 1953, Stack’s moved into a gallery on 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan. (It is now located on Park Avenue on East 58th Street and has galleries in other cities.)

In 2011, Stack’s merged with Bowers & Merena to create Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

Mr. Stack is the chairman of Association of Professional Numismatists for two years starting in 1989. In 1993, he was awarded the Founder’s Award, the guild’s highest honor.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Harriet (Spellman) Stack; his daughter, Susan; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He lives on Long Island.

The Stack Gallery is considered an attractive global club by many coin collectors and dealers. But Mr. Stack has no qualms about driving the company’s financial success.

“There are people who sell gold and silver bullion, coils and coin bags who call themselves coin dealers, and some of them can do business up to $100 million a year,” he said. New York Times in 1984. “However, when you say “rare coin dealer” and talk about companies that sell both direct and auction, we are the largest coin dealer in the United States.”

He made the difference between coin collectors, whom he warmly welcomed, and investors.

Grandfather told The Times in 1977. “Investors will try to get as much of their money as possible, starting with the most valuable coin.”